1. The Cold War begins 1945 -1948 Key issue:
By Mr Crowe
The Cold War begins
Key issue:
Why did the wartime alliance fall apart?
What were the major points of difference
The importance of Yalta and Potsdam conferences
The roles of Stalin and Truman

2. The chronology and narrative
Major point: The USSR lost around 20 million people in WW2
Stalin was determined to make the USSR secure in the future
By contrast GB lost around 370,000 and the USA lost 297,000 people.
KEEP THIS IN MIND

3. The rise of the superpowers
Before WW2 there were a number of countries which could have claimed to be superpowers – USA, USSR,GB, France, Japan, Germany.
The damage caused by the war to these countries left only two countries with the military strength and resources to be called superpowers….USA and USSR.

4. What they believed
Don’t forget USA was capitalist and USSR was communism
They were complete opposites
They had allied against Fascism ….. Now the common enemy had been defeated the reason for co-operation was gone
Differences soon emerged

5. Europe at the end of WW2
After the war who would lead the countries and form new governments
The USSR favoured the communist groups, the USA favoured the non-communists
Examples would be Greece and Yugoslavia
This was one cause of tension between the superpowers

6. TASK Two conferences were held in 1945 at Yalta and Potsdam
The aim was to discuss the future especially
What to do with Germany’s leaders after the war
What would happen to the occupied countries after liberation, especially those of Eastern Europe
How to end the war with Japan
How to build a lasting peace.