Even before WWII ended, what tensions already existed between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union)? The U.S. was still upset and untrusting of Stalin who had earlier signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler. Stalin was angry at the Allies for delaying their D- Day invasion of western Europe while his Soviet army suffered greatly in the East.
The Big Three
What were some of the agreements the Big Three Allies made at the Yalta Conference? to divide Germany into zones of occupation controlled by four Allied nations. to make Germany pay war compensation to the badly damaged Soviet Union. Stalin agreed to join war against Japan after Germany s defeat Stalin agreed to allow free elections in Eastern Europe after the war.
When Truman insisted on free elections in Eastern European nations, Stalin refused and later declared that war between the two new superpowers (U.S. & U.S.S.R.) was certain.
Berlin Blockade & Airlift
Berlin Blockade & Airlift
Berlin Blockade & Airlift
= Wall dividing West and East Berlin
The BERLIN WALL
Berlin Wall (w/ watchtowers)
Berlin Wall Death Strip
Berlin Wall s first victim: 18 y/o Peter Fechter, Aug 17, 1962
Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989
Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989
Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989
Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989
Reunification of Germany, 1990
1) Cold War Germany 1. Yalta Conference (1945): Stalin, FDR & Churchill meet Discussed how Germany would be divided. 2. Division of Germany (partition): Potsdam Conference (1945) Germany & city of Berlin divided: Allies in western half of Germany & Berlin, and the Soviets in the eastern areas. Stalin refuses to allow free elections in eastern Europe. 3. Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49): Soviets stop all supplies getting into West Berlin by road, river, or rail. British & U.S. planes respond with an airlift, delivering 2 million tons of food & supplies. Blockade fails so the Soviets stop it. 4. Berlin Wall (1961): barrier is built dividing East & West Berlin The wall prevents emigration & defection of people from East Berlin into West Berlin. Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989): East German govt. allows it s citizens to visit West Germany; soon the wall is taken down Led to unification of Germany in 1990.
In 1946, Stalin declared: Communism and Capitalism can not exist in the same world. Europe was now divided between East and West with Germany being split as the dividing line. Churchill described this division between democratic Western Europe and Communist Eastern Europe as the iron curtain. Stalin called Churchill s words a call to war.
NATO: Blue (Democracies) Warsaw Pact or Eastern Bloc: Red (Communist)
Border Fortifications: Fortifications of the inner German border Alarm activated fences
Czechoslovak border fortifications during the Cold War
NATO (1949)
NATO
NATO
NATO today
NATO today
Warsaw Pact Countries in the Warsaw Pact are Puppet Governments or Satellite States of who?
Warsaw Pact
Hungarian Revolution of 1956
Hungarian Revolution of 1956 Soviet Union sent in 1,130 tanks
Invasion of Czechoslovakia (1968) Warsaw Pact invaded with 500,000 troops, 6,300 tanks, & 800 airplanes Stopped political liberalization (democratization) known as the Prague Spring
Invasion of Czechoslovakia (1968)
2) The Iron Curtain Europe Divided: The U.S.S.R. wanted to build a buffer or wall of protection to stop future invasions from the west. Stalin set up communist govts. in Eastern European countries and refused to allow free elections (a.k.a. satellite states ). Democratic Western Europe vs. Communist Eastern Europe NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Military alliance between the United States, Canada, and several countries in Western Europe. Warsaw Pact/Eastern Bloc Military alliance between the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe Brinksmanship: willingness to go to the brink, or edge, of war. Lead each side to strengthen its military and increase their nuclear weapons stockpile.
"the policy of the United States [is] to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures." Truman Doctrine
U.S. policy directed at blocking the Soviets from spreading communism to other countries.
Policies included alliances and helping weak countries resist communism.
Greek Crisis The Greek Civil War (1946-49) involves the Greek Government vs. Greek Communists Truman works w/ Congress to approve millions in aid to the Greek govt. who later defeat the communists (Example of containment of communism)
Turkish Straits Crisis Turkey turns to the U.S. for help & then joins NATO (Truman (U.S.) is containing the USSR)
U.S. gave food, money, and other economic aid to European countries to help them recover from devastation of WWII.
By helping Western European nations rebuild, the U.S. hoped to make possible future resistance to Communist expansion in Europe.
The West Resists The democratic nations of the West soon faced a test of their resolve to contain the Communist East. The Truman Doctrine Early 1947, Soviet backed Communists threatened governments of Greece, Turkey President Truman announced Truman Doctrine pledge to provide economic, military aid to oppose spread of communism Congress agreed to send aid to Greece, Turkey The Marshall Plan Because of post-war economies, Truman believed more European countries might turn to communism U.S. launched massive program of economic aid Marshall Plan provided $13 billion for rebuilding Europe Plan helped Western Europe make rapid recovery from war, preserved political stability 54
3) Truman Doctrine Truman Doctrine: U.S. foreign policy of supporting countries that rejected communism. Containment: U.S. policy directed at blocking the Soviets from spreading communism to other countries. Policies included alliances and helping weak countries resist communism. Marshall Plan: U.S. gave food, money, and other economic aid to European countries to help them recover from devastation of WWII.