Cold War
Origins of the Cold War (1945-49) A. Early Hostilities during WWII (tension between US and USSR) i.
Different ideologies/civil war
Communism Govt, spreading wealth
Business Religion Media Elections Social life
Not allowed Censored, govt-run radios and tv Only communist party Govt is involved in every aspect of life
Conflicting ideologies started competing for followers
1918-21 : Civil War ravaged Russia o
Lenin doesn’t have control over USSR
o
Allied power (BR and US) not happy
o
GE turned to western front to fight
o
Allied powers felt betrayed by communist Russians
Capitalism Private, making as much $$ as they want Allowed Personal freedom Different parties People have freedom in life – to compete, succeed
Tried to get rid of comm right after ww1
Ever since comm began, allied powers did not like comm.
distrust
ii. Shifting Alliances/appeasement/league of nations
Stalin allies with Hitler o US and Western EU did not trust him then RU doesn’t trust west o
RU felt west had prejudice towards Communist Soviet o
Because of relations of allied powers with H Blocked them from joining LON
Thus, no faith in alliances
iii. Delayed assistance
w hile US & BR doesn’t do anything) 3 years years before D-Day (27 mil die in USSR while
US & USSR Superpowers
Due to military strength – atomic bomb/ economically strongest/ politically strongest (many allies)
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Cold War
Conferences 1. Tehran Conference, 1943 2. Yalta Conference, Feb 1945 o o
Happened in USSR BIG THREE = CHURCHILL, ROOSEVELT AND STALIN
Experienced veterans
Roosevelt –very sick, died soon after
Wanted democracy and liberty
Trusted Stalin
Churchill – strong-anticommunist
Doesn’t trust Stalin
Worried about future EU and doesn’t want expansionist USSR
Stalin – strong racist against GE
Punish and destroy GE
Discussions o Germany
To be run as one Policies collectively decided by allies
‘temporary’ governing
o
State of War
o
GE on verge of being defeated 2nd front opened
Poland
USSR took ½ of Poland in exchange for ‘free elections’
Poland’s borders move West and take territory from GE
members who ran to London to be safe ‘London Poles’ – Polish members
Tried to oversee matters from far
Some Poles wanted them to govern again
However, there are the comm Lublin Poles o Causing internal struggle
Fought amongst themselves
USSR did not help because if they did, Warsaw would be liberated and become democratic
Thus, 300 000 died while Stalin did nothing to stop it
2
Cold War
o
Eastern EU
o
o
‘free elections’ everywhere and Stalin agrees to this
Japan
Stalin agreed to go to war with Japan
As ‘reward’, demanded territory
United Nations US, Br and USSR members
Ensure security
Conclusion! o
Agreement on UN
o
Soviet agreement to join war against JP
o
Signed ‘Declaration of Liberated Europe’ – free elections
Developments between Yalta and Potsdam
Roosevelt died, Truman takes over o
Inexperienced
o
More aggressive and tough
Churchill not re-elected, Clement Atlee takes over
War in EU over
USSR still all over Eastern EU
Day after Potsdam, USA successfully tested its first atomic bomb o
BR being told about it but didn’t tell S talin (Stalin, however, already knew)
3. Potsdam Conference, July 1945
Generally bad-tempered conference, no compromise
Stalin, Clement Atlee and Truman
Held in GE
Discussions
Germany o
Agreed to disarm, demilitarize, de-Nazify
o
Soviets took reparations from other zones
Couldn’t agree how
West – 25% of industrial East – agriculture/ agriculture/ got food
Poland: o
Truman doesn’t agree with borders established at Yalta
o
Also doesn’t agree the ‘Lublin Poles’ r unning govt
o
Everyone thinks Stalin just wants more terrirtory
Stalin insists it’s for security - protection from GE like WW1 and WW2
3
Cold War
Eastern EU o
o
Red army stays there Truman worries Stalin takes over them ‘Percentage Agreement’
o
Between C & S – on their influence on Eastern EU
Japan
Did not encourage Soviets to join war
USA bombs JP – Hiroshima & Nagasaki United Nations
o
Power of veto for all
4
Cold War
1945-47: Soviet Takeover of Eastern EU 1946: Long Telegram 1946: Iron Curtain Speech 1947: Truman Doctrine 1948: Marshall Plan/Comecon (1949) 1948-49: Berlin Blockade and Airlift 1949: Formation of NATO 1955: Warsaw Pact
5
Cold War
Policy of Containment Containment (POC) in Asia
Korean War
China
Japan
Taiwan
Vietnam War
6
Cold War
Korean War War (1950-53) (1 950-53) Background
Russo-JP war in 1905 o JP won o
Humiliating for USSR Gained territory = KOREA!
Kept it as their bread basket and took all raw materials from them
Koreans RAWWRRR!!!
But they remain under JP until end of WW2
After WW2, Korea free o o
Because of USSR and US Stalin then tried to take Korea
Aug 6, 1945 – First A-bomb dropped Aug 8, 1945 – RU soldier sent to fight Aug 9, 1945 – Second A-bomb dropped
Red Army soldiers went into the North Korea and Americans come in by boat – taking South o
Liberating Korea – making JP surrender
Americans then decided to divide Korea into two o 38th parallel – line dividing Korea o o
o
Stalin agrees with this Reasons Korea needed help after being occupied for so long
US & USSR occupies it
‘temporary’
Problem?
South – agriculture North – industry
Less likely to work together
Aug 14, 1945 – JP Surrender
North Korea o o
Happy to be liberated by RU Liked Comm
7
Cold War
o
Stalin nationalises industry Korean-state owned industries Land reforms – equal for everyone Elections – Comm Koreans in power and ALL JP eliminated
o
Leader? KIM IL SUNG
o o
South Korea o US poorly prepared
Leaves JP there
Military units took charge – unpopular amongst people US did not want to be there long – get UN to take over
This keeps Korea divided
US have puppet leader: RHEE
1948 – 2 countries officially created
Democratic Republic of Korea (North)
Republic of Korea (South)
Americans and Russians leave. Kim then wants to take power of the whole country. 1949:
Berlin blockade done
China becomes comm
USSR develops A-bomb
US not interested in Korea o
This makes Stalin feel confident
1950:
N Korea attacks S Korea
Kim has Stalin’s support (provide weapons)
But Stalin doesn’t publicly get involved
NSC-68:
Report written by an American
Purpose: increase military spending in US
Saying USSR very well-armed
Beginnings of Arms Race o Report ignored at first o Soon realised comm takeover Report = extremely exaggerated
8
Cold War
Nonetheless, report passed o o
Increased military spending Became more aggressive
Next level of POLICY OF CONTAINMENT
America develops tactic – goes to UN for help
UN countries agreed to get involved in Korea
16 nations create coalition to fight
BUT majority of soldiers were American, led by general Douglas McArthur
Stages
1. N Korea invade S Korea Takes almost all over 2. Americans come in, close to 38 th parallel and enters enemy’s territory
3. US strong – push N Korea past 38th parallel
McArthur then becomes confident about winning
4. Chinese come to Korea to help N Korea, pushing S Korea back
McArthur then insists on dropping A-bomb on China – this causes everyone to be worried. Truman disagrees and said use DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE. McArthur said Truman weak.
1951: Truman fires McArthur 1952-3: Fighting continues
Americans fighting a stalemate
N and S Korea both militarised their borders at 38 th parallel
1953: UN proposes an armistice
Negotiates peace treaty
Problem? Both sides very difficult to negotiate with an d didn’t sign peace treaty
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Cold War
In the end, o
US felt like they won with Policy of Containment but failed to push back communism
o
Koreans :/
o
USSR – lost some prestige
o
China and N Korea felt that Stalin co uld’ve done more
o
Unknown war: no one really knew the purpose of war
However!
JP benefitted from war o
o
US helped rebuild JP as they used it as base
BUT 10 million died and Korea destroyed!!!!!!
Extra notes:
DOMINO THEORY – refers to communism spreading in Asia
SEATO formed - to fight communism in Asia
o
Caused China to be diplomatically diplomatically isolated
o
Taiwan well-protected well-protected
Korean War o
US stopped policy of containment
o
INSTEAD, uses Eisenhower’s policy of ‘massive retaliation’ – use of nuclear arms
o
Proved UN capable to taking action
US military expenditure – from 13 billion to 50 billion per year
10
Cold War
Korea (success + failure in POC)
Success in P.O.C.
Failure in “roll back” of communism
Cost US alot o $$ o
Deaths
Thus, not popular back home
Military spending UP! = beginnings of arms race
Japan (success in POC)
US wanted to destroy JP after WW2 o
Changed mind
o
Scared if JP weak, t hey’d fall to communism
o
Thus, made JP allies
US actions o Punished military leaders of country o
Created new constitution constitution – increased democracy Made JP anti-comm, as a threat to China ‘red purge’ = eliminated all comm from govt
o
Used JP as base
o
Thus, helped JP rebuild – economically economically and militarily
Successful!!!!!!
o
Strong military Strong economy – ‘economic miracle’ JP traditionally more conservative conservative
o
JP allowed US to do anything to help
o o
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Cold War
Taiwan (success in POC)
When Mao takes over China, Comm defeated nationalists nationalists o Nationalist escape to Taiwan o
Fortify island from China US did not really care
o
Realised Taiwan not comm Taiwan = only official Chinese state (acknowledged (acknowledged by west)
o
Sent US fleet to protect them
o
Eisenhower threatened threatened China to use nuclear power if China attacked Taiwan o
China backed down
o
Thus, ‘brinkmanship’ = scaring them= worked
Success in P.O.C.
Vietnam (failure) – 1955-75
Cambodia + Laos + N Vietnam = Indo China (under FR) o JP went here and took over in WW2 o
After ww2, Indo China liberated and JP left
Thought they were free but FR wanted them back
Indo Chinese people :/ cause they fought for their freedom
Ho Chi Minh – set up Viet Minh (fought against colonialism + JP) 1946-54: Vietnamese continued to fight against FR
Communism Communism appealed to these countries as they were anti-colonialism
US tried to help FR get Vietnam back – give $$
Viet Cong (fought against America, were pro-Communist and hated Diem)
At the beginning,
Kennedy sent 400 US advisors to Vietnam and increased to 1600 o
E.g. of POC
Ho Chi Minh – turned to communism
Military aid sent to FR to defeat Viet Minh
12
Cold War
o
E.g. of POC
Geneva Accords (1954)
Ends war between Vietnam and FR o
FR withdraws from Indo China Temporarily divides Vietnam = 17 th parallel
o
Ho controls north (comm)
o
1955 – BEGINNINGS OF WAR (unite north and south)
US attempts at stopping comm o
Met together if there’s an armed attack
Laos and Cambodia included, despite defying geneva accords
o
US sent aid of million dollars to Diem (south leader) More US advisors sent
o
Democratic leader in south
o
Gave training to Vietnamese armies to prevent war
o
Established SEATO
BUT despite all this... o o
o
Diem – unpopular, corrupted, refused to give ‘free elections’ US agreed not to hold elections Confirm Ho Chi Minh would win
Ensure comm did not spread
Kennedy = ‘flexible response to Communism’
Strategic Hamlets Program – get rid of Vietcongs in South
Encourage Diem to intro unpopular reforms
Introduces ‘green berets’ – special US fighters
Did all this to prevent war and hope people would be won over by Diem
13
Cold War
Uprisings in Eastern EU
When Stalin takes over Eastern EU, he: o Established one-party rule o
Nationalisation Nationalisation of enterprise enterprise
o
Established 5-yr plans
o
Collectivization’
o
Intergration Intergration of economy
o
Social and ideological control Censorhip
o
Suppression of religious freedom
o
Political purges
o
Uprising in GE (1953)
1953, Stalin dies
First uprising behind Iron Curtain
Difficultly in USSR finding leader
1956, Khrushchev becomes leader o o o
De-Stalinized the country Gave secret speech in Politburo
Shows his flexibility + openness + less radical
GE starts going on strike against East GE leader Problems in E GE o Mass exodus to West o
Denounced Stalin – reveal truth
“There are different roads to communism”
power vacuum
Total opp of Stalin
o
USSr told Ulbricht to be more lenient
Red Army comes in and suppresses strike o
Embarrassing – showed people didn’t want communism
Uprising in Poland (1956)
Began with a strike
Gomulka: preferred by Polish, wanted to come to power
Red army about to attack BUT Gomulka talked him into letting him be in power o
1st time USSR compromise
Successful for both side
14
Cold War
Uprising in Hungary (1956)
Similar to Poland I. Nagy wanted to come to power o Becomes more radical by
Allowing diff political parties
Withdraw red army Defy warsaw pact
o
Red army comes in and put down this uprising
o
I. Nagy executed
US doesn’t do anything to help = failure of POC
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Cold War
Berlin Wall Background
Mainly young and skilled E Berliners left
West Berlin – propaganda & spies
o
US flaunting capitalism
o
US spies in East Berlin
Khrushchev o
Wants to take over all of Berlin Keeps insisting and threatens to do various things
o
Berlin = source of tension
o
No one wanted to start a war OR appear weak
o
Reasons Khrushchev did this: o o o
Fear that W. GE rearms with nuclear weapons Failures of E GE economy Pressure from Ulbricht
Khrushchev dropped ultimatum
Geneva Summit (1959) – no agreement on GE Parris Summit (1960) – cancelled because USSR shot American U2 spy plane. No agreement
Khrushchev tires to meet with JFK after Einsenhower
JFK – young and inexperienced
Believed he could then get Berlin
JFK = ‘Flexible Response” o
Spending more $$ on conventional forces
o
Build more nuclear bombs
o
Continue with CIA Give economic acid
o
Continue negotiation with USSR
o
Vienna Summit (1961) - Kennedy and Khrushchev meet for first time
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Cold War
Kennedy: o
Bay of pigs invasion – failed to overthrow comm leader in Cuba
Khrushchev renewed his ultimatum on Berlin o
Kennedy turns it down
o
“Berlin is an island of freedom in a Communist sea”
o
“...a beacon of hope behind the Iron Curtain”
o
US military spending UP!
THE WALL
In one day, 40 000 people leave E Berlin
So 13th Aug 1961, border of Berlin, barbed wire erected
Wall – all around W Berlin enclose
Meaning of wall
For Khrushchev o Comm propaganda fail o
For Ulbricht o
Managed to regain control over situation & Ulbricht Helped him consolidate Comm control in GDR
Berliners
o
“front line of Cold War”
17
Cold War
Arms Race
Massive retaliation o Idea by US govt when they had A-bombs + H-bombs o
Used these to threaten other countries
o
Extreme solutions to small problems
Space race o
Tech developing for space
Missile gap o US and USSR felt like there was a huge gap in weaponary o Basically, feat of being behind
Deterrent o
So both continuously built more
Stop violence and avoid war
Mutually assured destruction (MAD) o Threaten in extreme measures o
Both destroyed
Arms Race of who had it first: US US USSR USSR USSR US US
A-bomb H-bomb ICBM (intercontinental (intercontinen tal ballistic missiles) Satellites (sputnik) 1st man in space ABMs (anti-ballistic (anti-ballistic missiles) MIRVs (multiple independent re-entry vehicle)
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Cold War
U2 Incident
1960
Under Einsenhower, he wanted to spy on USSR
o
US wanted “open skies” over USSR
o
Illegal to fly over other countries to spy
About 4 years before, CIA sent U2 planes to take close-up pictures o
Gary Powers o
USSR left them as they had no missiles USSR managed to shoot him down
US lied about GP but Khrushchev exposed him o
Big embarrassment
TENSION!!!!
Another characteristic of CW = spying!
19
Cold War
Cold War Historiography Hi storiography In accordance with the _____________ view,
Orthodox: o Stalin and Communism were responsible to Cold War o
Revisionist: o Emerged from Americans o o o
It was expansionist
US didn’t realise how weak USSR was and how much stronger they were
Americans had economic boom AND nuclear monopoly Stalin was just being defensive
Post-revisionist: o Cold war = result of mutual misunderstanding misunderstanding and overreactions due to fear from both sides o
USSR’s need for security
o
Defensive measures by one power were often seen as offensive by the other
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