The Cold War 1945-1991

The End of WWII AFTERMATH… 30 million people were dead compared to 10 million in WW1 41,000 Canadian casualties compared to 60,000 in WW1 The RCN had increased substantially to the 3rd largest Navy in the World The League of Nations was replaced by the United Nations (U.N.) The end of the war saw the beginning of an uneasy peace in the World and the beginning of the Cold War (1945-1991) Most Eastern European countries were swallowed up by Russia and formed part of the Soviet Bloc of communist countries Germany was split in two – Western Germany and Eastern (communist) Germany

Canada in 1945 Income taxes increased substantially to help pay for the war Canada inherited a 2.7 billion dollar debt Canada contributed millions of dollars to help rebuild Europe (Marshall Plan) On the world front, Canada was emerging as a significant ‘middle-power’ We had gained global respect for our efforts in the war Canada’s ties to the U.S. were strengthened as a result of WW2 The Marshall Plan, 1947 : Massive aid program to halt the growth of communism . Based on belief that poorer nations were more susceptible to turning to communism . Canada sent $706 million in aid

The United Nations “We the peoples of the United Nations, determine to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind … do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.” An international organization founded in 1945 In 1945 there were 50 member nations (192 now) Purpose – to prevent disputes between countries and initiate dialogue (replaced the League of Nations established after WWI) Other Aims – create cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights

Yalta and Potsdam

YALTA (in the USSR) Date: Feb 1945 Present: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin

Yalta Conference The February 1945 Yalta Conference was the second wartime meeting of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During the conference, the three leaders agreed to demand Germany’s unconditional surrender and began plans for a post-war world. Stalin also agreed to permit free elections in Eastern Europe and to enter the Asian war against Japan

POTSDAM (Germany) Date: July 1945 Present: Churchill, Truman and Stalin

Potsdam Conference Potsdam July 1945 Potsdam was the last of the World War II meetings held by the “Big Three” heads of state. Featuring American President Harry S. Truman, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (and his successor, Clement Attlee) and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin The leaders arrived at various agreements on the German economy, punishment for war criminals, land boundaries and reparations Following victory, the allies could not agree over the spoils of war. The U.S. wanted to establish democracy in war torn Europe, while the U.S.S.R. hoped for communism. They agreed to occupy Germany with the Allied Control Council. The Soviets had 2.5 million troops in Eastern Europe. Potsdam July 1945

The Fate of Germany Berlin, Germany – divided among allied powers – France, Soviet Union, U.S. and Britain (a problem because in Soviet zone) Germany also divided into 4 zones – U.S., Soviet Union, Britain, France

Superpower Superpower= A powerful and influential nation, especially a nuclear power that dominates its allies or client states in an international power bloc. a country that has a say in every corner of the globe and without whose say nothing truly substantial can be achieved in any such corner.”- Andrei Gromyko If the United States and Soviet Union are considered to be “superpowers”, what do you think “middle power” means?

Middle Power Middlepower= states that are not superpowers or great powers, but still have larger or moderate influence and international recognition.

So what was The Cold War then? This term is used to describe the relationship between America and the Soviet Union 1945 to 1980. Neither side ever fought the other - the consequences would be too appalling HOT War Actual conflict between countries that are at war For example, the First World War Cold War Conflict between countries that did not involve actual battles between the two countries However, there were a number of conflicts because of the Cold War ○ Korean War (1950-53) ○ Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) ○ Vietnam War (1965-75) Nuclear arms race

Causes of The Cold War Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech 1.  Long history of mutual suspicion since the Russian Revolution. 2.  Disputes during World War II over a Second Front. 3.  Russia’s late Entry into the war against Japan 4.  US drops nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 5.  West’s Nuclear Monopoly 6.  Administration of Occupied Germany 7.  Creating Communist Regimes in Eastern Europe liberated from the Nazis by the Red Army 8.  Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech (March 5, 1946) Major point: The USSR lost around 20 million people in WW2 (GB lost around 370,000 and the USA lost 297,000 people) Stalin was determined to make the USSR secure in the future

Cold War Definitions Communism and Capitalism= economic systems Soviet Union: communist Authoritarianism (political system) Emphasis on the collective- share the wealth USA: capitalism (free market) Democratic (political system) Emphasis on the individual- rights and freedoms

Communism Communism

The Iron Curtain The term iron curtain was coined by Sir Winston Churchill in a 1946 speech. It referred to the geographical and political boundary between Soviet-controlled countries in Eastern Europe and Western Europe Iron Curtain – meant blocked free movement of information, products, people between Western and Eastern Europe The result: a divided postwar world with countries aligning with or sympathetic to one of two superpowers i) USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) ii) USA

A preserved part of The Iron Curtain in Czech Republic

Allies occupy Germany, rebuild it, and model it after their governments France, England, USA get the west Soviet Union gets the east Berlin was the key city and was divided into two (west & east)

The Berlin Wall 1961-1989 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqS-BlpfU4 West side was prosperous: people enjoyed rights & freedoms & western lifestyle East side spent little money on infrastructure and people lived meagre lives under communism