Cold War

U.S. and Soviet Relations The U.S. and the Soviet Union were allies during W.W.II. However, even before the end of the war the alliance began to unravel. The U.S. was upset with Stalin for working with Hitler (nonaggression pact) Stalin blamed the allies for delaying the invasion of German-occupied Europe

Yalta Conference Postwar Plans for Germany In February 1945, they agreed to divide Germany into 4 separate zones. Each zone would be occupied by the soldiers of one of the main allied powers. Berlin too had been divided into four zones. Germany has to pay the Soviet Union to compensate for its loss of life and property. In turn Stalin promised to have free elections in Eastern Europe.

United Nations In June 1945, the United States and the Soviet Union temporarily set aside their differences. They were among the 50 countries that formed the United Nations. This international organization was intended to protect the members from aggression. The U.N. pledged to save the world from war.

Goals for the Postwar World U.S. and the Soviet Union had sharp political and economic differences. Postwar Goals U.S. wanted to encourage democracy and trade. Wanted to put the different zones of Germany back together to make one nation (Unify Germany). Soviet Union Wanted to promote communism Take advantage of raw materials in Eastern Europe and rebuild its own economy Keep Germany divided and weak.

Stalin Breaks Promise Stalin went back on his word to allow for free Elections in Eastern Europe. He installed communist governments in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, and Yugoslavia (Eastern Europe) The Soviet Union regarded these countries as a necessary buffer along the Soviet’s western border. This decision of not allowing free elections in Eastern Europe angered U.S. President Truman, but Stalin would not budge.

The Iron Curtain Europe now lay divided between East and West. Germany was split into two sections. The Soviets controlled the eastern part (including half of the capital Berlin) Named the German Democratic Republic and was Communist Western part was controlled by the Allies and mostly democratic. Named the Federal Republic of Germany. This division in Europe became known as the Iron Curtain.

Size of this preview: 582 × 599 pixels Non -Communist Communist

Containment In response to Stalin’s actions Truman began a policy of containment. Containment was a policy directed at preventing the expansion of communism. Containment policies included creating alliances and helping weak countries resist Soviet advancements.

Truman Doctrine In President Truman’s quest to contain Communism he turned to congress for help. The Truman Doctrine gave aid and support to countries that in fact rejected Communism. Caused great controversy. Some felt the U.S. should not interfere in other nation’s affairs. Congress, however, immediately supported the doctrine and authorized over $400 million in aid to Turkey and Greece.

Marshall Plan As a part of the Containment policy the United States adopted the Marshall Plan in 1947. Proposed that the U.S. would give aid to needy European countries. The Plan donated food and materials such as machines to Western European countries, helping them to rebuild from war. $12.5 billion program Nearly $13 billion in U.S. aid was sent to Europe from 1948 to 1952. The Soviet Union and communist Eastern Europe decline U.S. aid, citing "dollar enslavement." Secretary of State George Marshall

Clash Over Germany While Europe began rebuilding the U.S. and its allies clashed with the Soviet Union over Germany. In 1948, Allies (France, Britain, and the U.S.) withdrew their forces from Germany. They would let their three occupation zones form one nation. In response, the Soviet Union held West Berlin hostage.

Blockade What makes this unique is Berlin lays well within the Soviet occupation zone of Germany. The Soviets cut off highway, water, and rail traffic into Berlin’s Western Zones. Since no supplies could get in, the cities faced starvation. Stalin hoped it would force the Allies to surrender West Berlin or give up on their idea of unifying Germany. Stalin gambled that the threat would frighten Western countries. He hoped it would force them to surrender West Berlin or give up on their idea of unifying Germany.

Berlin Airlift The United States/British Responded with the Berlin Airlift. The U.S./British flew food and supplies into West Berlin for 11 months. After 270,000 flights, pilots brought in 2.3 million tons of supplies. Food , fuel, medicine and even Christmas presents. Soviet Union lifts the blockade.

Cold War Begins These conflicts marked the start of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Cold War--struggle over political differences carried on by means short of military action or war. Beginning in 1949 and continuing until the Soviet Union broke up in 1991 the Cold war dictated the U.S. and Soviet foreign policy.

Other Nations Take Sides In 1949, 10 western European nations joined the U.S. and Canada to form a defensive military alliance called NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Each nation promised to defend any other member that was attacked. The Soviets and the countries of Eastern Europe made a similar agreement called the Warsaw Pact. In 1961, the East Germans built a wall to separate East and West Berlin. The Berlin Wall symbolized a world divided into rival camps.

Nuclear Threat As these alliances were forming, the Cold War threatened to heat up enough to destroy the world. In 1949, the Soviet Union announced that they, like the United States, had developed an atomic bomb. By 1952 both nations had an even more deadly weapon—the Hydrogen Bomb. Thousands of times more powerful than the A-bomb. Rather than the splitting of atoms, its power came from the fusion, or joining together, of atoms.

On Edge Soon both the United States and the Soviet Union were involved in an Arms race, as they produced growing numbers of nuclear weapons and developed new ways to deliver them. Both countries were ready for war at anytime. Brinkmanship—willingness to go to the brink or edge of war. Note: Dwight D. Eisenhower became the president in 1953.

Science and Technology The Cold war also affected the science and education programs of the two countries. August 1957, the Soviets announced the development of a rocket that could travel great distances – an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). In Oct 1957, Soviet scientists shocked the world by launching Sputnik, the world’s first unmanned satellite, using an ICBM. Many Americans felt that the soviets were far ahead in science and technology, prompting the U.S. to start spending huge amounts of money to improve math and science education. 1958, the U.S. launched its own satellite.

U2 Incident In 1955, President Eisenhower proposed that the U.S. and the Soviet Union should be able to fly over each other’s territory to guard against surprise nuclear attacks. Soviet Union said no. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) started secret high-altitude spy flights over Soviet territory in planes called U2s. May 1960, the Soviets shot down a U-2 plane and the pilot was captured. This U2 incident heightened Cold War tensions.