1. The Cold War Begins

2. Cold War Begins
During WWII an uneasy alliance between the US & USSR emerged
On surface > pleasantries but hostilities simmered beneath
Stalin vs. Truman relationship
Mistrust over a-bomb
FDR on good terms/respect

3. Tip of the iceberg…

4. End of WWII Soviet Union
20 million died, 4.7 million homes destroyed, 2000 towns & 70,000 villages ruined, 25 million homeless
Most concerned about protecting self from re-arming Germany & rebuilding shattered econ
Desired a permanently weak Germany

5. End of WWII continued U.S.
Emerged more powerful than when we entered WWII
Controlled nearly 50% world’s wealth
Visions of peace & prosperity
Re-build Germany & Japan

6. Cold War Map

7. Origins of Cold War
Diplomatic war of words (high tension & bitter rivalry)
U.S.-Soviet conflict in which 2 superpowers avoid fighting each other directly but blocked goals around the world
s U.S. viewed Soviets as potential enemy; hostile to communism

8. Causes of the Cold War Philosophical Differences WWII Conflicts
USSR: communist, totalitarian dictatorship
U.S.: free-enterprise capitalism, republic
WWII Conflicts
USSR wanted Britain & US to open a 2nd European front earlier in war
US secretly developed atomic bomb
Postwar Conflicts
USSR refused to live up to wartime promises of elections in E. Europe
US made efforts to resist Soviet expansion

9. Yalta Conference Yalta Conference Feb 1945 = high point of cooperation
Stalin agrees to join against Japan, pledged support to U.N.
Disagreement over E. Europe
US & Britain wanted free elections > Soviet dictator policies

10. Post-WWII Developments
Potsdam
July 1945 (Germany surrendered but Japan continued
Disarm Germany > zones of occupation (Berlin)
Iron Curtain
Churchill speech reflects
sharp division in Europe

13. U.S. Response Containment Truman Doctrine
Restriction of communism to its current borders
George Keenan (young Amer diplomat to Moscow embassy)
Truman Doctrine
Soviets try to force Turks to share control of key shipping channel between Black & Mediterranean Sea
Greek gov’t fighting communist rebels
Truman asks Congress for $400 million in military & economic aid
Defined U.S. foreign policy for next 20 years

14. Marshall Plan
June 1947 Secretary of State George Marshall suggests plan to rebuild Europe
$14 billion in aid sent to Europe over 5 years
17 nations participated
Britain, France, & Italy received the most aid

17. Cold War Deepens Berlin
4 zones of Germany divided including capital of Berlin
Soviet plan to keep zone communist vs. US, British steps to set up free, democratic government (French later join)

19. Berlin Crisis
Western zone = Federal Republic of Germany (W. Germany) with same currency
Upset Soviets > June 1948 blockade with 2 million West Berlin hostages
Berlin Airlift (each day average 7000 tons of supplies, every 3 minutes to launch for 11 months
Improved relations between US & Germany
Disaster for Stalin because world opinion turned against him