The Cold War

that would change the future of warfare forever

2 Types of War

Hot War: full scale warfare; opponents have deployed troops and peace through compromise is unlikely

Cold War: opponents do not fight directly but through “client states”

Only cold war in history: 1945-1980

Long Term Causes

AMERICA

•Capitalist economy

•Democratic government

•Free elections

•Personal freedoms/freedom of the press

•Survival of the fittest

USSR

•Communist economy

•Autocratic government (dictatorship)

•Lack of/fixed elections

•Suppression/censorship by secret police

•Everybody helps everybody

Short Term CausesAmerican fear of communist attack

Truman’s dislike/distrust of Stalin

America’s secrecy involving atomic secrets

Russia’s fear of nuclear weapons

Russia’s hatred of capitalism

Russia’s expansion west in Europe

Both sides desire to spread their form of government

Conflict in Germany, especially Berlin

The Road to WarYalta Conference

End of WWII conference with Stalin, Roosevelt, ChurchillKey Points: a) Germany and Berlin>divided into 4 zones, b) Poland (which was at time under control of Red Army) was to become a free and democratic nation, c) Russia would have “buffer” of friendly nations to ensure protection

ConflictBy end of WWII Stalin broke promises, was forcing communism on all west provinces except YugoslaviaPoland-Red Army ensured fixed election, communists won

Berlin Airlift•Germany-> divided into 4 zones

•U.S., Britain, France united their parts; Marshall Aid helped German’s in their section prosper again

•Russia wanted to keep Germany poor to reduce threat of future war

•Problem: German’s in Soviet zone could see prosperity other Germans were experiencing

Stalin (Russian leader) ordered closing of all roads, rails, & canals entering West BerlinSolution: America took hold of the one route not closed: the skiesHundreds of planes flew food and essentials into West Berlin (very expensiveSoviets did not dare shoot down American planes; were still a threat because of A-bombSoon after, roads re-opened

Korean WarDivided in half (U.S.S.R.=North, U.S.=South) each half wanted to conquer otherCommunist China fought to overtake South Korea armed by Soviet UnionU.N. Security Council sent in troops (mainly American) led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, an American

MacArthur launched attack on North Korea against ordersForced China to retaliate->caused a stalemate very high in casualtiesStalin died 1953 & Pres. Truman replaced by Eisenhower-helped peace talksArmistice signed 1953

*First war fought using client states!*

Suez CrisisIsrael: new Jewish nation created from Palestine, backed by AmericansEgypt: leading Arab nation; very poor but contains valuable Suez Canal owned by Britain and FranceConflict between Arab nations (Egypt) and IsraelFor support, Egypt looked to the USSR

1956 new Egyptian leader Nasser nationalized canal, angered Britain and FranceTension grew between Egypt and Israel, and Egypt and Britain and France-> all three countries attackedSoviets began pumping money into EgyptHowever nuclear warfare was avoided because America declined to intervene in war

The Berlin WallAfter Berlin Airlift, allied zones united in GermanyWest Germany (allied zone) much more prosperous, East German’s began moving to West Germany through Berlin1961: 1/6 of population of E. Germany leftKhrushchev had to take action: determined an overnight plan

August 13, 1961-East German and Russian “shock workers” erected barbed wire fences along Soviet borderAugust 16- barbed wire replaced with 4 m high, 111 km long concrete block wallManned by 300 watch towers, 190 people shot dead attempting to escapeRussian authorities called it a “protection barrier”Stood as symbol of the suppression and brutality of a communist state

Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962, the world came dangerously close to nuclear war. Cuba was a communist country and the Soviet Union had installed missiles in Cuba. These missiles could attack most major American and Canadians cities. The U.S. demanded the Soviet missiles be removed and blockaded the shipment of Soviet military equipment to Cuba.

Canada’s Position

The U.S. requested that Canada's Bomarc missiles be armed with nuclear warheads. Prime Minister Diefenbaker accused the United States of pressuring Canada. He also accused Liberal leader Pearson of flip-flopping on the issue of nuclear arms. Pearson had opposed nuclear missiles in Canada, but in 1963 decided that Canada had an obligation to accept them. After Pearson was elected as Prime Minister in 1963, the Bomarc missiles were armed with nuclear warheads. The issue highlights the controversy in Canada over fears of nuclear attack on the one hand, and the desire for a strong anti-nuclear policy on the other.

Vietnam WarBefore WWII, Vietnam had been part of French EmpireAfter WWII, North Vietnam given to non-communist China, South Vietnam to FranceChina pulled out of North Vietnam, and communist Ho Chi Minh took over1946-France decided to take over North Vietnam by fighting the Viet Minh- was backed by Americans1954-Geneva Conference-world’s powers decided to divide Vietnam along 17th parallelNgo Dinh Diem led South, Ho Chi Minh the North

Ngo Dinh Diem hated communism therefore had support of AmericaPoor record for human rightsViet Cong (North) guerilla tactics were effective despite America’s $1 billion/day war effortAlso, Viet Minh gaining support amongst people in the southBy 1968, American support for war waning; North was willing to have peace talks

Very slow progress made over 5 yearsHo Chi Minh wanted all foreigners out, wanted Vietnam accepted as united country1969, Nixon agreed to reduce troops from 350 000 to 40 000Without major American troops, South Vietnam could not support its causeJan. 1973, a cease-fire agreed to, Americans told to pull outSoon after, North squashed the South; Vietnam united as a communist country

The Arms Race1949-U.S.S.R. explodes atomic bomb

1952-U.S. develops hydrogen bomb and B52 long range missile

1953-Russia explodes hydrogen bomb

1957-Russia launches Sputnik, world’s first artificial satellite

In response, America built Defense Early Warning (DEW Line) system around arctic, and launched Explorer I

1960s-Russia spent money building as many bombs as possible, America spent money building fewer better quality bombs

1967-Communist China explodes H-bomb

During the 1960s, the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction developed

The number of nuclear missiles available to each side, and the guarantee of a reaction for every action, ensured that any deployment of a bomb would mean destruction for both sides

In 1967…

NATO

Troops: 2.6 million

Tanks: 13 000

Artillery: 10 750

Warsaw Pact

Troops: 4 million

Tanks: 42 500

Artillery: 31 500

1981-USA had 8 000 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, USSR 7 000 ICBM’s

1981-USA had 4 000 planes that could drop an atomic bomb, USSR had 5 000

At this point all 3 powers (America, the Soviet Union and China) were willing to work towards détente

China was worried because it had fewer weapons than America

USA was prepared to find better ways to deal with communism, and did not want to spend even more money after the Vietnam War

USSR was spending so much money on artillery that the standard of living was falling far below normal

Afghanistan•Afghanistan, a middle eastern country, was in midst of civil war

•Hazifullah Amin (Prime Minister):supported communist government, but wanted to become more Western

•Outraged Afghans as most were very religious and communism rejects religion

•Thousands joined Mujahdeen, a guerilla force

•Russians entered Afghanistan to support communist gov’t

•Mujahdeen saw this as invasion

•1979-Russians shot Amin and replaced him with Babrak Kamal

•1982-75% of Afghanistan controlled by Mujahdeen, Kamal only in power because of Soviet military backing

•U.N. condemned invasion from 1980, but Russia ignored them

•America banned exporting grain to Russia, stopped SALT talks and boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympic games

•Soon, Gorbachev took out Russian forces; war was too costly (Russia’s Vietnam War)

Why did it End?Afghanistan: drained money from the Soviet economy, and the defeat dampened public support

Arms Race: almost bankrupted the USSR, money that should have been spent on necessities was being spent on military equipment

Mikhail Gorbachev: came to power in the USSR in the mid 1980s, was determined to end foreign policy burdens and rebuild the Soviet economy

1985: Gorbachev and President Regan begin summit talks1987: agree to eliminate an entire class of nuclear missiles1989: USSR pulls troops out of Afghanistan; Eastern countries elect democratic leaders & communism falls; Berlin Wall is torn down1990: Germany once again a unified country1991: Soviet Union dissolves