Yalta Conference Potsdam Conference

Misunderstanding Different Ideologies

USSR takes Eastern Europe – worries US US in Western Europe – worries USSR

Truman and StalinStalin a victim of Germany – NEVER AGAINTruman – no appeasement – hard stance

Arms RaceUSSR scared of A Bomb – want their own

Both feared an attack from one another

USA wanted…. Soviets were a threat

to their way of life. Self determination Access to raw

materials and new markets

Rebuild European Governments

Reunite Germany

USSR wanted… Thought they had won

WWII. Want spoils of war Encourage

Communism in Europe No free elections –

Stalin breaks promise Rebuild its economy by

using Eastern Europe Control Eastern Europe

to balance US’s influence

Keep Germany Divided

TRUMAN INFORMS STALIN OF THE ATOMIC BOMB – MISTRUST

At Potsdam, as elsewhere, the secret of the atomic bomb was kept closely guarded. We did not extend the very small circle of Americans who knew about it. Churchill naturally knew about the atomic bomb project from its very beginning, because it had involved the pooling of British and American technical skill.

On July 24 I casually mentioned to Stalin that we had a new weapon of unusual destructive force. The Russian Premier showed no special interest. All he said was that he was glad to hear it and hoped we would make “good use of it against the Japanese.”

Source: Memoirs of Harry S. Truman: Volume I, Year of Decisions (New York: Doubleday, 1955), p. 416.

STALIN’S REACTION TO THE ATOMIC BOMB

Stalin said tersely: “Roosevelt clearly felt no need to put us in the picture. He could have done it at Yalta. He could simply have told me the atom bomb was going through its experimental states. We were supposed to be allies.”

It was noticeable that, even though Stalin was annoyed, he spoke calmly. He continued: “No doubt Washington and London are hoping we won’t be able to develop the bomb ourselves for some time. And meanwhile, using America’s monopoly, in fact America’s and Britain’s, they want to force us to accept their plans on questions affecting Europe and the world. Well, that’s not going to happen!” and now, for once, he cursed in ripe language. A broad grin appeared on the face of my good friend Gusev.

Source: Andrei Gromyko, Memories, Translated by Harold Shukman (London: Century Hutchinson,Ltd., 1989), pp. 108–109.

Who does Billy Joel blame for starting the Cold War

Based on the song, is Joel for or against the Cold War.

WHO STARTED THE COLD WAR???

“Containment”Truman Doctrine Berlin Airlift

From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lies the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern Europe. -- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946

Stalin installs CommunistGovernments in Albania,Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungry, Romania, Poland

Winston Churchill Strong alliance between

USA and GB Henry Wallace –

Secretary of Commerce USSR has the right –

“Getting tough never brought anything real and lasting for the schoolyard bullies or world powers. The tougher we get, the tougher the Russians will get”

List the pros and cons of each plan Who would you have supported? Explain Why did “Containment” win out? How

will this affect America in the future?

Reasoning Communist influence

in Turkey and Greece Cant support

themselves Britain cant do it

either Financial aid “to

support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation”

$400 million in aide to Turkey and Greece

Berlin Blockade Berlin Airlift NATO Warsaw Pact Include…..

Brief summary (including key dates)Key causesMajor effects on cold warMajor arguments in defense of U.S. and

Soviet actions (Cause and Effect)

“European Recovery Program” Provide aid to ALL countries Not against any country or

doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.

12.2 Billion in aid to Western EuropeUSSR refuses Western Europe Helped

1948 – US, GB, and France merge their parts of Germany together

USSR blocks access to Berlin.

The U.S. began a massive airlift of supplies that lasted almost a year. (7,000 tons a day)

Stalin eventually stops this

East Germany is created

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) 1949

United States

Belgium

Britain

Canada

Denmark

France

Iceland

Italy

Luxemburg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

1952: Greece & Turkey

1955: West Germany

1983: Spain

WARSAW PACT (1955)WARSAW PACT (1955)

} U. S. S. R.U. S. S. R.

} AlbaniaAlbania

} BulgariaBulgaria

} CzechoslovakCzechoslovakiaia

} East East GermanyGermany

} HungaryHungary

} PolandPoland

} RumaniaRumania

Russia detonated its first atom bomb in 1949.

Truman ordered construction of the hydrogen bomb.

How, if at all, do you think communication problems and ideological prejudice contributed to the cold war?

Why were the Berlin blockade and resulting airlift such dramatic and important events in the cold war?

Evaluate Truman’s actions during the early parts of the Cold War