The Cold War AN INTRODUCTION Background Before World

The Cold War AN INTRODUCTION

Background �Before World War II, there were a number of countries which could have claimed to be superpowers – USA, USSR, Great Britain, France, Japan, and Germany �The damage caused by the war to some of these countries left only two countries with the military strength and resources to be called superpowers (USA and USSR) �Despite fighting fascism throughout the war, upon the demise of the common enemy, there was little need for co -operation between the two �Differences between the two became very apparent

Background �The USSR favoured communism while the United States continued to fight it �Thus, disagreements regarding how Europe should be divided emerged after the war �The Soviets sought to gain control and dominance over countries surrounding it Following the war, the USSR gained control over Eastern Europe (The Eastern Bloc) Annexation of several countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Eastern Poland & Finland)

Strategic Planning � 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

Germany �Allied-occupied Germany was divided into four sections �These sections were controlled by the US, the USSR, France and Great Britain

Berlin �Berlin was also divided into sectors, also controlled by the US, the Soviet Union, Britain and France �Despite its location in East Germany and Soviet territory, Berlin was not considered part of the Soviet zone because of its symbolic importance as the nation's capital

West Germany �In 1948, the three western controlled zones of Germany (U. S. , France and Britain) were united and grew in prosperity due to Marshal Aid �The allies quickly moved to get West Germany back on it feet and restored much of its sovereignty through self-government �Citizens in West Germany could travel freely throughout Western Europe, however those in Eastern Europe under Soviet control could not

East Germany �Over time, eastern and western zones begin to drift apart economically Soviets were disassembling former German industry as a form of reparations �Military industries were confiscated These industries amounted to approximately 60% of the total industrial production �Heavy industry was also claimed by the Soviet Union as reparations �Remaining industrial property was nationalized, leaving much of the total industrial production to private enterprise

Making Change �With tensions building, various initiatives were taken to bring about change in Europe �Both the Allies and the Soviet Union made changes to eastern and western Germany to prevent the other from furthering their influence

Task � In small groups, research and collect information on one of the topics listed below. Your group should work together to compile an information sheet for the rest of the class. You should also compile a list of a few controversial issues/ questions relating to the topic that you should be prepared to discuss � Once your group has completed their information sheet, you should go back to your original group where each person should inform the rest of the group about their findings Your groups should be sure to discuss the controversial questions as well � Topics: the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall

The Truman Doctrine �In 1947, the British were helping the Greek government fight against communist guerrillas and they appealed to America for aid �America promised it would support free countries to help fight communism- known as the Truman Doctrine �Showed that America, the most powerful western country, was prepared to resist the spread of communism throughout the world

The Marshall Plan � In 1947, Europe was still devastated by the war and thus had nothing to sell for hard currency � The U. S. recognized that something needed to be done both for humanitarian reasons and also to help stop the spread of communism in the west � 1947: U. S. Secretary of State, George Marshall announced the Marshall Plan Massive economic plan to aid Europe U. S. offered up to $20 billion for relief, but only European nations would be allowed to collaborate in creating a rational plan for its use � Benefitted the American economy because the money would be used to buy goods from the United States, using American shipping vessels for transportation � 1953: The U. S. put $13 billion into aiding Europe � The plan helped to re-integrate West Germany back into the rest of European community

Stalin- Tensions Rise �The west wanted to re-unite with the east, however Stalin feared the future of Soviet security �June 1948: Stalin decided to try and gain control over West Berlin (which was part of eastern territory) �Stalin cut road, rail and canal links with West Berlin, hoping to starve them into submission �Berlin Blockade

The Iron Curtain �Symbolized the boundaries dividing Europe into two separate areas in the post war world “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 the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in many cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow. Athens alone — Greece with its immortal glories — is free to decide its future at an election under British, American and French observation. The Russian-dominated Polish Government has been encouraged to make enormous and wrongful inroads upon Germany, and mass expulsions of millions of Germans on a scale grievous and undreamedof are now taking place. The Communist parties, which were very small in all these Eastern States of Europe, have been raised to pre-eminence and power far beyond their numbers and are seeking everywhere to obtain totalitarian control. Police governments are prevailing in nearly every case, and so far, except in Czechoslovakia, there is no true democracy” (Winston Churchill, 1946)

The Berlin Airlift � June 25 th, General Lucius D. Clay, commander of the American Occupation Zone gave the order to launch a massive airlift using both civil and military aircraft � Western response to Stalin’s action � The lift lasted 462 days � Civilian and military aircraft flew supplies into the Western-held sectors of Berlin over the blockade during 1948 -1949 � The first American plane flew on June 26 th and the first British plan on the 28 th � This aerial supplying of West Berlin became known as the Berlin Airlift

The Berlin Airlift Continued � Military confrontation loomed while Truman embarked on a highly visible move which would publicly humiliate the Soviets. � The American Operation became known as Operation Vittles � Hundreds of aircraft, nicknamed Rosinenbomber ("raisin bombers") by the local population, were used to fly in a wide variety of cargo, ranging from large containers to small packets of candy with tiny individual parachutes intended for the children of Berlin � Sick children were evacuated on return flights. The aircraft were supplied and flown by the United States, United Kingdom and France, but pilots and crew also came from Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand in order to assist the supply of Berlin.

The Berlin Airlift Continued � Ultimately 278, 228 flights were made and 2, 326, 406 tons of food and supplies, including more than 1. 5 million tons of coal, were delivered to Berlin � At the height of the operation, on April 16, 1949, an allied aircraft landed in Berlin every minute � There were 1, 398 flights in 24 hours carrying 12, 940 tons of goods, coal and machinery, beating the record of 8, 246 set only days earlier

The Berlin Wall � The Berlin Wall was the iconic symbol of the Cold War � It was initially constructed starting on August 13, 1961 and dismantled in the weeks following November 9, 1989. � The Berlin Wall was the most prominent part of the GDR border system. � The wall was a long separation barrier between West Berlin and East Germany (the German Democratic Republic), which closed the border between East and West Berlin for a period of 28 years.

The Reasons for a Wall �West Germany prospered through assistance from the west �East Germany was hindered by reparations paid to the Soviet Union �The Soviet Union also liquidated many of their industries further hindering their progress

Why? �The wall was built in an effort to stop the drain of labour and economic output associated with the daily migration of huge numbers of professionals and skilled workers from East to West Berlin �There were also many defections, which had political and economic consequences for the Communist bloc. �The Wall itself effectively decreased emigration from 2. 5 million between 1949 and 1962 to 5, 000 between 1962 and 1989.

The Wall �The creation of the Wall was a propaganda disaster for East Germany and for the communist bloc �It became a key symbol of what Western powers regarded as Communist tyranny, particularly after the high-profile shootings of would-be defectors. �Many died trying to escape East Germany and many more went to prison if they were caught

The Wall Continued � The Wall was over 155 km (96 miles) long. � In June 1962, work started on a second parallel fence up to 91 meters (100 yards) further in, with houses in between the fences torn down and their inhabitants relocated. � A no man's land was created between the two barriers, which became widely known as the "death strip". It was paved with raked gravel, making it easy to spot footprints left by escapees; it offered no cover; it was mined and booby-trapped with tripwires; and, most importantly, it offered a clear field of fire to the watching guards. � Over the years, the Wall went through four distinct phases: - Basic wire fence (1961) - Improved wire fence (1962 -1965) - Concrete wall (1965 -1975) - Grenzmauer 75 (Border Wall 75) (1975 -1989)

Life Behind the Wall �Life changed dramatically for the people of Berlin �Entire families were cut off from one another �Many died trying to escape to the west �Travel between the two side was very difficult Additional Resource: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=nch 5 Mbnv. Tq. Y

Images: Past and Present

Checkpoint Charlie

Guard Posts

The Berlin Wall: 20 Years Later �http: //www. nytimes. com/interactive/2009/11/09/w orld/europe/20091109 berlinwallthennow. html? ref=global-home

Questions to Consider �What are the main causes of the Cold War? �Who was responsible for starting it?