1. Early Cold War Era ( )

2. Roots of the Cold War 1. US + USSR systems differ
US: capitalism, democracy, free elections, individual choice, economic/ religious freedom
USSR: dictatorship, communism, no private property, opposition  death/arrest

3. 2. Future of Eastern Europe
USSR: weak Germ, Soviet-controlled E Europe
US/GB: strong Germ, independent E. Europe
Soviet satellite states: Poland, Czech., Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, E. Germ
3. Potsdam Conference (summer ‘45)
Tension!!!
Truman left believing Stalin “planning world conquest”
At Yalta, Stalin agreed to establish “broadly representative” governments and free elections in E Europe and to divide Germany only temporarily into zones of occupation
Despite Stalin’s promises… nearly all lands occupied by Soviet Red Army in spring 1945 remained under Soviet control after the war

4. So… What is the COLD WAR?
1947 – 1991 (ish) US & USSR Many proxy wars; never DIRECTLY in “hot” military conflict

5. Meeting the challenge “Iron Curtain” (Churchill, 1946)
Truman Doctrine (1947): $ for nations struggling vs. communist movements (esp. Greece, Turkey)
“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… Central and Eastern Europe… The Communist parties, which were very small in all these Eastern States of Europe, have been raised to preeminence and power far beyond their numbers and are seeking everywhere to obtain totalitarian control.”
{Churchill, March 5, 1946}

6. Containment
George Kennan {diplomat}: “containment”  keeping communism contained within existing borders
Marshall Plan (1948): for recovery of W. Europe ($, food, fuel)
Offered to E. Europe but forced to refused
After WWII, people in W. Europe confronted severe shortage of food, fuel, medical supplies; brutally cold winters.
Secretary of State George Marshall unveiled this plan  without economic health, can be no political stability or peace
About $13 billion
Provided example of how US aid could serve both economic & foreign policy!! Aid helped countries that desperately needed assistance, and the prosperity it stimulated helped the US economy by increasing trade. The good relationships it created helped fight communism.
“We are going to continue for a long time to find the Russians difficult to deal with. It does not mean that they should be considered as embarked upon a do-or-die program to overthrow our society by a given date… In these circumstances, it is clear that the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.” George Kennan, “The Sources of Soviet Conduct”

7. Cold War Heats Up Divided G into E (USSR) & W (Allied)
Berlin in EAST Germ but W. Berlin controlled by ALLIES
Stalin wanted to capture W. Berlin  stopped all traffic
Berlin Airlift (48-49): GB + US flew in food, fuel, clothes, toys, med., etc…. saves Berlin + blockade lifted

8. Cold War Alliances
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, 1949): collective security (attack vs. one is attack vs. all) --- W. Europe + N. Amer.
W. Germany joins NATO 1955….
Warsaw Pact (1955): all communist E. Europe states (except Yugoslavia)