History > Early developments in the cold war > Flashcards

Early developments in the cold war Flashcards

(66 cards)

Study These Flashcards
1
Q

Which were the six main countries who became part of the soviet buffer zone and when did they come under communist control

A

-Poland 1947
-East Germany 1949 (as a country)
-Czechoslovakia 1948
-Hungary 1947
-Romania 1947
-Bulgaria 1946

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

define satellite state

A

A nation that was once independent but is now under the control of another.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How was communist control established in the six main nations who became part of the buffer zone

A

Through a combination of force and rigged elections aided by the lack of withdrawal of soviet forces after WWII

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What were the three reasons why the USSR seek to control Eastern Europe

A

-Poland’s strategic importance and the need for security
-The percentages deal
-Ideology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

why did Poland’s strategic importance and the need for security mean the USSR seek to control Eastern Europe

A

-In both world wars the USSR was invaded by Germany through Poland, therefore Stalin wanted a communist Poland as a barrier with Germany
-Many other countries in Eastern Europe had been hostile to the USSR. Stalin wanted to make sure that communist governments existed in these countries
-Stalin wanted to create a buffer zone of communist countries which would be a barrier with Germany and other invading countries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What was the percentages deal and why did it mean the USSR seek control in Eastern Europe

A

-In 1944, Stalin and Churchill had a secret meeting in Moscow where they ad an agreement over future levels of influence in Europe which Stalin then used to justify his actions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Why did ideology mean the USSR seek to control Eastern Europe

A

-Stalin thought that the USSR had suffered the most in WWII and therefore deserved to spread their influence further

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What were the four effects of soviet expansionism

A

-Suspicion increased- Truman felt that Stalin had broken his promises from Yalta and Potsdam
-Division of Europe- Eastern Europe was communist and Western Europe was democratic. Truman took steps to halt the spread of communism with the Truman doctrine (1947) and Marshall plan (1948)
-Rivalry and competition increased- Stalin responded with Cominform (1947) and Comecone (1949)
-Germany became a theatre for ideological conflict- Berlin blockade (1948-49) and two Germanys

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What were the two secret telegrams

A

-The long telegram
-Novikov’s telegram

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When was the long telegram

A

February 1946

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who was the long telegram to

A

Truman

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

who was the long telegram from

A

Kennan, the American ambassador in Moscow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What did the long telegram report

A

-Stalin had given a speech calling for the destruction of capitalism
-There could be no peace with the USSR while it was opposed to capitalism
-The USSR was building up its military power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What impact did the long telegram have on relations

A

-This solidified Truman’s view that Stalin and the USSR were a threat to America and its values. Suspicion increased
-It contributes to Truman’s belief that action had to be taken to contain communism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

When was Novikov’s telegram

A

September 1946

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Who was Novikov’s telegram to

A

Stalin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Who was Novikov’s telegram from

A

Novikov, the Soviet ambassador to the USA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What did Novikov’s telegram report

A

-That the USA desired to dominate the world
-The USA were no longer interested in co-operating with the USSR following FDR’s death
-The American public was being prepared for war with the USSR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what impact did Novikov’s telegram have on relations

A

-Confirmed Stalin’s belief that the USA was a threat to the soviet union
-His paranoia increased and he became even more determines to spread communism to create a buffer zone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Who said the iron curtain speech

A

Winston Churchill

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Define iron curtain

A

The border between communist Eastern Europe and the democratic west

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

When and where was the iron curtain speech

A

March 1946, Missouri USA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What did Churchill say in his speech

A

-He referred to the iron curtain descending across the continent
-He also referenced to rigged elections of the communist parties showing the lack of support for communism in Eastern Europe
-Said they are seeking to obtain a dictatorship

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How did Stalin respond to the iron curtain speech

A

-Stalin said that the USSR needed a buffer zone for its own security, justifying the rigged elections to make governments loyal to the USSR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What effect did Churchill's iron curtain speech have on elections
-Tension and suspicion increased- both sides were criticising the actions of the other and feared each others intentions -The speech further contributes to Truman's desire to get tough with Stalin contributing to the Truman Doctrine (1947)
26
What were the two problems that Truman was faced with
-The Greek civil war -Europe in ruins
27
Why was the Greek civil war a problem for Truman
-During WWII Greek opposition to the Nazis was split into communists and the monarchists -After the Nazis were forced out of Greece the two groups fell out -Initially the British restored the Greek monarchy and defeated the communist uprising -In 1946 the communists launched another rebellion and Britain, nearly bankrupt, asked America to step in and help defeat the communists
28
How was Europe in ruins a problem for Truman
-WWII had devastated many European countries whose economies suffered immensely -In these conditions communism, which promised to redistribute wealth and more equal societies seemed very appealing -Truman wanted to stop the spread of communism
29
How did Truman respond to his problems
-He delivered a speech to the US congress, the ideas in his speech became known as the Truman doctrine
30
When was the Truman doctrine
12th March 1947
31
What two messages were contained in the Truman doctrine
-There were two ways of life, the good (democracy, freedom) and the bad (communism, oppression, lack of freedom) -The USA would provide financial aid to help countries resist communism
32
What were the two effects of the Truman doctrine
-USA policy of containment- Truman was presenting America as the leader of the free world and committing to containing communism -The Greek civil war- Truman announced in his speech that the USA would send $400 million to Greece and Turkey along with American military. As a results American missile bases were set up in Greece and Turkey and by 1949 the communist had been thrown out of Greece
33
when was the Marshall plan
1948
34
What was the Marshall plan
-the practical outcome to the Truman doctrine -the American economy was the only one out of the western powers not damaged in WWII, therefore it could afford to give money to European countries to help rebuild their economies -This would make it harder for communism to take hold and economically tie them to the USA
35
What were the effects of the Marshall plan
-By 1952 USA had given $13.7 billion to 17 western European countries -The aid was also offered to Eastern Europen contries and the soviet union but Stalin refused it calling it dollar imperialism
36
What did Stalin respond to the Truman doctrine and the Marshall plan with
-Cominform and Comecon
37
When was Cominform
1947
38
What was Cominform
-Political response -Soviet response to the Truman doctrine -gave Stalin a way of directing and controlling the governments of satellite states -At its first meeting, rejected the Marshall plan, spreading propaganda and accusing America of being like Nazi Germany -Went against Truman doctrine and ensured loyalty to East European governments -a soviet organisation made up of an association of the communist partners in Europe
39
When was Comecon
1949
40
What was Comecon
-Economic response -Soviet response to the Marshall plan -wanted communist states to keep their independence from capitalist government -didn't allows satellite states to accept Marshall aid -He created an aid package based on his communist beliefs -whilst it was presented as a soviet aid programme for East Europe, Comecon actually controlled the economies of satellite states and diverted their resources to the USSR
41
What were the three effects of the Truman doctrine, Marshal plan, Cominform and Comecon
-Rivalry- Both sides were competing over spreading their influence in Europe and had set up rival initiatives for this purpose -Suspicion- Both sides were mistrustful of each others intentions(dollar imperialism) -The division of Europe- By 1949 Europe was divided politically (Truman doctrine and Cominform) and economically (Marshall plan and Comecon)
42
How did the allies decide to divide Germany
-Germany was divided into four zone (French, British, American and Soviet) -Berlin was 90 miles inside the soviet zone and was divided into 4 sectors -The Western powers were permitted to access their Berlin sectors by specific road, rail and air corridors -each zone was controlled by one of the allies but the economy was run as a whole
43
What was the Western powers vision for Germany
-To restore Germany's economy and make them less susceptible to communism -Re-integrate Germany with the West -Make Germany a fully functioning democracy
44
What was the soviets vision for Germany
-For Germany to become communist, ensure a friendly + non-threatening Germany that could be integrated into the buffer zone -Stalin wanted to weaken Germany's economy- take resources as reparations and keep Germany weak, increasing soviet security
45
How did the British and Americans decide to improve the recovery of Germany
-In January 1947 they combined their zones forming Bizonia -They also began to discuss plans to reform and strengthen the German economy without consulting the soviets
46
How did the differences between the superpowers increase between March 1948 and June 1948 in Germany
-March 1948- Soviet representatives walked out of the ACC meeting saying Western powers were in violation of agreements made at Potsdam -April 1948- The Western zones began to receive aid from the Marshall Plan. In response Soviet troop began to search and delay road and rail transportation to west Berlin -June 1948- The french zone merged with Bizonia becoming Trizonia -June 1948- A new currency, the Deutschmark, was introduced to Trizonia. The USSR responded introducing their own currency in the East, the Ostmark
47
When was the Berlin blockade
24th June 1948
48
What was the Berlin blockade
-Stalin accused the West of not cooperating with the USSR over Germany -He blockaded Western sectors of Berlin, preventing movement of people, food and supplies in an attempt to force the West out -He aimed to prove a divided Germany was unworkable
49
What were the economic causes of the first Berlin crisis
-Both sides had different aims for the economy even though at Potsdam they had promised to run the economy as a whole -Marshall aid began giving to the western zones -Both sides introduced rival currencies
50
What were the political causes of the first Berlin crisis
-Both sides wanted to run Germany in different wats and introduce different ideologies -The west began merging their zones and running them without input for the Soviets -The soviets walked out of the ACC meetings- breakdown in cooperation and dialogue
51
How was Stalin a cause of the first Berlin crisis
-He wanted to the West to either leave Berlin or compromise other their decisions- Stalin did not like having a capitalist outpost in the soviet zone -Show that the USSR had influence over Berlin and Germany and could not be ignored -Testing Truman's commitment to containment -He had wildly opposing ideas for Germany to the West
52
When the Berlin blockade begin and end
24th June 1948 12th May 1949
53
When did the Berlin airlift begin and end
26th June 1948 September 1949
54
What was the west's response to the Berlin airlift
By airlifting in supplied to West Berlin
55
What happened during the Berlin airlift
-Berliners built a new airport at Tegel and helped to unload and hand out supplies -Soviet unions deliberately flew planes across air corridors and placed weather balloons in awkward positions to make flying dangerous-this made it harder to continue the airlift without using direct violence -Truman sent a warning to the USSR by stationing atomic bomb and B29 bombers in the UK placing the USSR within striking distance -1000 tonnes of supplies were flown into Berlin each day by American planes -Over 2.3 million tonnes of food clothes, building material, fuel etc were delivered in total
56
What was the result of the Berlin airlift
-The western sectors in Berlin survived an Stalin was forced to back down having appeared as the aggressor
57
What were the three causes of the first Berlin crisis
-Economic, Political, Stalin
58
What were the three effects of the first Berlin crisis
-Creation of two Germanys-The west announced that Trizonia would become its own country called the Federal Republic of Germany (or West Germany) and was run by western powers The soviets soon responded by announcing their zone would become the German Democratic Republic (or East Germany). Only communist countries recognised East Germany -The formation of NATO-America and the west felt increasingly threatened by Stalin's actions The Berlin crisis was a driving force in the establishment of NATO in April 1949 -increased suspicion and tension-Relations worsened further- it was clear that the west and the USSR were incapable of cooperating and all trust between them was gone -The grand alliance was clearly over and the cold war was a accepted fact
59
Why was NATO created
-The west felt threatened by the USSR due to the first Berlin crisis (1948-49( and communist takeover of Czechoslovakia -They therefore wanted to increase their security in case of societ agression
60
What is NATO
-North Atlantic treaty organisation was a mutual defensive alliance formed by USA, Britain, France and 9 others -Its core idea was set out in article 5, collective security meaning than an attacks on one member was considered an attack on every member
61
When was NATO created
April 1949
62
What were the effects of NATO
-Tensions increased- Stalin viewed NATO as a anti-Soviet alliance and evidence of a western desire to destroy communism. NATO allowed the USA to build military bases and missile sites in Europe making the USSR feel threatened -Soviet union responded with the Warsaw pact finalising the division of Europe
63
When was the Warsaw pact formed
1955
64
What was the Warsaw pact
-following the formation of NATO in 1955, the soviet union reacted by forming its own defensive military alliance -The founding members included USSR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and East Germany -These countries became known as the Eastern blob -The Warsaw pact was entirely run by the USSR
65
why did the USSR create the Warsaw pact
-The USSR felt increasingly threatened by the west. Firstly by the formation of NATO in 1949 and then the inclusion of West Germany in 1955 -Greece and Turkey also joined in 1952 further encircling the Eastern bloc -The Warsaw pact allowed soviets greater control over its communist satellite states
66
What were the effects of the Warsaw pact
-Increased tension and rivalry as Europe was now fully divided militarily and any conflict between the superpowers would also involve their alliances -Gave USSR tighter control in Eastern Europe
History
flashcards
Decks in class (21)
# Cards
Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2026 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions