Origins of the Cold War 1945 - 1991

The Cold War Growing Distrust The Iron Curtain In the final months of the war, the Allies met at Yalta to discuss the end of the War, tensions arise between USA/England vs. USSR Stalin demands total control of all Nazi lands in Europe, even promising to hold free elections once he stabilizes those nations Churchill and FDR protest, but true to his word, Stalin takes control of Eastern Europe and places a communist government in each held country Churchill coins the term “Iron Curtain” to describe Stalin’s refusal to allow information in or out of Communist nations

The Cold War Containing Soviet Expansion Fighting Communist Take Over The Cold War began during a time period that many Americans were very concerned about the leadership of our country. FDR had died only months before Soviet Tensions began. The 1st challenges in the Cold War erupt in Greece, Iran and Turkey where Communist revolts were actively occurring. In 1947, Truman petitions Congress to help Greece at all cost and that we should adapt a policy of Communist Containment. America would soon offer to send military assistance to any country that asked for help in fighting Communism. This policy became known as the Truman Doctrine. Secretary of State George Marshall went a step further and convinced Congress to give financial assistance to any nation needing help fighting Communism. This became known as the Marshall Plan. Over time, the Marshall Plan proved extremely effective in securing Europe

The Cold War The Berlin Airlifts Bringing Supplies The focus of the Cold War revolves around control of Germany after WWII. At Yalta, the Allies decide to divide Germany into 4 protected zones each controlled by: England, France, USA, USSR. The capital Berlin was also divided into the same 4 zones. In 1948, the Allies wanted to reunite Germany but Stalin refuses. Fearing an attack, Stalin puts troops all around Berlin even the zones he doesn’t control – refusing to allow any food/supplies to move in or out of his zone, the people of Berlin are now under siege. The Allies responded with the “Berlin Airlifts”, a convoy of cargo planes that delivered tons of supplies every day to English, French and America controlled zones. In May of 1949, Stalin backed off the blockade. In response, the 3 Allied zones were combined into a new nation called “The Federal Republic of Germany” or West Germany.

The Cold War The United Nations Created at the end of WWII, the UN’s main goal is to maintain peace world wide. It is made up of a general assembly (where every country of the world can ask for help and voice concerns) and a security counsel (15 nations serve on this counsel, 5 of which are permanent members ) and is located in NYC. America, Russia, China, England and France are permanent members of the security counsel, before the UN can take military action, all 5 must vote unanimously. 1 veto prevents the UN from any action. Many argue that the UN has failed to do make a military impact towards peace, but has had great success in fighting hunger, disease control and improving education.

The Cold War NATO & The Warsaw Pact The Shock of 1949 As fear of war spreads across Europe again, the USA and other European Nations formed a military alliance called NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) with the understanding that if Stalin attacked one of it’s members, all others would instantly join the war to protect each other. Stalin’s response was to create The Warsaw Pact. A collection of Eastern European countries that bordered the USSR and buffered them from NATO nations. Until 1949, most Americans were very confident that we were safe since we were the only country with an atomic bomb. In Sept 1949, the USSR detonates the first of their atomic bombs, and began to make as many as possible. China had been in a civil war for almost 20 years between their Nationalist government and a new Communist government. In 1949, Mao Zedong and the Communists took control of China and forced the regular government to flee to Taiwan. The USA backed the Nationalist Government and only recognized Taiwan as China’s true capital. The USSR backed the Communist Government and only recognized Beijing as the true capital.