Topic 5 - Origins of Cold War Essay Plans

Analyze the origin of East-West rivalry and explain why it developed into the Cold War (May 2008)

Introduction –

• Period of hostility and high tensions between two superpowers
• Animosity from the Bolshevik revolution 1917 until 1941, the Grand Alliance of WWII (ideology/power/fear)
• Breakdown of wartime alliance; Yalta, Potsdam, problems with Germany, growth of Eastern bloc, Marshall Plan, Truman Doctrine

Origin –

• The British, encouraged by War Minister Churchill, were the most active force during Civil War
• Send 100mil supplies to Whites, as the dreaded the spread of Bolshevism 
• USSR didn’t receive diplomatic recognition nor join the League of Nations until 1930s
• Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 to postpone war
• Stalin suspected
• Difference of principles

Yalta (Feb 1945) & Potsdam (July 194) –

• Seemed to agree on most things, however left things purposefully ambiguous
• Later, distinctly cooler atmosphere as Truman was less trusting  
• Disagreed over Poland; Truman challenged Oder-Neisse Line (displace 5mil Germans), didn’t feel there had been ‘free and democratic’, unhappy about ‘Percentages Agreement’
• Truman didn’t inform Stalin about atomic bomb

Growth of Eastern Bloc

·       Russia systematically interfered in the countries of eastern Europe to set up pro-communist gov in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Albania, and Romania

·      By the end of 1947 every state in the area, except Czechoslovakia, had a fully communist gov

·      Elections were rigged, non-communist members of coalition govs were expelled, arrested, executed

·      West profoundly irritated by Russia’s treatment of EE, which disregarded Stalin’s promise at Yalta

·      Ought not be surprised; even Churhill agreed that most EE should be influenced by Russia – argued that friendly neighbouring states were necessary for self-defense

Marshall Plan, Truman Doctrine

·      Sprang from events in Greece, where communists were trying the overthrow monarchy

·      Truman announced March 1947 that they would support free people resisting subjegation by armed minorities and outside pressures

·      Greece received arms and supplies and defeated communists in 1949.  Threatened Turkey received $6 mil

·      A policy of containment

·      Marshall Plan announced 1947 – economic extension

·      Policy ‘not directed against any country or docrine, but against hungar, poverty, desperation, and chaos

·      Promote economic recovery in Europe to improve improve markets for American exports

·      Main aim was political – more stable

·      $13,000mil Marshall Aid to Europe, recovering industry and agriculture

·      Molotov denounced it as ‘dollar imperialism’ – seen as a blatant American device for gaining control

·      Cominform September 1947 – Stalin’s aim to tighten grip on satellite

·      Stalin’s ‘Two Camps’ Doctrine’ – developed his idea of Europe divided

·      Molotov Plan introduced Russian aid 

For what reasons and with what results did the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan affect the Cold War development?

Introduction –

• Marked a break from traditional isolationist policies
• European economic recovery, especially in West Germany; fear of this by USSR; Berlin Blockade; NATO; Warsaw Pact
• Soviet historians saw it as America attempting to gain political power in Europe
• Orthodox historians believe it was necessary self-defense against Stalin’s aggression

Truman Doctrine March 1947 –

• In response to Greece and Turkey
• LaFaber – ‘Doctrine became an ideological shield behind which US marched to rebuild Western political and economic system and counter radical left’
• Greece received arms and supplies and defeated communists in 1949
• Threatened Turkey received $6mil
• A policy of containment in Europe, Korea, and Vietnam

Marshal Plan June 1947 –

• Economic extension of Truman Doctrine – revive European economies so that political and social stability could ensue
• $13,000mil Marshall Aid to Europe, recovery agriculture and industry
• Soviets rejected plan because they asked to see financial records
• Soviets saw it as ‘dollar imperialism’ – US establishing European empire by economic domination and dependence, which would ultimately give them political control
• In response Molotov Plan; series of bilateral trade agreements aimed to tie EE economies together
• Outcome was creation of COMECON in Jan 1949 – designed to stimulate and control econ development
• Cominform set up September 1947 to tighten grip on satallite states – iron curtain reality
• Stalin’s Two Camp Doctrine – developed idea of Europe divided

Berlin Blockade 1948

• USSR didn’t want a resurgent united Germany to pose a threat
• US best hope for European peace would lie in the rapid economic recovery of Germany – best way of containing communism 
• West German prosperity was an embarrassment
• Early 1947 formed Bizonia and changed currency
• 23-24 June 1948 – Stalin began total blockade, railroads, roads, and waterways closed
• Clear that Germany would not unite
• Evidence of Russian aggression – Orthodox view

Containment –

• Led to Koran, Vietnam wars

For what reasons and with what results did Second War allies become post-war enemies?

Introduction –

• Unlikely associates, only united by common enemy of the Nazis
• Different ideologies, conflicting aims, rivalry over spheres of influence
• Conferences, Germany, Berlin, atomic bomb caused alliance to disintegrate
• Caused further conflict
• Post revisionists suggest situations was more complicates, as both sides overestimated power and evil intentions

Conflicting aims –

• US wanted free elections in EE, agreed at Yalta  - Members of the London poles should join Lublin poles
• ‘Free election’ not held until 19 Jan 1947
• Before elections had been a campaign of murder, censorship, intimidations, votes were taken off the register, candidates disqualified
• Czechoslovakian coup Feb 1948; coup to oust non-communist government
• USSR wanted Germany to pay and remain weak (reparations of $20bill)
• US believed Europe peace would depend on rapid economic recovery of Germany
• Mutual suspicions; concerned that powerful Germany could be a treat to either side if it joined the other side
• USSR was to take 25% of German industrial equipment from Western zones in return for supplying zones with food from EE, but wasn’t delivering enough food

Rivalry over spheres of influence –

• Stalin aimed to take advantage of military situation to strengthen Russia’s influence in Europe
• Tried to occupy as much as Germany and acquire as much land as possible – Finland, Poland, Romaina
• Stalin set up pro-communist gov in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania
• West was alarmed with Soviet aggression, believed he was committed to spreading communism
• Molotov denounced Truman Doctrine/Marshall Plan as ‘dollar imperialism’ US trying to establish European empire of economic dominance and dependence, ultimately give political control (really to improve American exports and improve stability)
• During Berlin Blockade (June 1948-May 1949) Russia wanted to gain control of West Berlin
• West formed NATO April 1949 in response to coordinate militarily
• Orthodox historians believe that Russia intended to spread communism, but Soviet historians argue that it was defensive, not frightening

Different ideologies –

• Capitalist v communist
• LaFaber – did not come into conflict because one was communist and other capitalist – America expanded westwards and Russia eastward

Results –

• Lead to further war, extreme tensions, almost nuclear war, Berlin blockade, Cuban missile crisis, 

“The break-down of East-West relations was due to the failures of both sides to appreciate the fears of the others.”  With reference to the period 1945-53, to what extent do you agree with this statement?

Introduction –

• Respective leader’s fears / perceived threats
• Breakdown was due to long-standing animosity pre-Alliance
• Arguments over Yalta, Potsdam – German question, Poland, Greece, Turkey, liberation of EE, containment policies (Marshall Plan), Soviet moves (Cominform and Comecon), NATO, spread of conflict to Korea
• Post-revisionist believe that situation was complex; what was necessary for self-defense by one side was views as evidence of aggressive intent by another.  West didn’t fully recognize Soviet motives and misinterpreted actions.

Soviet sphere of influence

• Stalin feared capitalist invasion from West, so wanted friendly neighboring states to be protected
• USSR suffered enormously – 25mill peeps killed, 1,700 cities riun, 70% industry
• Even Churchill agreed in the Percentages Agreement that EE should be communist
• Agreed at Yalta that free elections would be permitted in EE and that London poles would join Lublin poles
• Roosevelt and Churchill displeased with Stalin’s demands that Poland should be given German territory east of the rivers Oder and Neisse, no agreement made at Yalta
• Truman and Churchill angry at Potsdam that Germany east of Oder-Neisse Line had been occupied by Russian troops and 5mill German expelled
• In response to Marshall Plan created COMECON and Cominform to increase control
• But US wanted Germany to prosper, so introduced Marshall Plan
• USSR wanted to keep Germany weak to prevent attack and make them pay
• Wished for reparation of $20bn
• Stalin was planning as early as June 1945 to incorporate a reunified Germany within Moscow’s sphere of influence – led to Berlin blockade

Feared communism expansion

• Developed Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan
• Kennan’s Long Telegram ‘impervious to the logic of reason, Moscow is highly sensitive to the logic of force’
• Through Truman Doctrine, saved Turkey and Greece
• Soviets saw Marshall Plan as ‘dollar imperialism’, when in reality just trying to increase American exports 
• Responded with Comecon and saw it as American expansionism
• Led to spread of conflict to Korea

Stalin’s Foreign Policy

• Stalin played a large part in increasing animosity as he did have expansionist policies for the sake of exploiting other nations
• For instance – Czechoslovakian coup (Feb 1948) was not necessary, as there is a natural barrier of mountains (as Czech was considering Marshall Plan)

Assess the part played by differing ideologies in the origin of the Cold War (May 2007)

Introduction –

• Difference between communism/democracy and planned/free economy
• Ideological differences led to intervention in Bolshevik Revolution
• Other causes; fear and mutual suspicion/power politics
• LaFaber – didn’t come into conflict because one was communist and other capitalist – America expanded westwards and Russia eastwards
• Post-revisionists now believe that misunderstandings played a large part

Ideology –

• Marxism-Leninism > state controls production, equal and classless society, nationalization of land/companies.  Since the communist party represented the masses, there was no need for other parties. 
• Capitalism > private ownership, private companies, competition. Multi-party system ensures a democratic system.
• UK/US supported Whites during Civil War
• Stalin claimed that two sides could not get along
• Stalin was convinced that there would be another attempt by capitalist powers to destroy communism in Russia

Stalin’s Expansionism –

• Aim to take advantage of military situation in EE
• Tried to occupy as much as Germany and acquire as much land as possible (Finland, Poland, and Romania)
• West alarmed by aggression – believed he was committed to spread of communism
• Agreed at Yalta EE would have free elections and London Poles would join Lublin Poles
• Russian systematically interfered in EE to set up pro-communist govs in Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Albania, Romania
• Elections were rigged, non-communist members of coalition govs were expelled, may arrested/executed and eventually all other political parties were dissolved
• Czechoslovakian coup Feb 1948

USA/Britain animosity –

• Truman more suspicious of Stalin
• Dropped atomic bomb
• Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan was an example of ‘dollar imperalism’
• Formation of NATO, Stalin took it as a challenge

In what ways, and with what results, was Germany the key focus of the early stages of the Cold War?

Introduction –

• Disagreement over state of Germany
• Berlin blockade
• Created tension, division
• Post-revisionist; what was viewed as necessary for self-defense by one nation was interpreted as an act of aggression by another

Conferences –

• Differing aims – US wanted strong G, USSR wanted weak
• Agreed at Yalta that Germany would be divided and de-nazified
• At Potsdam zonal division of Germany confirmed in “Potsdam Protocol on Germany”.  No final agreement made on reparations – Russia demanded $20bn which was rejected by West
• Stalin wanted Germany to pay, treated his zone as a satellite state, draining all resources away from Russia 
• Destruction of Germany created a power vacuum

Berlin Blockade June 1948-May 1949 –

• 1948 three western zones merged to form a single economic unit, whose prosperity contrasted with East Germany
• West wanted all four zones to unite and given self-government, but Stalin decided it would be safer of he kept Russian zone separate, with its own pro-USSR gov
• June 1948, West introduced new economic currency and ended price controls
• Russians though two currencies in one city was impossible and embarrassed by poverty
• All roads, rail, and canal links were closed
• 2mil tons of supplies were airlifted and May 1949 Russians admitted defeat
• US saw it as an example of USSR aggression

Results

• Led to two separate German states FRG, DDR
• NATO created to coordinate Western forces, as BB showed West’s military unreadiness and frightened them into action
• Signed Brussels Defense Treaty, promising military collaboration in case of war
• Warsaw Pact
• Poverty in Eastern Germany
• Exodus of East Germans to West
• Built Berlin Wall

Analyze the responsibility of the USA and USSR for the outbreak and development of the Cold War, up to 1949:

Introduction –

• Difficulty of allocating responsibility
• Lack of trust on both sides
• Post-revisionist; US and USSR can’t be held solely responsible.  LaFaber – misinterpretations played large part. 
• What was necessary for self-defense by one country, may be interpreted as aggression by the other
• Wartime conference, Marshall Plan, COMECON, issues in Berlin,

USSR Expansionism –

• Orthodox view – Soviets were expansionists, due to their suspicion of the West and in accordance to their Marxist theory
• USSR gained control over EE by ‘salami tactics’
• USA saw ‘occupation’ of EE as a breach of Yalta/Potsdam
• Set up a communist gov in Poland and expelled 5mil Germans from territory east of the Oder-Neisse Line (not agreed at Yalta)
• Elections were rigged, non-communist members of coalition govs expelled, arrested, or executed
• Created Cominform September 1947 to increase control over communist parties of other countries
• Berlin Blockade was an act of aggression June 1948
• West concerned organization would spread communism
• US should have been more sympathetic, as USSR had incredible losses and wanted a buffer zone of friendly neighboring states (Percentages Agreement)
• But didn’t need Czechoslovakia - Czechoslovakian coup Feb 1948 – Stalin organized pressure on coalition gov, 12non-communist members forced to resign,

US animosity –

• Revisionist view – US didn’t understand soviet need for security
• US intervention in the Russian Revolution on the side of the Whites
• Deliberately delayed D-Day to weaken USSR
• Atomic bomb to scare USSR (Blanckett – first move of Cold War)
• US believed that ‘impervious to the logic of reason, Moscow is highly sensitive to the logic of force’
• Truman Doctrine March 1947
• Marshall Plan designed to revive economies so that political and social stability could ensue
• Soviets denounced it as dollar imperialism – US establishing European empire by economic domination and dependence, which would give political control
• Formation of NATO 1949, signed North Atlantic Treaty agreeing to reguard any attack on one them as an attack on all of them - Stalin took as a challenge

Compare and contrast the economic policies and military alliances of USSR and USA after 1947:

Introduction –

• Rationale given by both sides for the creation of these groups
• Membership and operation
• Organization
• Implementation/actions taken
• Impact on superpowers and members
• COMECON, Warsaw Pact, Mashall Plan, NATO

COMECON & Marshall Plan –

• Marshall Plan: $13bn economic extension of Truman Doctrine designed to give immediate economic help to Europe so that political and social stability could ensue (so communism less likely to spread), and safeguard future of US economy
• To avoid interpretation that US was coercing European gov to accept, made it clear initiative must come from Europe
• Soviet response was Molotov Plan – series of bilateral trade agreements aimed to tie economies of EE to USSR.  Outcome was creation of COMECON in January 1949, designed to stimulate and control their economic development and support collectivization of agriculture and development of heavy industry

Warsaw Pact & NATO –

• After Berlin blockade formation of NARO April 1949.  Signed Brussels Defense Treaty, promising military collaboration in case of war.  Signed North Atlantic Treaty agreeing to regard any attack on one of them as an attack on all of them
• Warsaw Pact was a mutual defense alliance early 1955
• Soviet Union dominated the alliance and kept a military personnel in the other countries of the alliances and kept them running socialist govs
• Up until 1950 NATO was somewhat an agreement for US to protect other members
• Aimed to fight against Soviet Union if they increased their aggression/started war – purpose of defense
• Aim was to exert control over EE,
• Increased protection for both internal and external threats – attack on one was an attack on all
• Allowed Red Army to be based in other member states
• Tensions between members existed ‘

An unnatural alliance that was bound to fall apart after the defeat of a common enemy.  To what extent does this statement explain the origins of the Cold War?

Introduction –

• Unnatural alliance; differing ideologies and Bolshevik revolution (previous enmity)
• Common enemy – Hitler
• Other factors; power vacuum, fear, mutual recriminations post-war
• Likely inevitable do to hatred of each other

Differing Ideologies –

• Maxist-Leninism society; state controls means of production, equal and classless society, nationalization of land and companies, single-party state as communist party represented interests of the working class.  Capitalist society; competition and free market, muti-party guarantees democratic system.
• Stalin claimed that two sides could not get along
• Stalin was convinced that there would be another attempt by capitalist powers to destroy communism in Russia
• LaFaber – did not come into conflict because one was communist and other was capitalist.  America expanded Westwards and Russia eastwards.

Previous enmity –

• During Bolshevik Revolution, had supported the anti-Bolsheviks (whites)
• Send 100mil supplies to Whites, as the dreaded the spread of Bolshevism 
• USSR didn’t receive diplomatic recognition nor join the League of Nations until 1930s
• Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 to postpone war

Other factors - Power –

• Defeat of Nazis created power vacuum
• Stalin wanted to take advantage of situation in EE and take as much territory as possible; Finland, Romania
• Set up communist governments using ‘salami tactics’
• Produced COMECON, Cominform to exert power over satellite states
• America followed containment to ensure communism wouldn’t spread
• Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan would reduce the opportunity of communism spreading and open foreign markets to American exports
• Mutual fear of each other; what was necessary for self-defense by one country was interpreted as aggression by the other

To what extent were Soviet policies responsible for the outbreak and development of the Cold War between 1945 and 1949?

Introduction –

• Soviet aggression; nature of Marxism, break Yalta/Potsdam, occupation of EE, poor treatment of Germany, but Percentages Agreement, needed buffer zone to protect
• US hostility; atomic bomb, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO
• John Lewis Gaddis – ‘as long as Stalin was running the Soviet Union, a Cold War was unavoidable’

• Difficulty of allocating responsibility
• Lack of trust on both sides
• Post-revisionist; US and USSR can’t be held solely responsible.  LaFaber – misinterpretations played large part. 
• What was necessary for self-defense by one country, may be interpreted as aggression by the other

USSR Expansionism –

• Orthodox view – Soviets were expansionists, due to their suspicion of the West and in accordance to their Marxist theory
• USSR gained control over EE by ‘salami tactics’
• USA saw ‘occupation’ of EE as a breach of Yalta/Potsdam
• Set up a communist gov in Poland and expelled 5mil Germans from territory east of the Oder-Neisse Line (not agreed at Yalta)
• Elections were rigged, non-communist members of coalition govs expelled, arrested, or executed
• Created Cominform September 1947 to increase control over communist parties of other countries
• Berlin Blockade was an act of aggression June 1948
• West concerned organization would spread communism
• US should have been more sympathetic, as USSR had incredible losses and wanted a buffer zone of friendly neighboring states (Percentages Agreement)
• But didn’t need Czechoslovakia - Czechoslovakian coup Feb 1948 – Stalin organized pressure on coalition gov, 12non-communist members forced to resign,

US animosity –

• Revisionist view – US didn’t understand soviet need for security
• US intervention in the Russian Revolution on the side of the Whites
• Deliberately delayed D-Day to weaken USSR
• Atomic bomb to scare USSR (Blanckett – first move of Cold War)
• US believed that ‘impervious to the logic of reason, Moscow is highly sensitive to the logic of force’
• Truman Doctrine March 1947
• Marshall Plan designed to revive economies so that political and social stability could ensue
• Soviets denounced it as dollar imperialism – US establishing European empire by economic domination and dependence, which would give political control
• Formation of NATO 1949, signed North Atlantic Treaty agreeing to reguard any attack on one them as an attack on all of them - Stalin took as a challenge

In what ways and for what reasons did the relationship between wartime allies deteriorate between 1945 and 1949 (Nov2004):

Introduction –

• Development of Cold War, division of Europe into two camps, Marshall Plan, COMECON, NATO, Warsaw Pact
• Previous enmity, Soviet expansionism (desire for security), American hostility
• Nature/inherent stability of deterioration “marriage of conveniences”

Previous enmity –

• The alliance was unnatural and only occurred in the face of a common enemy
• Maxist-Leninism society; state controls means of production, equal and classless society, nationalization of land and companies, single-party state as communist party represented interests of the working class.  Capitalist society; competition and free market, muti-party guarantees democratic system.
• Stalin claimed that two sides could not get along
• Stalin was convinced that there would be another attempt by capitalist powers to destroy communism in Russia
• During Bolshevik Revolution, had supported the anti-Bolsheviks (whites)
• Send 100mil supplies to Whites, as the dreaded the spread of Bolshevism 
• USSR didn’t receive diplomatic recognition nor join the League of Nations until 1930s
• Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 to postpone war
• LaFaber – did not come into conflict because one was communist and other was capitalist.  America expanded Westwards and Russia eastwards.

Soviet expansionism –

• Orthodox view – Soviets were expansionists, due to their suspicion of the West and in accordance to their Marxist theory
• USSR gained control over EE by ‘salami tactics’
• USA saw ‘occupation’ of EE as a breach of Yalta/Potsdam
• Set up a communist gov in Poland and expelled 5mil Germans from territory east of the Oder-Neisse Line (not agreed at Yalta)
• Elections were rigged, non-communist members of coalition govs expelled, arrested, or executed
• Created Cominform September 1947 to increase control over communist parties of other countries
• Berlin Blockade was an act of aggression June 1948
• West concerned organization would spread communism
• US should have been more sympathetic, as USSR had incredible losses and wanted a buffer zone of friendly neighboring states (Percentages Agreement)
• But didn’t need Czechoslovakia - Czechoslovakian coup Feb 1948 – Stalin organized pressure on coalition gov, 12non-communist members forced to resign,

American hostility –

• Revisionist view – US didn’t understand soviet need for security
• US intervention in the Russian Revolution on the side of the Whites
• Deliberately delayed D-Day to weaken USSR
• Atomic bomb to scare USSR (Blanckett – first move of Cold War)
• US believed that ‘impervious to the logic of reason, Moscow is highly sensitive to the logic of force’
• Truman Doctrine March 1947
• Marshall Plan designed to revive economies so that political and social stability could ensue
• Soviets denounced it as dollar imperialism – US establishing European empire by economic domination and dependence, which would give political control
• Formation of NATO 1949, signed North Atlantic Treaty agreeing to reguard any attack on one them as an attack on all of them - Stalin took as a challenge

To what extent did events in the final year of the Second World War turn wartime allies into Cold War enemies (May04):

Introduction –

• 1945
• Already enemies; Bolshevik Revolution, nature of ideologies
• Yalta/Potsdam had different objectives for Germany, EE
• Atomic bomb showed American hostility

Previous enmity –

• The alliance was unnatural and only occurred in the face of a common enemy
• Maxist-Leninism society; state controls means of production, equal and classless society, nationalization of land and companies, single-party state as communist party represented interests of the working class.  Capitalist society; competition and free market, muti-party guarantees democratic system.
• Stalin claimed that two sides could not get along
• Stalin was convinced that there would be another attempt by capitalist powers to destroy communism in Russia
• During Bolshevik Revolution, had supported the anti-Bolsheviks (whites)
• Send 100mil supplies to Whites, as the dreaded the spread of Bolshevism 
• USSR didn’t receive diplomatic recognition nor join the League of Nations until 1930s
• Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 to postpone war
• LaFaber – did not come into conflict because one was communist and other was capitalist.  America expanded Westwards and Russia eastwards.

Yalta Feb 1945/Potsdam July 1945 –

• Berlin was divided into 4 zones of occupation
• Rather successful
• Western leaders saw Russian occupation of EE as a violation of Yalta
• Germany east of the Odder-Neisse Line was being occupied by Russian troo[s and being run by pro-communist Polish gov, expelling 5mil Germans

Atomic Bomb

• Truman didn’t reveal true nature of atomic bomb
• First move in the Cold War (Blanckett)– to threaten USSR

In what ways and to what extent, did the conferences at Yalta and Potsdam contribute to the origins of the cold War:

For what reasons and with what results were there disagreements between participants at Yalta and Potsdam in 1945?

Introduction –

• Actual disagreements, problems arising, extent
• Germany (boundaries, reparations), Polish frountiers, Soviet participation in Japan
• Results: increase mutual fear and suspicion, division of Germany, establishment of Soviet satellite states

Yalta Feb 1945 –

•  Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin
• At the time it seemed a success; New League of Nations,
• Free elections in EE
• Germany divided
• Stalin promised to join war against Japan, provided he receive territory
• Agreed some London Poles would join Lublin Poles
• Unresolved; Poland should be given territory east of Oden-Neisse Line

Potsdam July 1945 –

• Attlee, Truman, Stalin
• Distinctly cooler atmosphere
• Disagreed on reparations from Germany (USSR wanted weak)
• Over Poland most the disagreements occurred
• Germany east of the Oder-Neisse Line had been occupied by troops and mil Germans expelled, not agreed at Yalta
• Truman didn’t inform Stalin of nature of atomic bomb

Other causes –

• The alliance was unnatural and only occurred in the face of a common enemy
• Maxist-Leninism society; state controls means of production, equal and classless society, nationalization of land and companies, single-party state as communist party represented interests of the working class.  Capitalist society; competition and free market, muti-party guarantees democratic system.
• Stalin claimed that two sides could not get along
• Stalin was convinced that there would be another attempt by capitalist powers to destroy communism in Russia
• During Bolshevik Revolution, had supported the anti-Bolsheviks (whites)
• Send 100mil supplies to Whites, as the dreaded the spread of Bolshevism 
• USSR didn’t receive diplomatic recognition nor join the League of Nations until 1930s
• Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 to postpone war
• LaFaber – did not come into conflict because one was communist and other was capitalist.  America expanded Westwards and Russia eastwards.

Why did the end of the Second World War lead to the development of two superpowers and how did this development help cause the Cold War?

Introduction –

• Power vacuum after defeat of Germany
• Rivalry for power

Soviet expansionism –

•  C

American agression –

• c

Wow –

• c

What were the reasons for, and results of, the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan?

Introduction –

• C

Truman Doctrine –

• Pledged US support for “free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressure.” 
• Prompted by need to gov aid to Greece and Turkey, to prevent them falling under communist control
• Established a policy of containment and contributed to development of Cold War

Marshall Plan –

• Offered financial aid from US for program of European recovery ($17bn)
• Based on the fear that poverty woidl encourage spread of communism
• Results were suspicion from USSR, recovery of Western Europe
• Denounced as dollar diplomacy and lead to Molotov Plan/COMECON