NUCLEAR AGE THE COLD WAR Nuclear age The

NUCLEAR AGE& THE COLD WAR

Nuclear age • The Nuclear age started towards the end of WW 11 when 2 atomic bombs were dropped on Japan • The USSR joined the side of the Allies when Hitler invaded Soviet union in 1941 • After the defeat of Germany the Allies became divided among themselves. • The USSR wanted to control all the territories that it had conquered. • America Britain and France wanted to make the territories independent and they were completely against communism. • The tension and competition that developed between the 2 sides became known as the Cold war which lasted from 1945 to 1989

The soviet union VS the west p 124 • Before WW 11 America had depicted the SOVIET UNION/Russia /USSR as an evil , oppressive nation • The USSR had depicted America in a similar way so their friendship was a result of having a mutual enemy Nazi Germany • When the war ended they went back to their pre war attitude and their respective ideologies communism in USSR and Capitalism in the USA and the West increased • Communism- all economic and social activities is controlled by the state , the wealth of the country is shared by the citizens all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability • Capitalism –private ownership for profit (free enterprise

Europe in 1945 • To understand the origins of the cold war we need to look at how Europe was different in 1945 and 1939 when the war started. • Allies (Britain –Churchill, France represented by president De Gaulle & USA represented by Roosevelt had a fallout with Stalin who represented Russia. • This led to tension and distrust between the war leaders • During the conferences at Casablanca , Yalta and Postdam the one thing they clearly united on with Russia was the common enemy Germany. • The purpose of these conferences was to decide how they would organise the world after World War 11 in 1945

Increasing tension between the Allies after World War 11 • Britain, America, and the Soviet Union formed the Allied forces to fight against Hitler during World War II. • Britain and America were always uneasy allies with the Soviet Union. • They never trusted one another because of their differing ideologies – Capitalism and Communism. • Britain and America had democratic principles – Capitalism, while the Soviet Union had a one-party dictatorship under the leadership of Joseph Stalin – Communism. • After WWII, both America and the Soviet Union emerged as two dominant world superpowers. • However, the effects of the war had on both countries were very different. • The Soviet Union lost around 20 million people in WWII. • By contrast Britain lost around 370, 000 and the USA lost 297, 000 people. • As a result of this, Stalin was determined to protect the Soviet Union for the future. • Stalin wanted to create a buffer zone between the Soviet Union & the West = Eastern European satellite states. • Buffer zone –neutral area serving to separate hostile forces or nations

CAPITALISM COMMUNISM

Communism Vs. Capitalism Communism Capitalism An economic system where all industry, business, and agriculture belong to the government. An economic system where industry, business, and agriculture are owned by private people or firms. Controlled economy, i. e. the government is directly involved in running the economy. Free economy, i. e. the government follows a laisse faire policy which means little or no involvement in the economy. No private person may profit from the labour of others, therefore no freedom to start a business or own property. Any person is free to start a business and employ people. All profits go to the government. No single person benefits economically. Any person is free to make a profit. Classless society, i. e. no classes exist, everyone A society with classes, i. e. those who own businesses become extremely wealthy, while the rest live in poverty. is equal. Fairness and equality for all. Opportunity for all. Totalitarian form of government, i. e. a one party government that rules the people through force. A democracy, i. e. a multiparty government where the people of the country have the right to choose who represents them through an election process.

What was the Cold War? • It’s an ideological war between America (Capitalism) and the Soviet Union (Communism). • It was called the “Cold War” because no direct confrontation (fighting) between the two nations ever took place. Instead, both countries supported proxy wars (a war instigated by a major power which does not itself get involved). • The Cold War caused tension, distrust, and competition between America and the Soviet Union. • Distrust led to espionage (KGB vs CIA). • Competition led to the Arms Race (nuclear weapons) and the Space Race. • The constant threat of nuclear war led to tension.

Yalta Conference 4 – 11 February 1945 The Yalta Conference was held in Yalta, Ukraine. It was organised to discuss issues that would affect the post-war world, e. g. what would happen to Germany once the war was over. The ‘Big three’ – Roosevelt (USA), Churchill (Britain) and Stalin (USSR) attended the conference.

From left to right: Winston Churchill (Britain), FD Roosevelt (USA), and Josef Stalin (USSR) at the Yalta Conference, Ukraine, 1945.

Policy of Democracy • There was tension and distrust among the war leaders • At conferences at Casablanca , Yalta and Postdam the one thing that united the ALLIES was the common enemy Germany. • Key issues at the Yalta conference was how to treat those Nations that had been under Nazi occupation • Germany and Berlin would be divided into four zones – one for Britain, USA, USSR and France. • Countries that were liberated from the Nazi’s would get to elect their own new governments. • A joint Allied Declaration on Liberated Europe committed the Allies to follow a policy of democracy. • United Nations Organisation would be established to maintain world peace.

The main objective of the satellite states and buffer zones were to separate hostile states

Key issues at Yalta conferencep 125 • The Allies were in disagreement over the issue of shifting Poland’s borders. • The Soviet Union wanted to shift her NW border into Poland’s territory Poland would shift her border into German territory - All Germans living in that area would be relocated. • The Allies were also in disagreement over the issue of reparations. • The Soviet Union wanted huge reparations from Germany, but the other Allies did not want a repeat of the Treaty of Versailles. • It became clear to the ALLIES that Stalins free and democratic Govt was different from theirs as Stalin wanted to take over Germany refer to slide 13 Distrust and tension

Potsdam Conference 17 July – 2 August 1945 p 126 Germany surrendered in May 1945. The Potsdam Conference was held in Potsdam, Germany. It was organised so that the Allied nations could meet after the war to resume discussions of post-war Europe.

Changes since Yalta p 126 • USSR had occupied Eastern Europe and had set up communist governments in these countries. • Roosevelt died – Truman became the new president of America – Truman and Stalin distrusted one another. • Truman was not as sympathetic to Russia as Roosevelt had been he was also a president of a country armed with new fearsome weapons the Atomic Bomb • During the conference, Britain elected a new Prime Minister, Clement Attlee. • USA developed the atom bomb.

From left to right: Clement Attlee (Britain), Harry S. Truman (USA), and Josef Stalin (USSR) at the Potsdam Conference, Germany, 1945.

Stalin’s ‘Iron Curtain’ The Iron Curtain refers to all the areas in Eastern Europe that was liberated by the Soviet Union, and is influenced politically and economically by them – East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Albania. It was created as a buffer zone between Germany and the Soviet Union. It divides the east (communism) and west (capitalism).

What was the iron curtain? • After ww 1 the USSR and US entered the cold war • This was a period of intense rivary that lasted until the dissolution of the USS • During the cold war most of Eastern Europe fell under the influence of USSR Poland East Germany , Romania , Austria , Yugoslavia etc • The Western Europe chose to ally itself with US • The term Iron curtain has been used to describe the fact that Eastern Europe more or less was controlled by USSR • Churchill used the term iron curtain to warn Allies about the dangers of communism and also that the people under the soviet rule were oppressed and lacked human rights.

Reason for the poor relations between the USSR and USA P 129 • When the Soviet Union liberated countries in Eastern Europe from Nazi control, they established control over these areas. • Unlike Britain and America, who withdrew their troops from liberated countries, the Soviet Union left the Red Army (Soviet Army) in Eastern European countries. • Stalin believed that by controlling these countries, he could prevent any future invasion from Germany or the West (buffer zone to protect USSR). • He also realised that these areas could be used to help develop the Soviet Union’s economy. • As a result, free elections never took place in those countries within the Soviet sphere of influence (remember Yalta agreement? ). • Instead, puppet governments were established, which reported directly to Moscow.

America’s ‘Policy of Containment’p 130 • After the war many politicians wanted to work with the Soviet Union and not against them. • Things changed after the death of USA president Roosevelt and Truman became president. • America’s ‘Policy of Containment’ was a policy created to contain/prevent the further spread of communism. • The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan formed part of this policy to contain communism.

The Truman Doctrine was a policy which allowed America to send money, military equipment and advice to any country threatened by communist takeover. The Marshall Plan was a policy where America gave economic aid to any country that was threatened by economic collapse in order to rebuild their economies so that people would not support communist parties. USA wanted to encourage free trade throughout the world while the Soviet Union chose to trade with specific countries for its own interests. Russia feared that if it traded with the West it will be open to Western influence which will weaken the state of TOTALITARIAN REGIME- the difference led to poor relationships between USA. Nuclear AGE P 132 –paste handouts

Josef Stalin’s response to Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speechp 131 “The following circumstances should not be forgotten. The Germans made their invasion of the USSR through Finland, Poland Romania. The Germans were able to make their invasion through these countries because, at the time, governments hostile to the Soviet Union existed in these countries. What can there be surprising about the fact that the Soviet Union, anxious for its safety, is trying to see to it that governments loyal in their attitude to the Soviet Union should exist in these countries? ”

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