The Cold War Begins

Cold War Begins During WWII an uneasy alliance between the US & USSR emerged On surface > pleasantries but hostilities simmered beneath Stalin vs. Truman relationship Mistrust over a-bomb FDR on good terms/respect

Tip of the iceberg…

End of WWII Soviet Union 20 million died, 4.7 million homes destroyed, 2000 towns & 70,000 villages ruined, 25 million homeless Most concerned about protecting self from re-arming Germany & rebuilding shattered econ Desired a permanently weak Germany

End of WWII continued U.S. Emerged more powerful than when we entered WWII Controlled nearly 50% world’s wealth Visions of peace & prosperity Re-build Germany & Japan

Cold War Map

Origins of Cold War Diplomatic war of words (high tension & bitter rivalry) U.S.-Soviet conflict in which 2 superpowers avoid fighting each other directly but blocked goals around the world 1920-30s U.S. viewed Soviets as potential enemy; hostile to communism

Causes of the Cold War Philosophical Differences WWII Conflicts USSR: communist, totalitarian dictatorship U.S.: free-enterprise capitalism, republic WWII Conflicts USSR wanted Britain & US to open a 2nd European front earlier in war US secretly developed atomic bomb Postwar Conflicts USSR refused to live up to wartime promises of elections in E. Europe US made efforts to resist Soviet expansion

Yalta Conference Yalta Conference Feb 1945 = high point of cooperation Stalin agrees to join against Japan, pledged support to U.N. Disagreement over E. Europe US & Britain wanted free elections > Soviet dictator policies

Post-WWII Developments Potsdam July 1945 (Germany surrendered but Japan continued Disarm Germany > zones of occupation (Berlin) Iron Curtain Churchill speech reflects sharp division in Europe

U.S. Response Containment Truman Doctrine Restriction of communism to its current borders George Keenan (young Amer diplomat to Moscow embassy) Truman Doctrine Soviets try to force Turks to share control of key shipping channel between Black & Mediterranean Sea Greek gov’t fighting communist rebels Truman asks Congress for $400 million in military & economic aid Defined U.S. foreign policy for next 20 years

Marshall Plan June 1947 Secretary of State George Marshall suggests plan to rebuild Europe $14 billion in aid sent to Europe over 5 years 17 nations participated Britain, France, & Italy received the most aid

Cold War Deepens Berlin 4 zones of Germany divided including capital of Berlin Soviet plan to keep zone communist vs. US, British steps to set up free, democratic government (French later join) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJQ3n6-oNvs

Berlin Crisis Western zone = Federal Republic of Germany (W. Germany) with same currency Upset Soviets > June 1948 blockade with 2 million West Berlin hostages Berlin Airlift (each day average 7000 tons of supplies, every 3 minutes to launch for 11 months Improved relations between US & Germany Disaster for Stalin because world opinion turned against him