Origins and Openings of the Cold War

Ideological Competition

USA's captialist system
- Free elections, multiple parities
- Government small involvement in the economy
- Free trade and goods and services privately owned
USSR communsit system
- Single communist party system and state socialism
- Restricted political freedoms
- Goods and service at fixed prices
- Opposed to religion
Early conflict between East and West seen in:
- Russian Revolution had intervention from USA
- Comintern 1919 to spread communist ideology
United after Operation Barabossa in 1941, breach of Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939
After WW2
- USA experienced economic boom, was half of the world's manufacturing capacity
- USSR fasted growing economy in the world, but massive destruction of agriculture etc.

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Poland 1944- Red army enter Poland, destroyed non-communist resistance and in 1945 annouced they were governing it as communist
Romania 1944 set up Allied Control Commission in 1944-5, Stalin enforced a coup which lead to a communist dominated country
Bulgaria 1944 comunists set up government through red army enforcement, but late 1944 Stalin tries to make them persue a more moderate policy
Yugoslavia 1944 British assist Tito to power, USSR want miltary alliance
Hungary 1944 soviet troops cross border and try to take reperations
Czechoslovakia made alliance with USSR in 1943, the Soviets occupied in 1944-5 and set up a provincial government with soviet seats
Finland supported the 1941 Nazi attack on USSR, but granted generous terms and armistice from Russia

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USSR aims and Stalin's personality:
- Security for USSR against German aggression and damage
- Wanted control over Poland, reintergration of Baltic states and communist regimes in Europe
- Dissolved Comintern in 1943 to show they weren't planning domination
- Stalin highly suspicious of West- heavy use of terror, censorship, propoganda
USA aims and Roosevelt's personality:
- Chain of trade links, new industry for USA and trade from Britain and French empires
- Development of UN
- Roosevelt opptimistic for improved relations and a good negotiator
Britain aims and Churchill's personality:
- Survival of British power and friendly relations with USA and USSR
- Churchill very anti-communist but prepared to work with Stalin

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Foreign Ministers Meeting October 1943
- Established European Advisory Communission to finalise plans for post-war Germany
- Proposed creation of UN
Tehran Conference Decemeber 1943
- Stalin to re-claim territory
- Britain to station troops in Greece, USSR to retain troops in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary
- Organisation of UN and fate of Germany discussed
Churchill and Stalin meet October 1944
- Create Percentages Agreement over Europe (UK got 90% Greece, USSR 90% Bulgaria)
Yalta Conference 1945
- Stalin to enter the war in Japan and gain land as a result
- Germany to be split into 4 power control and Poland to recieved compensation
- Establishment of UN
- Poland's border along Curzon line
Potsdam Conference 1945
- German demilitarisation, denazification and punishments, reperations to be taken
- Disagreement over UN and Soviet role in it- Truman more aggressive @ Stalin
- USA test atomic bomb- didn't tell Stalin, no longer involvement in Japan

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Kennan Telegram Feb 1946- US government feared Soviets planning world domination
Novikov Telegram Sept 1946- concern about US using wealth to spread influence
1946 Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech- consolidated the rival blocs of East and West, Stalin responded saying Stalin was a war mongerer
Truman Doctrine 1947 to aid Greece, financial and military aid given- 'containment'
Marshall Plan 1938 gave money for European Economic recovery- £13 billion given, also created trade links with the USSR, 'dollar imperialism'
Soviets responded with:
- Cominform 1947- communist solidarity
- Comecon 1949- economic aid = emergence of 2 economic areas in Europe

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Poland- 1945 government included a Polish exile from London, he resigned in 1946 and wouldn't let Polish Peasants Party join electoral bloc, USA didn't intervene, use of terror in election so communists won seats
Romania 1946 election, abuses and censorship of press, opposition murdered, communists won 80% vote
Bulgaria 1945 forced communist government, but included 2 members of opposition, but in elections communists liquidated opposition and introduced collectivisation
Yugoslavia 1945 independantly from Stalin communists won 90% under Tito
Czechoslovakia- communists won 38% winout violence in 1946 but party seized control in 1948
Hungary 1945, press still free, Stalin created Communist coalition government, Communists won 45% in August elections and in 1949 only communist party allowed to stand in elections
Finald recieved little help from USSR, Peace Treaty 1947 committed Finland to reperations, remained neutral

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German currency worthless, reformed by British and US zones (Bizonia 1948) with Deutschmark and France (Trizonia 1949)
Stalin created Eastmark in response- but weaker
Started Berlin Blockade- cut off travel/ power links
- West lifted supplies along 3 air corridors, 2000 tons supplies/ day
- August 1948 West deployed 60 B29 bombers in East Anglia
- Blockade ended May 1949
Propoganda disaster for USSR- could starve 2 million people for political gain
GDR and FRG created in response, SED camoflauged a one party state in the GDR
NATO set up April 1949
USSR denotated atomic bomb 1949
Thousands of skilled workers moving from East > West - caused incresed work norms and lower living standards

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