Stalin in Power, 1929-53 Collectivization of agriculture Industrialization Repression and Great Terror Great Patriotic War Early Cold War with US
World War II
Stalin Miscalculates “I know what Hitler is up to. He thinks he’s outsmarted me, but actually it’s I who have tricked him.”
Stalin Miscalculates “I knew war would come, but I thought it might gain another six months or so.” (1941)
Stalin Miscalculates “Lenin left us a great inheritance, and we, his heirs, have f*cked it all up.” Stalin “immobilized” soon after attack (June 29/30)
Stalin’s Actions in WW II Rallied the Russian people Mother Russia Orthodox Church Western alliance Allows generals to “run war” Reduction of terror (since 1939) Vague promises of post-war change
World War II Outcomes USSR “devastated” but victorious (27 million deaths) Beginning of new East European empire One of two military superpowers Generalissimo Stalin triumphant USSR returns to five-year plans, dictatorship, repression
1947-91
Road to Cold War Communist regimes in Eastern Europe Socialist parties in Western Europe US/West responds to Soviet expansion Spread of communist outside Europe
Establishment of the Cold War Uneasy alliance was breaking down as WW 2 was ending Suspicions on both side FDR and Stalin hopeful that alliance could continue in some form Realism “says” US-Soviet conflict almost inevitable
Post-War Realism? Stalin: “Whoever occupies a territory also imposes on it his own social system. Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army has the power to do so. It cannot be otherwise.”
Eastern Europe, 1945-49 USSR will not be attacked by Germany again (WWI and WW II) Stalin demands a “buffer zone” in Eastern Europe Eventually: Stalin takes total control
Eastern Europe, 1945-49 Wasn’t a “master plan” for domination of Eastern Europe Process of coalition governments, puppet liberal parties, communist dictatorship Actually some support for communism (not brutal dictatorship) in certain EE countries
Berlin Blockade, 1948-49
Socialism in Western Europe Fear that socialist parties might come to power in Italy, France, elsewhere Western Europe was economically ravaged after WW 2 Stalin might “conquer” parts of Western Europe through free elections US must help strengthen Western Europe
US Road to Cold War Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech (1946) Diplomat George Kennan outlines policy of containment (1946) US aid to Greece and Turkey and creation of Truman Doctrine (1947) Marshall Plan economic aid to countries of Western Europe, 1948-51 Creation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949 Creation of West Germany in 1949
Spread of Communism Communist threats outside of Europe
Spread of Communism China falls to communists in 1949 Korean War with communist North Korea and Chinese intervention, 1950-53 Rise of nationalist-communists in Vietnam following WW 2 Stalin did not “create” any of these situations, but gave some support Perception was that Stalin was behind all of these developments
Spread of Communism Outside of Eastern Europe, Stalin proved to be quite pragmatic and backed down in places where challenged by US/West Logic of US containment policy
Was the Cold War Inevitable? No, but hard to see otherwise
Cold War is well-established as Stalin dies in 1953
The End