Questions Why did the United States and Soviet Union become enemies after WWII? How did the rivalry between the two nations affect Europe and Asia? Why did Communism collapse in the Soviet Union? 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 many cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow. Winston Churchill- March 5, 1946 in Speech in Missouri

The Cold War

After the Second World War Yalta, Feb. 1945 Arrangements made for occupied territories, including holding of elections Soviet army ensured communist governments took power in E. Europe Germany divided into 4 zones; Soviets controlled east. United Nations established Soviet Union obtained A-bomb by 1949, U.S./European Security threatened Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin at Yalta

A Bi-polar World ‘Iron Curtain’ USSR imposed communist govt’s. on E Europe Truman Doctrine: U.S. would try to ‘contain’ communism Support for govt. in Greece 1948 Berlin Airlift 1949 North Atlantic Treaty Organization created to stop Spread of Communism in Europe (NATO) 1955 E. European nations and USSR sign Warsaw Pact The Berlin Airlift

The Berlin Airlift is considered the first victory for the west in the Cold War. 

“IRON CURTAIN” Following WWII, E. Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria signed the Warsaw Pact with Russia. This created what was called the Eastern Block of the USSR. These countries were considered independent satellite states, although in reality they were under the control of the USSR.

Cold War Europe

After WWII the United States sought to relieve some of the suffering in Europe through economic aid called the Marshall Plan.  This aid package included the rebuilding of Germany, which Stalin saw as a threat. 

MARSHALL PLAN

The United States, Canada, and most of the free nations of Western Europe formed NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.  Conversely, the Soviet Union created the Warsaw Pact, an alliance between the USSR and its satellite nations.  The satellite nations were more of a buffer zone used to protect from invasion than a true alliance system. 

NATO & Warsaw Pact

Therefore, Germany was divided into an eastern and western half Therefore, Germany was divided into an eastern and western half.  The city of Berlin itself was also divided.  The western half of Germany and Berlin was rebuilt by the Marshall Plan, while the Soviet-controlled eastern portion was ignored. Stalin tried to keep Western aid out of Berlin, but failed when Allied planes flew around the clock missions for one year, supplying West Berlin. 

Rising Tension 1953 Stalin died Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) eventually was named as his successor 1956 Uprising in Hungary crushed by Soviet Tanks 1957 Sputnik 1961 The Berlin Wall was built 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis 1964 Khrushchev removed from power 1968 Prague Spring- Czech reforms to gov., Soviets stomped it out with military. The Berlin Wall

1961 Berlin Wall Erected

The Soviets went so far as to construct a wall in the center of the city in the 1960's.  The Berlin Wall's stated purpose was to keep capitalism out, but was in reality a wall to keep people from escaping the brutal life under Soviet rule.  The policies of both sides created greater tension between the superpowers and by the 1950's military alliances had been formed with each side expecting the other to attack. 

EAST WEST

“EAST LOOKING WEST”

“SOME MADE IT.”

Total number of nuclear weapons, 1945-1990 Source: Norris and Arkin, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists 50 (1994), 58-9

The Cold War in Asia 1949 Chinese Communists defeat Nationalists Oct. 1, 1949 People’s Republic of China founded Mao Zedong (1893-1976) 1950-1953 Korean War North (Comm) v. South (Dem) China U.S. Vietnam Conflict 1954 Dien Bien Phu 1968 Tet Offensive 1975 Communists unite Vietnam Mao Announces creation of the PRC

Domino Theory

“THE COLD WAR TURNS HOT” THE KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL

THE KOREAN WAR PARK

The Collapse of Soviet Communism Ronald Reagan and the end of Détente (Back to Brinksmanship) 1980 Solidarity founded in Poland Lech Walesa 1981 Martial Law in Poland 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev (1931-) became Premier Glasnost ‘openness’ Perestroika ‘restructuring’ By Late 1980s Soviet Economy in state of near collapse Mikhail Gorbachev

Why did the Soviet Union The Collapse of the Soviet Union Why did the Soviet Union Fall so Quickly? Command Economy Fails Military Commitments Satellite Countries Want Out

The government determines production and where the nation’s resources are going to go: Results in surpluses and shortages Command Economy No motivation to work hard because everyone gets paid the same. “They pretend to pay us and we pretend to work.”

Military Commitment The Soviet Union was responsible for the defense of its entire communist bloc of countries. This was a tremendous burden to the Soviet Union. 50% of the country’s resources are going to the military, this destroys the economy.

The End of the Cold War Without strong hand in S.U., Eastern European governments collapse 1989 Year of Change Poland legalized Solidarity Berlin Wall fell 1990 Germany reunified 1991 Hard-line coup against Gorbachev failed Boris Yeltsin, President of the Russian Federation gains power, Soviet Union disintegrates The Fall of the Berlin Wall