1. What is happening in this picture?
What can you infer about the relationship between the USA and USSR in 1945?
Source A – American and Russian soldiers meet on the Elbe river in Germany, April 1945

2. Why did the Cold War start?
L/O: To investigate reasons why the Cold War started between
Russia and America after the Second World War.
Do next: Copy this timeline into your books. Once you have finished use the information to describe why the USA and USSR worked together during the Second World War
August 1939 – Germany and Russia signed a non-aggression pact.
September 1939 – Germany invaded Poland starting the Second World War Germany and the USSR divide Poland between themselves.
1939 – 1941 – Germany conquers most of Western Europe.
August 1941 – Germany disregarded the non – aggression pact and invaded Russia.
December 1941 – The Japanese attacked the Americans at Pearl Harbour. Germany declares war on the USA to support their Japanese ally.
1943 – Britain, USA and USSR meet during the Tehran Conference.
January 1945 – Yalta Conference
April 1945 – Russian and American soldiers meet in Eastern Germany
May 1945 – Russia conquers Berlin, Germany Surrenders.
July 1945 – Potsdam Conference.

3. What did Stalin think about his allies (Britain and the USA)?
“Perhaps you think because we are allies with the English we have forgotten who they are…..
Churchill is the kind who, if you don’t watch him, will slip a kopek out of your pocket. And Roosevelt? Roosevelt is not like that. He dips his hand only for bigger coins.”
Stalin
What did Stalin think about his allies (Britain and the USA)?
What does this suggest about the relationship between the allies during the Second World War?

4. Conferences
During the Second World War the leaders of the Allies (Britain, USA and USSR) met during three major conferences – Tehran (in Iran), Yalta (in Russia), Potsdam (In Germany)
The Tehran Conference
Use the information on the worksheet to create a fact file about the Tehran Conference.
Include information about:
Where and When?
Who was involved?
What was discussed/decided?
What does this suggest about the relationship
between the Allies in 1943?

5. The ‘Big Three’…
The Big 3– USSR, USA and GB were the important powers in the world.
Towards the end of the Second World War they all had very different aims about what should be done in Europe.

6. The USA
President Franklin D. Roosevelt - Roosevelt wanted all the countries in Eastern Europe to be free, democratic and independent countries.
This was a solution which seemed obvious to the USA as it was very strong and was in no danger of being invaded by anyone.

7. Great Britain
Winston Churchill – though all countries of Eastern Europe should be freed from Nazi rule and have democracy. Churchill “offered” a deal by which countries were divided up into ‘spheres of influence’ (areas they had political power over);

8. The USSR Joseph Stalin - took a very different view.
Nothing like WW2 should ever happen again
Germany - Stalin wanted to make sure that the Nazis were removed and that Germany itself could never damage to the USSR again.
Eastern Europe- Wanted these to be friendly towards the USSR and act as a buffer zone between the two countries.

9. The Problem with Poland -
GB had entered WW2 in 1939 to defend Poland but Germany and the USSR had gained territory.
Stalin wanted Poland to expand even further West so there would be a ‘buffer zone’ between Germany and the USSR.
He wanted to make sure Poland had a pro-Soviet government.
Stalin had a government in exile (the Lublin Poles) ready to take over, although WC and FDR supported another group.

10. Buffer zone?
This is a neutral country between two hostile countries – meant to prevent them from going to war.

11. Yalta – Feb 1945
Nazi Germany was almost defeated. 
From the East, Stalin's armies have taken control of Poland and much of Eastern Europe. 
The "Big 3" (Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt) are meeting at Yalta to discuss the shape of the post-war world.
As we know, they each had very different aims and priorities.

12. The Yalta Conference – Negotiation Game
In groups of three you are going to take on the role of one of the big three.
You will be given a list of your countries main priorities and what they want to get the other countries to agree on.
In your group discuss each problem in order. Try to convince the other countries to agree with what you want.
When you successfully get the other countries to agree you will get the points for that priority.
Who ever has the most points at the end of the game wins.

13. What really happened at Yalta?
Read through the worksheet about what was actually decided at the Yalta conference. Write down who would be happy with each decision.

14. Spot the difference between the two pictures/two conferences.
Suggest the impact this might have on the relationship between the allies.
Source B: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin at the Yalta conference, February 1945
Source B: Attlee, Truman and Stalin at the Potsdam conference, July 1945

15. What is Truman’s attitude towards the USSR after the Second World War?
“There isn’t any doubt in my mind that Russia intends an invasion of Turkey. Unless Russia is faced with an iron fists and strong language, another war is in the making. I am sick of babying the soviets.”
Truman
What is Truman’s attitude towards the USSR after the Second World War?
What does this suggest about the relationship between the allies?

16. Why did the USA and Russia fall out after the Second World War?
We will read through the information on page of the textbook. Use the information to create a spider diagram to show why the USA and USSR fell out after the Second World War.
Fear of Communism
Truman
Start of the Cold War
Soviets in Eastern Europe
Potsdam Conference

17. Origins of the Cold War
Complete activities XXXXXX on page XXXXX of the text.

18. “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an Iron curtain has descended across the continent of Europe”
Winston Churchhill, 1946
Look at the map below. Write down what you can learn about the situation in Europe after the Second World War. Why might the Americans be afraid?

19. What have you learnt?
One thing that I have learnt....
One thing I already knew....
One thing that surprised me......