The Roots of the The Roots of the Cold WarCold War

Student ResponseStudent Response

• Describe a time in your life when Describe a time in your life when you had an adversary, or enemy, you had an adversary, or enemy, with whom you later became with whom you later became friendly. What caused you to be friendly. What caused you to be adversaries? What changed that adversaries? What changed that allowed you to become friendly?allowed you to become friendly?

Stalin and Hitler as Brief Stalin and Hitler as Brief AlliesAllies

• Following the Following the Russian Revolution Russian Revolution Stalin ruled the Stalin ruled the USSR as an island of USSR as an island of communism. communism.

• After Britain and After Britain and France allowed France allowed Hitler to take over Hitler to take over Czechoslovakia Stalin Czechoslovakia Stalin worried they would worried they would not prevent a not prevent a German invasion of German invasion of the USSR.the USSR.

• As a result in 1939 Stalin signed a As a result in 1939 Stalin signed a nonaggression pact with Hitler, nonaggression pact with Hitler, agreeing to let Germany invade agreeing to let Germany invade Poland.Poland.– Confirmed American distrust of both Confirmed American distrust of both

Nazis and SovietsNazis and Soviets

• ““The principle difference between The principle difference between Mr. Hitler and Mr. Stalin is the size Mr. Hitler and Mr. Stalin is the size of their respective mustaches.” -WSJof their respective mustaches.” -WSJ

An Unlikely AllianceAn Unlikely Alliance

• The adversarial relationship changed The adversarial relationship changed after Hitler invaded the USSR in 1941after Hitler invaded the USSR in 1941– Stalin immediately switched alliancesStalin immediately switched alliances

• United by the urgency to defeat Hitler United by the urgency to defeat Hitler the Allies welcomed Stalin, putting their the Allies welcomed Stalin, putting their ideological differences aside…ideological differences aside…temporarilytemporarily

• Although the U.S. and Britain were Although the U.S. and Britain were happy to have the Soviets on their side, happy to have the Soviets on their side, ideological differences still lurked ideological differences still lurked within…within…

An Uneasy AllianceAn Uneasy Alliance

• Though allied, disagreements Though allied, disagreements over how the fight the war over how the fight the war emergedemerged– The USSR bore the brunt of the The USSR bore the brunt of the

warwar• More casualties than the U.S., More casualties than the U.S.,

France, and Britain combined!France, and Britain combined!

• Stalin resented the slow pace Stalin resented the slow pace the allies chose to invade the allies chose to invade France…not until 1944.France…not until 1944.– But allies contend they sent But allies contend they sent

ample support to Russiaample support to Russia

Soviet and America Soviet and America Soldiers MeetSoldiers Meet

• April 1945 American April 1945 American soldiers move in to soldiers move in to Germany from the Germany from the West and Soviets West and Soviets move in from the move in from the East meeting at the East meeting at the Elbe River.Elbe River.– Cries rang out, Cries rang out,

“American Tovarishi!” “American Tovarishi!” (American comrades)(American comrades)

The Emergence of Two The Emergence of Two SuperpowersSuperpowers

• After the war some After the war some nations (i.e. England) nations (i.e. England) had lost prestigehad lost prestige

• Two new world powers Two new world powers rose as superbly rose as superbly powerful nations….powerful nations….– U.S. U.S. – U.S.S.RU.S.S.R

• Despite the alliance Despite the alliance during WWII, differences during WWII, differences led to struggles for world led to struggles for world leadershipleadership

• U.S. ValuesU.S. Values– CapitalismCapitalism– DemocracyDemocracy– IndividualismIndividualism

• U.S. AimsU.S. Aims– Encourage democracy in Encourage democracy in

other countries to help other countries to help prevent the rise of prevent the rise of Communist governmentsCommunist governments

– Gain access to raw Gain access to raw materials and markets to materials and markets to fuel booming industriesfuel booming industries

– Rebuild European Rebuild European governments to promote governments to promote stability and create new stability and create new markets for U.S. goodsmarkets for U.S. goods

– Reunite Germany to Reunite Germany to stabilize it and increase the stabilize it and increase the security of Europesecurity of Europe

• Soviet ValuesSoviet Values– SocialismSocialism– One-party ruleOne-party rule– Goal of equalityGoal of equality

• Soviet AimsSoviet Aims– Encourage communism in Encourage communism in

other countries as part of a other countries as part of a world wide workers’ world wide workers’ revolutionrevolution

– Rebuild its war-ravaged Rebuild its war-ravaged economy using Eastern economy using Eastern Europe’s industrial Europe’s industrial equipment and raw materialsequipment and raw materials

– Control Eastern Europe to Control Eastern Europe to protect Soviet borders and protect Soviet borders and balance the U.S. influence in balance the U.S. influence in Western EuropeWestern Europe

– Keep Germany divided to Keep Germany divided to prevent its waging war againprevent its waging war again

A Divided EuropeA Divided Europe

• Near wars end the “Big Near wars end the “Big Three” meet at YaltaThree” meet at Yalta– Agreed n a military plan Agreed n a military plan

to end the war and a to end the war and a joint occupation of joint occupation of GermanyGermany

• At the end of WWII:At the end of WWII:– U.S. remained in W. U.S. remained in W.

European nations long European nations long enough to stabilizeenough to stabilize

– Soviets, attempt to Soviets, attempt to create “buffer zone” in create “buffer zone” in E. Europe…never leave.E. Europe…never leave.

• Potsdam Conference: Potsdam Conference: Truman and Stalin had Truman and Stalin had agreed to allow Poland to agreed to allow Poland to hold free elections in the hold free elections in the futurefuture

• Stalin est. Soviet-satellite Stalin est. Soviet-satellite nations in Hungary, Poland, nations in Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Bulgaria, Romania, CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

• Became evident that postwar Became evident that postwar Europe would be divided Europe would be divided into two spheres of influenceinto two spheres of influence

• From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent. Behind that line lies across the continent. Behind that line lies all the capitals of the ancient states of all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe…All these Central and Eastern Europe…All these famous cities and the populations around famous cities and the populations around them lie in the Soviet sphere and all are them lie in the Soviet sphere and all are subject in one form or another, not only to subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and Soviet influence but to a very high and increasing measure of control from increasing measure of control from Moscow.”Moscow.” Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill

The Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan

• Soviet control began to strengthen in E. Soviet control began to strengthen in E. EuropeEurope– Truman fears domino theoryTruman fears domino theory

• 1947: U.S. issues Marshall Plan1947: U.S. issues Marshall Plan– 17 billion in economic aid to Western Europe17 billion in economic aid to Western Europe– Soviets viewed as a plan to strengthen the Soviets viewed as a plan to strengthen the

American economyAmerican economy• SU refused to allow E. Europe to accept loansSU refused to allow E. Europe to accept loans

• In response the SU issues the Molotov In response the SU issues the Molotov PlanPlan– Provided economic assistance to E. EuropeProvided economic assistance to E. Europe

The Cold WarThe Cold War

• Hostilities between the SU and U.S. Hostilities between the SU and U.S. was elevated in the postwar erawas elevated in the postwar era– Journalist Walter Lippman first used the Journalist Walter Lippman first used the

term term Cold War Cold War to describe the “constant to describe the “constant war of nerves” between the U.S. and SUwar of nerves” between the U.S. and SU

• Throughout the proceeding four Throughout the proceeding four decades two countries came close to decades two countries came close to fighting each other directlyfighting each other directly– First near war flare up occurred First near war flare up occurred

ironically in Germanyironically in Germany

The Allies Divide The Allies Divide GermanyGermany

• After WWII Germany and Berlin After WWII Germany and Berlin divided among super powersdivided among super powers

• Germany: East (SU), South (US), NW Germany: East (SU), South (US), NW (Britain), France shared West(Britain), France shared West

• Berlin (Located in the East): Divided Berlin (Located in the East): Divided into quadrantsinto quadrants– Stalin disapproved but the US and GB Stalin disapproved but the US and GB

wouldn’t back downwouldn’t back down

The Superpowers Disagree The Superpowers Disagree About the Future of About the Future of

GermanyGermany• Both did agree to permanently Both did agree to permanently

disband German militarydisband German military• SU insisted Germany pay reparationsSU insisted Germany pay reparations• The US resisted issuing reparations The US resisted issuing reparations

for fear that a poor Germany would for fear that a poor Germany would fall to Communismfall to Communism

• This dispute ignited the first “battle” This dispute ignited the first “battle” of the Cold Warof the Cold War

The Berlin BlockadeThe Berlin Blockade

• Due to differences concerning the Due to differences concerning the German economy the SU began to German economy the SU began to believe the US was creating a West believe the US was creating a West hostile to communismhostile to communism

• March 1948: Western powers announced March 1948: Western powers announced a new more stable currency in Germanya new more stable currency in Germany

• Because the SU was not consulted they Because the SU was not consulted they withdrew from the Allied Control Council withdrew from the Allied Control Council and instituted a formal blockade in June and instituted a formal blockade in June 19481948– W. Berliners cut off from necessary suppliesW. Berliners cut off from necessary supplies

The Berlin AirliftThe Berlin Airlift

• American response to the Berlin American response to the Berlin BlockadeBlockade– US dropped supplies to west Berliners in US dropped supplies to west Berliners in

August 1948August 1948• 13,000 tons of food and fuel dropped each day13,000 tons of food and fuel dropped each day

• World community held negative World community held negative perception of the SUperception of the SU

• Stalin reopened Berlin in May 1949Stalin reopened Berlin in May 1949• 1961 the SU built Berlin wall 1961 the SU built Berlin wall

permanently separating the two sidespermanently separating the two sides

The Arms Race BeginsThe Arms Race Begins

• The Atomic BombThe Atomic Bomb– US was first to use in WWIIUS was first to use in WWII

• Use of the bomb increased tensions leading Use of the bomb increased tensions leading to nuclear arms raceto nuclear arms race

Nuclear DiplomacyNuclear Diplomacy

• After 1945 the superpowers began using After 1945 the superpowers began using the threat of nuclear war as a diplomatic the threat of nuclear war as a diplomatic tactictactic

• Truman informed Stalin of the US Truman informed Stalin of the US nuclear capability to which Stalin nuclear capability to which Stalin responded…responded…– ““Atomic bombs are used to frighten those Atomic bombs are used to frighten those

with weak nerves.”with weak nerves.” -Stalin-Stalin

• Foreshadowed Soviet development of Foreshadowed Soviet development of atomic weaponsatomic weapons

The Soviet BombThe Soviet Bomb

• 1949 the SU began development of 1949 the SU began development of an A-Bomban A-Bomb

• US scientists predicted it would take US scientists predicted it would take them 7-10 years, but it only took 5.them 7-10 years, but it only took 5.

• 1953…the SU exploded their first A-1953…the SU exploded their first A-bombbomb

• 1955: the SU dropped the first H-1955: the SU dropped the first H-bombbomb

Superpower Competition in Superpower Competition in EuropeEurope

• Since the era of the Cold War included Since the era of the Cold War included possible nuclear devastation the US and possible nuclear devastation the US and SU refused to risk direct military conflictSU refused to risk direct military conflict

• Instead, they fought the Cold War to Instead, they fought the Cold War to expand their expand their spheres of influence spheres of influence – Marshall Plan and NATO (Western influence)Marshall Plan and NATO (Western influence)– Molotov Plan and Warsaw Pact (Eastern Molotov Plan and Warsaw Pact (Eastern

influence)influence)– Regional wars supported by both sides in Regional wars supported by both sides in

Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle EastEast