Cold War Summary Notes

‘WHAT’ QUESTIONS
What were the main problems facing the Allies when they met at Potsdam? D.V.D.S.
1. D.eath of Roosevelt.
Roosevelt had died and Truman was much more anti-communist.
2. V.ersailles mistakes not to be repeated?
There were disagreements about the future of Germany – Stalin wanted to cripple G. Truman did not
agree because he thought this would repeat the mistakes of Versailles.
3. D.emands made on Germany.
They disagreed about reparations. Stalin wanted compensation from Germany but Truman resisted this
demand.
4. S.oviet policy
The disagreed over Soviet policy in Eastern Europe. Truman was suspicious of Stalin’s intentions and
thought he was trying to dominate all of Eastern Europe.

What was decided at the Potsdam ’45 conference? Diplomacy

1. Division. Germany would be divided as agreed at Yalta.
2. Industrial. Each country could take industrial equipment from their own zone in Germany as
reparations.
3. Poland. Poland’s eastern border would be moved west to the rivers Oder and Neisse.
4. Leaders. The Nazi party would be banned and its leaders tried as war criminals.
5. Out! Germans living in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia would be sent back to Germany.

‘WHY’ QUESTIONS
Why did the wartime unity of the Allies break down between 1945 and 1947?
Ideological differences.
- Further explanation – The USA and USSR did not trust each other because of ideological differences;
capitalism and communism.
Common enemies NOW GONE!
- Further explanation – Germany and Japan had brought the two powers together but once defeated the
mistrust returned.
Change in Govnt.
- Further explanation – With the death of Roosevelt, a hardening of the US attitude to the USSR was
shown by Truman, especially at Potsdam. Truman felt Stalin had gone beyond the agreement at Yalta.
General Disagreement.
- Stalin wanted Poland to be governed by Lublin Poles, whereas the West wanted the anti-communist
London Poles. It was felt Stalin was making sure the USSR was surrounded by Communist governments.
Expressed in Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech.
The A-bomb!
- Further explanation – When Truman made it known that the USA had successfully tested an atomic
bomb, this increased the mistrust. Stalin ordered his scientists to develop Soviet atomic weaponry. This
then worried the USA.

Why was the Marshall Plan introduced?

To prevent the spread (of jam, they preferred Nutella) of COMMUNISM.
- Further explanation – Truman believed that Communism succeeded when people faced hardship and
poverty. In the aftermath of war European countries were still rationing bread.
To rebuild prosperity
- Further explanation – Truman wanted to rebuild Europe’s prosperity to prevent Communism taking hold in
suffering countries.

‘HOW FAR’ QUESTIONS

The USSR was responsible for starting the Cold War? HOW FAR do you agree?
Side One – yes the USSR were responsible -
 Having freed much of Eastern Europe from Nazi control, the Red Army remained in occupation AND
rather than allowing free elections, the USSR started to impose communist rule on these countries. This
was seen by the USA as the beginning of a Soviet attempt to spread communism around the world.
Side Two – other factors were responsible -
 In July 1945 the Americans had successfully tested the Atomic bomb. Truman had not told Stalin about
this before using the bomb and the USA refused to share the secret of how to make atomic bombs.
Stalin interpreted this secrecy to mean that the USA would use the atomic bomb to win worldwide
power.
How Far……
COUNTERFACTUAL THINKING – Even without the events listed above would ideological differences have been
enough to start a Cold War of mistrust or could countries following different ideologies co-exist? Perhaps we
should blame the ideological differences however, if we argue that countries of different ideology should be
able to co-exist then we must assess what other reasons caused the Cold War…. Whose mistrust was the most
reasonable? If we decide that the US had better cause to mistrust the USSR then the USSR is most to blame for
the Cold War and vice versa.

The Truman doctrine was more responsible for increasing Cold War tension than the Berlin Blockade; HOW
FAR do you agree?
Side One – yes the Truman doctrine was responsible -
 The USA interpreted the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe as the start of spreading communism
around the world and responded with the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan which was to help the
vulnerable European economy suffering from the after-effects of war. The USSR saw this as a threat.
Truman’s offer of aid enabled countries to prosper but it was of benefit to the USA’S trade. Staolin
prevented Eastern European countries from being involved accusing the US of fostering self-interest.
Side Two – other factors, Berlin Blockade, were responsible -
 The Soviets introduced a blockage but the West defeated this be flying in supplies, resulting in Stalin
backing down. Stalin responded by turning their zone into the GDR.
Germany was divided even more firmly and relations between East and West suffered.
A direct result of the Berlin Blockade was NATO and this was a serious challenge to Stalin
How Far……
COUNTERFACTUAL THINKING – If one of these events hadn’t occurred would escalation have been halted?

And two more mark-scheme answers ……..

FROM 2011
(a) Describe the Berlin Blockade and airlift of 1948–9.
  ‘The Blockade and Airlift took place between June 1948 and May 1949.’
 ‘Stalin closed all road, rail and canal links between West Berlin and West Germany.’
 ‘The US and British decided to fly supplies in to the 2.5 million West Berliners to keep them fed and warm
through the winter.’
 ‘Over 2 million tons of supplies were airlifted to the blockaded city.’
 ‘Flights landed every few minutes mainly at Tempelhof, an airport built for the operation.’

(b) Why did the Soviet Union occupy Eastern Europe after the Second World War?
Level 2
 ‘It wanted control from the Baltic to the Black Sea.’
 ‘It wanted governments friendly to the USSR.’
 ‘It wanted communism to spread.’
 ‘It wanted a buffer zone of communist states.’

Level 3 Explains reasons

 ‘After the Second World War, Stalin wanted a line of states which he could influence and control from the Baltic
to the Black Sea. This was the ‘Iron Curtain’ referred to by Churchill in his speech of 1946 in Fulton.’
 ‘Stalin wanted communist governments bordering the USSR. They would take their orders from Moscow and
they were likely to be compliant.’
 ‘Russia had been invaded twice during the twentieth century by Germany. Stalin wanted to ensure that the USSR
would not be invaded again. He wanted a buffer zone of friendly states facing the West. These would act as an
early warning system to the USSR.’
 ‘Stalin wanted communism to spread. It was a rival to the democratic and capitalist West and, in particular, to
the USA. After the War, Stalin had secured a huge communist bloc.’

(c) ‘The Marshall Plan was the most important reason for increasing tension in the period 1945–49.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

Level 2
 ‘The Marshall Plan aroused suspicion amongst the Soviets.’
 ‘The USA had the atomic bomb.’
 ‘Truman was against Communism.’
 ‘Stalin’s actions over Berlin increased tension.’
 ‘The Soviets wanted to spread communism.’
 ‘Eastern Europe was communist controlled.’

Level 3 Explanation of the importance of the Marshall Plan OR other reasons

 ‘President Truman adopted the policy of “containment” to prevent the further spread of communism. In his
“Truman Doctrine”, Truman was prepared to give help to any country under the threat of communism. This
created tension in Moscow.’
 ‘Truman realised communism flourished where there was “misery and want”. He decided to send aid, through
the Marshall Plan, to any country willing to renounce communism. The USSR saw this as a threat.’
OR
 ‘The USA and the USSR held different ideologies of capitalism v communism and actions led to suspicion and
hostility as they drifted apart at the end of the war as there was no common enemy. Harmony was not helped by
politicians such as Churchill and his “Iron Curtain” speech.’
 ‘The Soviet Union wanted a weak Germany to avoid any future attack. This was the opposite of what the US
wanted. Stalin blockaded Berlin and this created more tension.’

Level 5 = HOW FAR

FROM 2010
(a) What was the ‘Prague Spring’?
  ‘It was reform introduced by Dubcek.’
 ‘In 1968, Alexander Dubcek became Secretary of the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia.’
 ‘He wanted to provide ‘socialism with a human face’.
 ‘He introduced reforms to reduce government control. He allowed public meetings and relaxed censorship.’
 ‘He allowed criticism of the government. There was freedom of speech.’
 ‘Trade unions were given greater freedom and control of industry relaxed.’
 ‘Foreign travel was allowed.’
 ‘This period of reform, known as the Prague Spring, was not appreciated by the USSR and Breshnev sent in the
tanks and removed Dubcek.’

(b) Why did Berlin remain a focus of Cold War tensions during the 1960s?
Level 2 Identifies why
 ‘It was a pawn in a political game between the USSR and the USA.’
 ‘Khrushchev wanted the western powers out of West Berlin.’
 ‘The West was determined to protect ‘free’ West Berlin from communism.’
 ‘The Wall was built to stop the emigration from East Berlin.’

Level 3 Explains why

 ‘The western powers, with their investments in West Berlin, created a wealthy city with all the consumer
benefits that people in other western countries were enjoying.’
 ‘Soviet-controlled East Berlin was not prosperous and was under strict communist control. Many skilled and
professional East Germans crossed from East to West Berlin and on to West Germany. Khrushchev needed to
stem the flow.’
 ‘In 1961, Soviet troops put up wire barricades between East and West Berlin. Later they were replaced by the
‘Berlin Wall’. There were many deaths of people trying to get over the wall. It split families.’
 ‘The wall did provide opponents of communism with a propaganda opportunity. If communism was such a great
system, why did the Soviet Union have to build a wall to stop people running away?’
 ‘In 1963, Kennedy visited West Berlin. In his speech, including ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’, he suggested that the USA
would never desert the city.’

(c) How significant was the part played by Solidarity in the loss of Soviet control in Eastern Europe? Explain your
answer.
Level 2 Identifies reasons
 ‘Solidarity challenged the Soviet Union.’
 ‘Gorbachev introduced perestroika and glasnost.’
 ‘Afghanistan was a big issue.’
 ‘Gorbachev’s reforms caused decline.’

Level 3 Explains agreement OR disagreement [3–5]

 ‘Solidarity went from strength to strength. In the free elections of 1989, Solidarity won massive support and
Walesa became President of the first non-communist government in post-war Poland. This set an example to
communist control for the rest of Eastern Europe. Solidarity was a mouthpiece for opposition to communism.’
OR
 ‘Gorbachev’s reforms, including the freedom of speech, allowed discontent to grow.’
 ‘Many wanted to see the collapse of Communism as Gorbachev’s reforms were not working as food shortages
remained and prices were high.’
 ‘Gorbachev introduced perestroika. This encouraged more competition in industry and glasnost where Soviets
could criticise the government. These reforms came too quickly.’
 ‘Communism was seen by many as corrupt and Soviet industry and agriculture as inefficient. This was not helped
by the spending of large sums of money on defence and in Afghanistan.’

Level 5 Explains with evaluative judgement of ‘how significant’