Cold War Revision

1. WHAT WAS THE COLD WAR?

The war against Hitler had united America and Russia, but post-war splits appeared. They stopped short of full scale war because of the development of the Atomic bomb. It turned into a battle for world domination.

2. CAUSES OF THE COLD WAR [memory word: BARE]

Beliefs: Russia was (3 things) a Communist country, ruled by a dictator who cared little about human rights. America was (3 things) a capitalist democracy, which valued freedom. Aims: Stalin wanted (2 things) reparations from Germany a buffer of friendly states. Britain and the USA [led by President Truman] wanted (2 things) to help Germany recover to prevent large areas of Europe from coming under Communist control. Resentment about history The USSR did not trust Britain and the USA (2 reasons) They had tried to destroy the Russian Revolution in 1918. Stalin thought they had not helped the USSR enough in WW2. Britain and the USA did not trust the USSR (1 reason) Stalin had signed the Nazi-Soviet pact in 1939. Events

3. EVENTS (9 events):
YALTA CONFERENCE (4 things) February 1945 Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt agreed to (5 points): Divide Germany into 4 zones occupied by France, Britain, USA, USSR. Hold free elections in Eastern European countries. Give the USSR territory in Manchuria in return for their help against Japan. Set up the United Nations. Set up a government of Communists and non Communists in Poland. On the surface, everything seemed friendly Tension behind the scenes POTSDAM CONFERENCE (4 things) July 1945 At Potsdam the tensions surfaced. Stalin, Truman and Atlee agreed to (2 things):

Bring Nazi war criminals to trial. Divide Germany into 4 occupied zones. There were also disagreements over (3 things): Soviet policy in Poland. The size of German reparations. Stalins demands for a naval base in the Mediterranean. SALAMI TACTICS (2 things) 194548 Slice-by-slice, Stalin ensured 7 Eastern European countries had Communist governments. Albania (1945) the Communists took power after the war without opposition Bulgaria (1945) the Communists executed the leaders of all the other parties. Poland (1947) the Communists forced the non-Communist leaders into exile. Hungary (4 things) (1947) Russian troops stayed there. Stalin allowed elections (non-communists won a big majority). The Communists were led by the pro-Russian Rakosi. Rakosi demanded that groups which opposed him should be banned. He got control of the police, and arrested his opponents. He set up a secret police unit, the AVH. Romania (19451947) the Communists gradually took over control. Czechoslovakia (194548) in 1948, the Communists banned all other parties and killed their leaders. East Germany (1949) the Russians turned their zone into the German Democratic Republic. FULTON SPEECH (5 things) March 1946 Churchill described the Soviet bloc as an iron curtain. Stalin believed this was necessary to maintain the safety of the USSR. After Fulton, the Cold War worsened. Russia called the speech a declaration of war. GREECE (2 things) February 1947 The USA supplied arms and money to defeat the Communists in Greece. TRUMAN DOCTRINE (2 things) March 1947 The USA implemented a policy of containment towards the USSR to prevent Communism spreading any further. THE MARSHALL PLAN (3 things) June 1947 Marshall believed poverty was a breeding ground for Communism. American introduced Marshall Aid $17 billion to get Europes economy going. COMINFORM (3 things) October 1947

Stalin forbade Communist countries to accept Marshall Aid. Cominform was set up to control all Communist countries in Europe. CZECHOSLOVAKIA (3 things) March 1948 Communists took control Panicked the US Senate into granting Marshall Aid (31 March 1948)

4. THE BERLIN BLOCKADE

Causes [memory word: CABAN] Cold War was beginning to bite created tension. Aims USA and Britain wanted Germany to recover Stalin wanted to destroy Germany and was looting German industrial capacity. Bizonia USA, Britain and France merged their zones into West Germany which became more prosperous than the Soviet zone. American Aid Marshall Aid was voted 31 March 1948. New Currency (3 things) To get the Germany economy going, Britain and America introduced a new currency. This destabilised the East German economy Stalin said that this was the cause of the blockade. Events (6 points) (24 June 1948) Stalin closed all rail and road links from Berlin to West Germany. Lasted 11 months. The Allies airlifted supplies to Berliners 275,000 flights took 1.5m tons supplies. In winter, Berliners lived on dried eggs and potatoes/ 4 hours of electricity a day. US had B29 bombers on standby. (12 May 1949) Stalin re-opened the borders. Results [memory word: CENA] Cold War got worse. East/ West Germany split. West Germany = Federal Republic of Germany. East Germany = German Democratic Republic. NATO/ Warsaw Pact NATO was set up in 1949 by the Western Allies as a defensive alliance against the USSR Warsaw Pact set up 1955 by Russia Arms Race The USA and USSR competed for world domination.

5. KOREAN WAR
North Korea [Communist] invaded South Korea [Capitalist]. Causes [memory word: DUCKS] Domino theory Truman thought that Far Eastern countries would fall like dominoes. China became Communist in 1949. Truman feared

Japan would follow. He felt he had to stop this. Undermine Communism NSC 68 (April 1950) recommended that the US abandon 'containment' and start to 'roll back' Communism. Cold War Truman and Stalin were in a battle for world domination Korea was a war at arms length. Kim Il Sung got Stalins and Mao tse Tungs agreement to attack South Korea. Syngman Rhee (1950) boasted he would attack North Korea gave an excuse. Events (5 phases) By June 1950 the NKPA captured most of South Korea from the ROKs. July 1950 UN troops, mainly Americans led by General MacArthur, drove the Communists back to the Chinese border. October 1950 (4 things) China attacked drove the Americans back advanced into South Korea. MacArthur called for use of atomic bomb. March 1950 (3 things) The Americans sent reinforcements and drove back the Chinese (200,000 dead) Truman told the troops to stop t the 38 th parallel Truman sacked MacArthur for criticising his orders. 1953 Truce: America claimed successful containment.

6. KHRUSHCHEV succeeded Stalin.

It seemed he would bring a thaw in the Cold War (4 reasons) He advocated Peaceful Coexistence He met Western leaders at summit meetings He was friendly to Yugoslavia, telling Tito there were different roads to Communism He criticised Stalin, executed Beria, set free political prisoners and began to de-stalinise the eastern bloc countries. In fact 19551963 was the time of greatest tension in the Cold War (3 reasons) Khrushchev used Russian troops when countries tried to leave Russian control. By peaceful co-existence, Khrushchev meant peaceful competition (5 examples) He loved to argue (Kitchen debate with Nixon) He gave economic aid to countries like Afghanistan and Burma Space Race (1957: Sputnik. 1961: Yuri Gagarin orbits the earth) Arms Race (1953: Russia got the hydrogen bomb) Warsaw Pact (1955: 8 countries) USSR Albania Bulgaria Czechoslovakia, East Germany Hungary Poland

Romania In retaliation, in America: McCarthy conducted a 'witchhunt' for Communists America entered the arms race with Russia in 1955, NATO agreed to an army of 0.5million men in West Germany America entered the space race with Russia America rushed to put a man on the moon. American U2 planes spied on Russia

7. HUNGARY (1956)
Causes (5 reasons) Poverty When most of Hungarys food was sent to Russia. Russian Control (3 things) The Hungarians were very patriotic They hated censorship, the AVH, and Russian control of education. They hated having Russian troops stationed in Hungary Catholic Church Communism tried to destroy religion, but most Hungarians were devout Catholics Help from the West The Hungarians thought Eisenhower or the UN would help. Destalinisation Led to protests against Rakosis harsh government. Events (3 key dates) 23 October Student riots attacks on AVH and Russian troops 24 October 3 November Reforming government led by Imre Nagy (4 things) Democracy Freedom of speech Freedom of religion Aimed to withdraw from Warsaw Pact. 4 November Soviets sent in 1000 tanks to crush the rebellion. Western powers protested but didnt send troops (didnt want a war). Results (7 things) Janos Kadar put in control of Hungary 4,000 Hungarians killed Nagy shot. 200,000 Hungarians flee to West. Many westerners leave the Communist party. Russia stays in control behind the Iron Curtain. Western leaders all the more determined to contain communism.

8. U2 CRISIS
1 May 1960 Soviets shot down American U2 spy plane over USSR, and captured pilot Gary Powers. Americans had to admit he was a spy. Khrushchev demanded apology + end to spying flights. Eisenhower refused. Results (5 things) Khrushchev walks out of Paris summit (14 May 1960)

Eisenhowers planned visit to Russia cancelled Khrushchev demands that US leaves West Berlin Americans came off badly been caught lying- propaganda victory for USSR. New American president Kennedy promises to get tough on Communism.

9. BERLIN WALL, 1961

Causes (3 Causes) Growing tension (2 things) U2 crisis Kennedy finances anti-Communist forces in Laos and Vietnam Refugees (3 things) West Berlin enjoyed much higher standard than East Berlin. 1945 1960 3 million people crossed the border a propaganda point for the US Most refugees were skilled workers Sabotage The Russians claimed that America used West Berlin for spies and sabotage in east Germany. Events (6 things) 13 August 1961 East Germans erected a barbed wire wall overnight, later replaced with stone. All movement between East and West was stopped. Wall was fortified with barbed wire and guns. Western powers could do nothing. Symbol of East /West division until 1989.

10.

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, 1962

Causes (4 causes) Superpower tension U2 Berlin Wall Laos Vietnam Fidel Castros Cuba (3 things) Cuba only 90 miles off coast of America. Close relationship with USSR (oil, machinery and money in return for sugar) Cuba nationalises American companies Bay of Pigs (April 1961) America sent in rebels in but they were defeated (a humiliation). Missile bases 14 October 1962 USA U2 spy planes photographs Soviet missile sites on Cuba. Events (4 things) Kennedy ordered a naval blockade and threatened invasion. For 10 days the world was on the brink of nuclear war. Kennedy promised to remove US missiles from Turkey 28 October Khrushchev removed the missiles and the crisis was over Results (4 things) Khrushchev seemed to have failed Kennedy became the hero of the Western world Telephone hot line set up between Moscow and Washington. (1963) Nuclear test ban treaty signed.

Road to World War II Revision

1. HITLER'S AIMS
Abolish the Treaty of Versailles (5 points). Thought it was unjust and humiliating. Tiny armed forces. Rhineland demilitarised. Anschluss with Austria forbidden. Germans forced to live in Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) and Poland (including Danzig). Expand German territory (2 aims). To unite Austria with Germany. To get extra lebensraum [living space] for Germans. Defeat Communism (2 reasons). Believed Bolsheviks helped cause German defeat in WW1. Feared Bolshevik takeover.

2. HITLER'S STEPS TO WAR [memory phrase: CRAMCUP]

Conscription and Rearmament (4 things) Began in secret Took Germany out of League of Nations. 1935 (4 actions): Introduced conscription Increased spending on arms Huge rearmament rally. Naval agreement with Britain allowed German navy of 35% of British navy. Increased airforce to 8,250 by 1939. Rhineland (4 things) 7 March 1936: moved troops in, breaking Treaty of Versailles and Locarno Treaty. Justified it by claiming that USSR + France agreement threatened Germany. German army (only 22000 soldiers) had orders to withdraw if opposed. France and Britain did not stop him/ League of Nations powerless, didnt want to risk war. Anschluss (5 events) 1934: Failed attempt. Feb 1938: Hitler encouraged Austrian Nazis to stir up trouble. Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg sought British and French help, but

was refused. 9 March 1938: Schuschnigg called for a plebiscite on union. 11 March 1938: Hitler sent in troops, then held a plebsicite 10 April 1938: 99.7% voted for union. Munich (5 events) April 1938: Many Germans Nazis lived in the Sudetenland they stirred up trouble,. 15 Sept 1938 Berchtesgaden: Hitler agreed to those areas of the Sudetenland which voted for unity with Germany. He promised that the rest of Czechoslovakia was safe. 27 Sept 1938 Bad Godesberg: Hitler demands immediate control of Sudetenland. 29 Sept 1938 Munich Agreement: Britain, France and Italy gave the Sudetenland to Hitler. 30 September Chamberlain calls Munich: Peace for our time. Czechoslovakia (3 events) 15 March 1939: German troops took over the rest of the country. No Czech resistance. Britain and France abandoned appeasement. USSR-Nazi Pact (a date) 23 August 1939, Nazi-Soviet Pact shocked world; frees Hitler to attack Poland. Poland (a date) 1 Sept 1939 Hitler invaded Poland Britain and France declared war on Germany.

3. APPEASEMENT Britain and France (5 events)

Accepted re-arming of Germany (British naval agreement, 1935) No action over re-occupation of Rhineland (1936) Allowed Hitler to use German bombers in Spanish Civil War (193739) No action over Anschluss (1938). Gave in over Sudetenland at Munich (1938).

4. WHY APPEASEMENT (6 reasons)?

Chamberlain feared another war. People wanted peace so.... Chamberlain would not have had enough public support to go to war. Belief in the League of Nations to solve problems so... they did not threaten Hitler with war. Britain too weak for war in 1938, needed time to re-arm so... appeasement bought Britain a year to re-arm. Treaty of Versailles was considered unfair so... many British people sympathised with Hitler's demands. Chamberlain misjudged Hitler so... he trusted Hitler's promises that Sudetenland was the last thing he wanted

Fear of Communism so... people let Hitler grow strong because they thought a strong Germany could stop Russia.

5. APPEASEMENT WAS ABANDONED IN 1939 (8 steps)

Feb: Franco (a Fascist) won the Spanish Civil War so... It seemed Fascism was on the increase everywhere. 15 March: Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia so... People realised that only a war would stop him. March: Chamberlain promised to defend Poland which... Made war inevitable when Hitler invaded Poland. April: Mussolini conquers Albania which... Made it seem that Fascism was wanting to take over the world May: Pact of Steel [Hitler and Mussolini] which... showed Hitler was building up his forces for war. Aug: British alliance with USSR failed, but 23 August Nazi-Soviet Pact so... Hitler was free to invade Poland. Aug: Hitler stirred up trouble in Danzig and demanded the Polish corridor, then Sept: Hitler invaded Poland.

6. AUG 1939: ANGLO-SOVIET TALKS FAIL [memory word: SCAB]

Suspicion Chamberlain didnt trust Stalin Communist/dictator. Stalin didnt trust the British [thought they wanted to trick him into war with Germany] Poland didnt trust USSR. Choice If Stalin allied with Britain, he would end up fighting in Poland on Britains behalf Hitler was promising half of Poland for doing nothing. Appeasement Stalin didnt think Britain would honour its promise to Poland He thought he would be left fighting Hitler alone. Britain delayed, Aug 1939 Britain sent an official (Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax) to USSR by boat - too slow An admiral, he was not important enough to make decisions.

7. WHY A NAZI-SOVIET PACT [memory word: THUG]

In August 1939 the USSR signed an agreement with Germany. Time to prepare for war. It gave Russia 18 months to make military preparations.

Hope to gain Stalin hoped Germany, Britain and France would wear themselves out in a long war. Unhappy with Britain Stalin turned to Germany when Britain was too slow. Germany's Motives Hitler thought it would make Britain back down over Poland.