1. Containing Communism & Berlin crisis
Early cold war
Containing Communism & Berlin crisis

2. Preview of Events March 1947 June 1948 April 1949 Truman Doctrine
Berlin Airlift
NATO forms

3. Containing communism Containment Policy The Berlin Crisis
Long Telegram
Truman’s Containment Policy
Crisis in Iran
Truman Doctrine
Marshall Plan
The Berlin Crisis
West Germany founded
Berlin Airlift
NATO

4. Long Telegram US was frustrated with Soviet’s refusal to cooperate
Review: #5
Long Telegram
US was frustrated with Soviet’s refusal to cooperate
February 22, 1946
Moscow’s diplomat George Kennan sends a “long telegram” to the Department of State

5. Long Telegram Contents
Review: #5
Long Telegram Contents
5,540 word cable message
Explained Soviet Union’s sense of insecurity and fear of the west
Argued that it was impossible to reach settlement with Soviet Union
Proposed:
Soviets had major economic and political weaknesses
IF U.S. could keep Soviets from expanding their power, it would be a matter of time until Soviet system would fall a part 
Communism could be beaten without a war

6. Truman’s Containment Policy
Long Telegram = basic American policy throughout the Cold War = Truman’s Containment Policy
Truman’s Containment Policy = keeping communism within its present territory through the use of diplomatic, economic, and military actions

7. Crisis in Iran
During WWII – Iran signed agreement where Soviet troops allowed in northern Iran to protect supply line of oil from possible German attack
Treaty was suppose to last for 6 months
After war, Soviets did not withdraw troops
Stalin demanded access to oil supply
Soviets helped local Communists to establish a separate gov’t  Soviets were pushing into Middle East

8. Crisis in Iran cont.
Secretary of State James Byrnes sent a strong message to Moscow - demanding Soviet troops to withdraw
During this time USS Missouri battleship entered from eastern Mediterranean
Pressure worked and Soviet forces withdrew
Did not back out empty handed – was promised a joint Soviet-Iranian oil company

9. Origins of the Truman Doctrine
Review: #12
Origins of the Truman Doctrine
Stalin was frustrated about the lost of Iranian oil
Turned to Turkey
Straits of Dardanelles in Turkey = a vital route from Soviet Black Sea ports to the Mediterranean
August 1946 – Stalin demanded joint control of the Dardanelles
Truman advised by Dean Acheson to make a show of force
Truman ordered aircraft carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt to join the Missouri in protecting Turkey and the Mediterranean

10. Origins of Truman Doctrine cont.
Review: #12
Origins of Truman Doctrine cont.
Meanwhile... (still in August 1946) Great Britain was aiding Greece against Greek Communists who launched a guerrilla war against the Greek government
For 6 months – British troops helped Greeks fight the guerrillas
Fight strained Britain’s economy – which was still weak from WWII
February 1947 – Britain informed United States that could no longer afford to help Greece

11. Truman Doctrine March 12, 1947 His speech outlined the Truman Doctrine
Review: #12
Truman Doctrine
March 12, 1947
Truman went before Congress to ask for $400 million to fight Communist aggression in Greece and Turkey
His speech outlined the Truman Doctrine
Goal was to aid “free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”

12. Review: #12
Truman doctrine
Immediate goals = to stabilize the Greek government and ease Soviet demands in Turkey
Long run goals = pledged that the United States would fight communism worldwide

13. Marshall Plan
Review: #6, 37
Postwar Western Europe = huge economic problems (starvation, political chaos)
June 1947 – Secretary of State George Marshall proposed the European Recovery Program
Aka The Marshall Plan
European nations receive American aid to rebuild economies
Pumped billions of dollars worth of supplies, machinery, and food into Western Europe
Recovery of Western Europe’s economy would deter the idea of communism  instead, opened up new markets for trade

14. Truman OK’s Marshall Plan
Truman saw that the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine were “Two halves of the same walnut”
Both were essential for containment
Soviets and satellite nations rejected Marshall Plan  instead Soviets developed their own economic program
Led to a further separated Europe

15. The Berlin Crisis
Truman still believed that Western Europe’s prosperity depended on Germany’s recovery
Soviets still wanted heavy reparations
Arguments over Germany put U.S. and Soviet Union at brink of war

16. West Germany founded Allies merge zones in Germany and Berlin
Allow Germans to have own government – were afraid that Soviet Union was trying to undermine Germany’s economy
West Berlin = merged into new German republic
West Germany = Federal Republic of Germany
Economy was completely separate from the Soviet zone
Not allowed to have military
But was mostly independent
Soviet zone
= aka East Germany

17. Berlin Blockade
Soviets believed won’t get reparations because of formation of West Germany
June 1948
Soviet troops cut all road and rail traffic to West Berlin
Truman’s response = send long range bombers with atomic weapons
General Lucius Clay =“If we mean to hold Europe against communism, then we must not budge”
Warned that if Berlin fell, West Germany would be next

18. Review: #2
Berlin Airlift
Problem = keep west Berlin alive without provoking war with Soviets
Answer = Truman ordered Berlin Airlift
Began June 1948 – lasted 11 months
Cargo planes supplied Berliners with food, medicine, and coal
Over 2 million tons of supplies
May 12, 1949 = Stalin lifted the blockade
Berlin Airlift = symbol of American determination to stand by the divided city

19. Review: #8
NATO
Berlin blockade convinced many Americans that Soviets were on a conquest
American public and Congress began to support a military alliance with Western Europe
April 1949 – an agreement was reached to create the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Aka NATO

20. NATO A mutual defense alliance Included 12 countries
Review: #8
NATO
A mutual defense alliance
Included 12 countries
NATO members agreed to come to the aid of any member who was attacked
1st time in its history – US had committed itself to maintain peace in Europe
6 years later – United States and its allies decided to allow West Germany to rearm and join NATO
Soviet leaders were alarmed by this decision
In response – organized a military alliance in Eastern Europe = Warsaw Pact