Cold War

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• The Grand Alliance of USA, USSR and Britain was formed during WW2.
• Their shared ambition was the defeat of Hitler.

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• They met at Tehran in 1943 and then Yalta in 1945.
• They agreed that once defeated Germany would be reduced in size and demilitarised.
• The Nazi party would be banned and war criminals tried infront of an International court.

Yalta continued

• A United Nations Organisation would be set up to replace the League of Nations
• The USSR would declare war on Japan 3 months after the defeat of Germany.
• Poland would be under the 'Soviet sphere of influence,' but be run under 'a broader democratic basis.'

Divisons

• After Tehran and Yalta it was clear that whilst they all agreed to work for democracy there was different beliefs in what democracy was.
• Stalin believed a democratic government had to be a communist government.
• Roosevelt believed that a democracy involved political parties and elections

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• By the summer of 1945, the American people had a new President due to the death of Roosevelt.
• President Harry Truman believed in 'getting tough' on communism.
• This different approach would increase tensions during the Potsdam conference.

Potsdam Conference

• Conference delayed until USA test atomic bomb. This made Stalin suspicious.
• Agreed to divide Germany and Berlin into 4 zones and each member state take responsibility for the running of their zone.
• Each ally would take reparations from their German zone as compensation for the war. This was less than Stalin wanted.

Potsdam Conference

• Conference delayed until USA test atomic bomb.
• Agreed to divide Germany and Berlin into 4 zones & each member state take responsibility for the running of their zone.
• Each ally would take reparations from their German zone as compensation for the war. Stalin had wanted more.

IMPACT OF ATOMIC WEAPONS

• Truman believed that America possessed the 'ultimate weapon' in the atomic bomb.
• Churchill noted how Truman 'generally bossed the whole meeting.'
• It gave USA the power to destroy entire cities without risking a single US life.

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• Stalin was aware of the bomb and from as early as 1940 he had instructed Soviet scientists to develop their own.
• Stalin's plan to protect the interests of the USSR was by creating a 'buffer zone'.

War of words 1946

• Churchill made a speech talking about an 'iron curtain' in Europe.
• This speech highlighted divisions and made the world wary of the increasing presence of Soviet governments.

Truman Doctrine

• America promised to 'defend liberty' and send in military support to any country threatened by communism.
• This ended America's policy of isolationism and showed that Truman was now committed to a policy of 'containment.'

Marshall Plan, 1947

• $13 billion of US money to rebuild shattered economies of Europe.
• US believed communism was attractive to those in poverty.
• European countries had to agree to trade freely with US.

ussr RECTION

• Stalin argued USA was trying to create 'two camps.'
• They argued Marshall Aid was the first step in creating a military alliance that would wage war on the Soviet Union.
• Stalin insisted that Eastern European countries in his sphere of influence refuse the help.

Satellite States

• A country that is officially independent but in reality controlled by another
• Latvia, Poland, Romania and Hungary were all satellite states.
• Communist governments in each country had rulers who would obey Moscow.

Cominform 1947

• Represented communist parties across Europe and brought them under direction of Stalin.
• Agreed to reject Marshall Aid
• Encouraged to organise strikes and demo's against the plan.
• 2 million workers marched in Paris demanding France Government reject the plan.

Berlin Blockade

• Economic migrants leaving for Trizonia.
• Britain, France and USA set up new German constitution and create new currency for their zones.
• Stalin had not been consulted and was furious.
• Stalin tried to force the allies out and blockaded the roads, canals etc

Berlin Airlift

• Allied planes transported food, water and medical supplies around the clock to Berlin.
• Truman's peaceful response made Stalin's blockade look aggressive.
• Huge propaganda success for USA
• In Sept 1949, West Germany was officially called the Federal Republic of Germany.

nato 1949

• The Berlin Blockade raised the prospect of another war in Europe.
• In response, western European nations tried to create an alliance in order to 'keep the USA in and the USSR out.'
• NATO members agreed that if any member came under attack, all members of NATO would respond.