The ‘War of Words’ between East and West “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an "Iron Curtain" has descended across the continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow.” Winston Churchill March 1946
... In substance, Mr. Churchill now stands in the position of a firebrand of war. And Mr. Churchill is not alone here. He has friends not only in England but also in the United States of America. In this respect, one is reminded remarkably of Hitler and his friends. Hitler began to set war loose by announcing his racial theory, declaring that only people speaking the German language represent a fully valuable nation. Mr. Churchill begins to set war loose, also by a racial theory, maintaining that only nations speaking the English language are fully valuable nations, called upon to decide the destinies of the entire world. Stalin’s response to Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain” speech March 1946
The Long Telegram 1946 – for the attention of President Harry S Truman Key features: Stalin has given a speech calling for the end of capitalism. There could be no peace in the USSR while it was opposed to capitalism. The USSR was currently building up its military power. The Soviets believed that the USA would seek to both limit and contain Communism.
For the attention of the Supreme Leader, Generalissimo Stalin America desired to dominate the world Following Roosevelt’s death the American government was no longer interested in co operating with the USSR Novikov’s Telegram 1946 The American public was being prepared for war with the USSR
Many American soldiers who had fought in WW2 entered politics on their return. To many they saw little difference between Hitler and Stalin…
The Truman Doctrine 1947: The world had a choice between communist tyranny and democratic freedom. America had a responsibility to fight for liberty wherever it was threatened. America would send troops and economic resources to help governments that were threatened by communists. Communism should not be allowed to grow and gain territory.
Why might the concept of Communism appeal to these nations? USSR = to weak to start a war again 1945 / 46. However did they have a second strategy? The following nations had been devastated: Why might the concept of Communism appeal to these nations?
The Marshal Plan 1947 Truman described containment and the Marshal as ‘two halves of the same walnut’. This meant the USA had a dual policy – first defeat Communism through military force, secondly the Marshal Plan committed $13 billion of USA money to rebuild the shattered European economies. Prosperity = loss of appeal of Communism. The communist ideal of financial equality appealed to those suffering but not to those benefiting from economic prosperity. In order to receive Marshal Aid European countries had to agree to trade freely with the USA. European leaders met at the Paris Conference of 1948 to discuss Marshal Aid. However the USSR walked out of the conference claiming the Americans were trying to split Europe into two ‘camps’ with Marshal Aid the first step in creating a military alliance against the USSR. Stalin insisted that no country in the Soviet ‘sphere of influence’ receive any support. 16 ‘Western’ nations welcomed the offer seeing the aid as a way of rebuilding their economies and avoiding communism.
The Road to the Cold War: 1946 - 1948 Factor: Key details: Significance: How did it help lead to the Cold War?