1. COLD WAR: LECTURE 2 How did US try to contain Communism in
Europe
2. AGENDA OF THE LESSON By the end of the lesson, you would be
able to: Appreciate the: Truman Doctrine, The Marshall Plan and
NATO The benefits of such approaches The draw backs of containment
3. THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE, MARCH 1947 Soviet expansion in Europe
increasing - US and allies. Truman decided that US must prevent
this. Under the Truman Doctrine USA would: prevent Communism from
spreading help any country , threatened by Communism Put his
doctrine into action by: Giving money & weapons to Greece and
Turkey which were in danger of being taken over by communists -
able to stop the spread of communism with US aid. Stalin responded
- formed the Communist Information Bureau (COMINFORM) alliance of
Communist parties to keep Communist Bloc countries together. 4.
MARSHALL PLAN, JUNE 1947 Another way of containing communism
through offering financial aid to Europe. Plan was named after
George Marshall who directed it. Aims of the plan help Europe
recover economically from WWII build a prosperous Western Europe
able to resist Communism. 5. MARSHALL PLAN, JUNE 1947 US
Containment Policy: By making Europe rich and strong again, he
would help to create stable, Capitalist, democratic governments in
Europe. US believed that with the Marshall Plan people in in Europe
would become more prosperous and therefore not support Communism.
6. MARSHALL PLAN, JUNE 1947 Details of the Plan: 16 countries in
Western Europe agreed to the Marshall Plan. Between 1948-1952 these
countries received $13 billion in aid, loans and goods. Marshall
extended aid to East Europeans. Stalin refused felt that the Plan
was aimed at extending influence there. Soviets formed an
organization that would encourage trade between Communist states in
Europe. COMECON did not really improve the economies of these
states. Benefits Western government still recovering still better
than large skins Marshall Plan also divided European economies into
halves - heightened tensions 7. NATO (NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY
ORGANIZATION) Europe was divided into two spheres of influence: The
Communist and Capitalist spheres. US & USSR forced to seek
military allies. US tried to increase their forces in Europe set up
NATO. NATO a military alliance formed by US and 11 other countries.
Its aims were: To defend Europe from Soviet attack. Attack on
European allies by Soviets would be considered an attack against
all. 8. NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION 1955 - USSR decided that
it would set up Warsaw Pact. All communist countries in Europe
(except Yugoslavia) joined the Warsaw Pact. Benefits of NATO/Warsaw
Pact: NATO and the Warsaw Pact protected the member states but;
Also heightened tensions in Europe during the Cold War. The US was
contented that the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan and NATO could
contain Communism within Europe. 9. OUTCOMES OF CONTAINMENT World
War II alliance between Britain, US and USSR after 1945 not close
mutually suspicious of each others intentions. USSR viewed US moves
in Europe as trying to establish control there. Containment helped
to check Soviet expansion into Western Europe. However, also
increased tensions in Europe as: both sides tried to gain allies to
bolster their defenses against possible attacks from the other. 10.
CRISIS IN EUROPE BERLIN BLOCKADE Conflicts over how to administer
Germany led to a crisis between Britain, France, US and USSR in
1948. Germany divided into four zones. Berlin also divided into
four zones. The four countries agreed to administer Germany
together under a joint administration. 11. MAP OF GERMANY AND
BERLIN (1948) 12. BERLIN BLOCKADE In 1948: Britain, France and US
joined their separate zones in Germany and also created a new
currency for Germany. These actions helped the West German economy
to recover Western powers also encouraged free elections in West
Germany. Stalin was fearful that the West would make Germany strong
again and threaten Russia. 13. BERLIN BLOCKADE STALINS STRATEGY
Stalin planned to seize control over the whole of Berlin by
blocking off road, rail and canal links between East and West
Germany June 1948. He thought of forcing the allies to leave Berlin
by blocking off all supplies. 14. BERLIN BLOCKADE US STRATEGY US
felt it was important to support West Berlin because: Berlin
represented the democratic system. Concerned that if it pulled out
of Berlin Soviets would be emboldened and attack the whole of West
Germany. Yet the US and allies were very cautious could not start a
full scale war by sending in troops to lift the blockade. 15.
BERLIN BLOCKADE LIFTING THE SIEGE To avoid war, Pres. Truman
ordered a fleet of planes to fly over Berlin and drop food supplies
and other supplies into Berlin. Over 10 months 2 million tons of
supplies were flown into West Berlin. About 2.5 million Berliners
were kept warm throughout the winter of 1948. After 10 months
Stalin realized that Blockade was a failure West was determined to
support West Berlin called off the blockade in May 1949 16. BERLIN
AIRLIFT 17. CONCLUSION War time alliance was at an end US and
allies were mutually suspicious of each other. US and USSR locked
in a struggle to gain allies and influence in Europe (later the
world) These tensions did not escalate (become worse) because both
sides were fearful of starting another war Europe still recovering
from WWII. Both sides preferred to use threats and challenge each
other but these never amounted to direct military actions.
