Soviet and U.S. troops celebrating victory over the Germans

Soviet vs. US Power

Each power played a central role in shaping a postwar world

Each sought to create a world sympathetic to Soviet communism or U.S. capitalism

In 1945, the Big Three held two conferences – at Yalta (February) and Potsdam (July) – to try to sort out how they would organize the world after the war.   It was at these conferences that the tensions between the two sides became obvious.

”Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin working together to save the world”

Yalta (Feb. 1945)

Russia would join the United Nations. divide Germany into four ‘zones’, which Britain,

France, the USA and the USSR would occupy after the war.

bring Nazi war-criminals to trial. help the freed peoples of Europe set up

democratic and self-governing countries by helping them to (a) maintain law and order; (b) carry out emergency relief measures; (c) set up governments; and (d) hold elections (this was called the 'Declaration of Liberated Europe').

Potsdam (later that year)

Potsdam was the Versailles of World War II.     four ‘zones of occupation’ in Germany.   The Nazi Party destroyedBring Nazi war-criminals to trial. Hold 'free elections as soon as possible'. Russia was allowed to take reparations from the

Soviet Zone, and also 10% of the industrial equipment of the western zones as reparations.   America and Britain could take reparations from their zones if they wished.

 

The Big Three Disagreed…

But in fact the Allies had disagreed openly about:  

1.   the details of how to divide Germany. 2.   the size of reparations Germany ought to

pay. 3.   Russian influence over the countries of

eastern Europe.

The Yalta Conference – held during the war in 1945

Stalin after WWII

During 1946–47, Stalin made sure that Communist governments came to power in all the countries of eastern Europe (the countries which Russia had conquered in 1945).

The Hungarian Communist Rakosi described

this process as ‘slicing salami’ – gradually getting rid of all opposition, bit-by-bit.   In this way, Russia gained control of Eastern Europe

In this American cartoon from 1946, the thief labelled ‘Russia’ is caught stealing a bag labelled ‘territorial grabs’.   He is being helped by Stalin, who is dressed like a policeman and holding a truncheon.   Policeman Truman, from the 'World League Police Station' is too late  to stop him.

Eastern European Communist Nations

Albania (1945) – the Communists took power after the war without opposition  Bulgaria (1945) – a left-wing coalition gained power in 1945; the Communists then

executed the leaders of all the other parties  Poland (1947) – a coalition government took power in 1945, but Stalin arrested all the

non-Communist leaders in 1945, and the Communists forced the other non-Communists into exile.

Romania (1945–1947) – a left-wing coalition was elected in 1945; the Communists gradually took over control.

    Hungary (1947) – Hungary was invaded by the Russians, and in 1945 the allies agreed

that Russian troops should stay there.   Stalin allowed elections, in which the non-communists won a big majority.   However, some communists were elected, led by a pro-Russian called Rakosi. Rakosi now started demanding that groups which opposed him should be banned.   If not, he hinted, the Russians would take over the country.   Then he got control of the police, and started to arrest his opponents.   He set up a sinister and brutal secret police unit, the AVO.     By 1947 Rakosi had complete control over Hungary.

  Czechoslovakia (1945–48) – a left-wing coalition was elected in 1945.   In 1948, the

Communists banned all other parties and killed their leaders.

East Germany (1949) – the Russian turned their zone of Germany into the German Democratic Republic in 1949.  

Soviet Sphere of Influence

Winston Churchill of Britain…

said ‘a shadow’ had fallen on eastern Europe, which was now cut off from the free world by ‘ an iron curtain’.   Behind that line, he said, the people of eastern Europe were ‘subject to Soviet influence . . . totalitarian control [and] police governments’.

Harry Truman and the USA

Now, on 12 March 1947, Truman told Americans that it was America’s DUTY to interfere.  His policy towards the Soviet Union was one of ‘containment’ – he did not try to destroy the USSR, but he wanted to stop it growing any more.   This was called the ‘Truman Doctrine’.

In June 1947, the American general George Marshall went to Europe.   He said every country in Europe was so poor that it was in danger of turning Communist!   Europe was ‘a breeding ground of hate’.   

He said that America should give $17 billion of aid to

get Europe’s economy going and stop Communism.

Marshall said that it was up to the countries of Europe to decide what they needed.   In July 1947, led by Britain and France, the countries of western Europe met in Paris, and asked for substantial economic aid.

The Marshall Plan

Aid Provided by the Marshall Plan

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3 R D VIDEO

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir2/

causes_coldwaract.shtml

Atomic Warfare Website

http://www.cddc.vt.edu/host/atomic/hiroshim/index.html

Cold War Clips

http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/focuson/film/film-archive/archive.asp?catID=3&subCatID=3