Who was to blame for the Cold War?
Sample Q+A
1.
What was agreed at Yalta? (4)
The major agreement was that Germany would be divided into zones of occupation after the war. Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin agreed to divide Germany, and Berlin, into four zones, with each of the three main powers, and France being responsible for one zone each.
Furthermore, the three leaders agreed that USSR would join in the war against Japan, 90 days after Germany had been defeated. The “Big Three” also agreed that free elections would be held throughout Europe after the war, and that most of the pre-war governments of Europe would be allowed to return. Stalin even agreed to hold free elections in Poland, even though he had clearly stated it was in his sphere of influence.
Furthermore, the three leaders agreed that USSR would join in the war against Japan, 90 days after Germany had been defeated. The “Big Three” also agreed that free elections would be held throughout Europe after the war, and that most of the pre-war governments of Europe would be allowed to return. Stalin even agreed to hold free elections in Poland, even though he had clearly stated it was in his sphere of influence.
Why did the USA introduce the Marshall Plan? (6)
The main reason why the USA introduced the Plan was to help the countries of western Europe recover from the effects of the Second World War. The economies of these countries had been badly damaged during the war, with roads, railways and factories being destroyed as a resultof German occupation or bombing. High unemployment also became a problem as most countries disarmed quickly. The Plan gave $13 billion in aid to help these countries recover.
The USA also introduced the Plan to prevent the spread of communism throughout western Europe. Truman was worried about the increase in popularity of the French and Italian communist parties, who appeared to have beneited from the economic crisis after the war. He believed that by helping to tackle Europe’s economic problems, the Marshall Plan would help prevent communist parties coming to power. It was therefore an important strand of his containment policy.
A final reason why the Plan was introduced was to help America export more goods to Europe. Few countries could afford to buy US goods after the war, but Marshall Aid meant that European countries could import food and materials which would not only help them recover, but also
provide a new market for American goods
The USA also introduced the Plan to prevent the spread of communism throughout western Europe. Truman was worried about the increase in popularity of the French and Italian communist parties, who appeared to have beneited from the economic crisis after the war. He believed that by helping to tackle Europe’s economic problems, the Marshall Plan would help prevent communist parties coming to power. It was therefore an important strand of his containment policy.
A final reason why the Plan was introduced was to help America export more goods to Europe. Few countries could afford to buy US goods after the war, but Marshall Aid meant that European countries could import food and materials which would not only help them recover, but also
provide a new market for American goods
The Cold War was caused mainly by Truman’s hostility towards the Soviet Union? How far do you agree? Explain your answer. (10)
Truman’s hostility towards the Soviet Union was a major factor in the start of the Cold War. Truman had succeeded FDR as President, and his approach to the USSR differed considerably to that of FDR. Whereas FDR had managed to secure agreements with Stalin at Yalta, Truman adopted a confrontational attitude towards the Soviet leader, resulting in few areas of agreement being established at Potsdam in July/August 1945. Truman’s ‘confrontational attitude’ was summed up by his adoption of the attitude, “win, draw, lose, we must win”. Truman also took a confrontational approach, because the USA had successfully tested the atomic bomb – Truman could have shared this information with his Ally Stalin, but he chose not to, showing he had no intention to build a trusting relationship with Stalin. It was clear that Truman did not trust Stalin as he went on to adopt a policy of containment rather than cooperation. His Truman Doctrine of March 1947 said that the USA would defend any country threatened by communism. This was followed up with the Marshall Plan which deliberately offered to the countries of eastern as well as western Europe in order to try to isolate the USSR. Both of these did little to engender cooperation between the USA and the USSR.
However, Stalin also did a great deal to start of the Cold War. For starters he went against the spirit of the Yalta conference’s ’Declaration on Liberated Europe’ and as created a set of satellite communist states in eastern Europe, where opposition to the communist party was banned, Moreover, several of his policies such as supporting communist parties in France and Italy, and blockading West Berlin, forced The USA to respond as it appeared that Stalin wanted to expand communism westwards.
In conclusion, whilst Truman could be blamed the USA’s policies were only a defensive response to Stalin’s Stalin expansionist policies which posed a significant threat to capitalism and democracy in Western Europe.
However, Stalin also did a great deal to start of the Cold War. For starters he went against the spirit of the Yalta conference’s ’Declaration on Liberated Europe’ and as created a set of satellite communist states in eastern Europe, where opposition to the communist party was banned, Moreover, several of his policies such as supporting communist parties in France and Italy, and blockading West Berlin, forced The USA to respond as it appeared that Stalin wanted to expand communism westwards.
In conclusion, whilst Truman could be blamed the USA’s policies were only a defensive response to Stalin’s Stalin expansionist policies which posed a significant threat to capitalism and democracy in Western Europe.
2.
What methods did Stalin use to take over the countries of Eastern Europe? (4)
Stalin’s occupation of Eastern Europe took place gradually between 1945–48, using similar methods in each country, an approach known as using “salami tactics”. His first stage was to form coalition governments in which the communists would hold key positions in the government which
allowed them to control the police force, and have political opponents arrested. For example, in Poland approximately 50,000 opponents were deported to Siberia between 1945 and 1947. Then he would remove rival parties, either by merging socialist and communist parties as they did in their eastern German zone to create the Socialist Unity Party, or by banning rival parties to create a one party (communist) state.
Another method of taking over Eastern Europe was to replace local communist leaders with communists who had been approved by Moscow. For example, Rakosi was sent to lead the communist party in Hungary, and create a Stalinist state there. All of this was done with the intimidating threat / presence of the Red Army.
allowed them to control the police force, and have political opponents arrested. For example, in Poland approximately 50,000 opponents were deported to Siberia between 1945 and 1947. Then he would remove rival parties, either by merging socialist and communist parties as they did in their eastern German zone to create the Socialist Unity Party, or by banning rival parties to create a one party (communist) state.
Another method of taking over Eastern Europe was to replace local communist leaders with communists who had been approved by Moscow. For example, Rakosi was sent to lead the communist party in Hungary, and create a Stalinist state there. All of this was done with the intimidating threat / presence of the Red Army.
Why did differences in ideology lead to a breakdown of the grand alliance after World War II? (6)
Ultimately, differences in ideology helped contribute to the start of the Cold War because the two superpowers had very different ideas on how society should be structured and what the post-war world should look like. These differences in ideology meant the the growth of suspicion and mistrust after WWII.
For example, The USA believed that the Soviet creation of satellite states in Eastern Europe was evidence of the expansionist nature of communism which went against the agreements made at Yalta to hold free elections throughout Europe after the war. Therefore, Truman’s
response, the Truman Doctrine which claimed that there were two ways of life in the world, and one of them, communism, was aggressive and a threat to peace was based on an ideological commitment to safeguard capitalism and democracy.
Equally Stalin was convinced that he had to do all he could after WWII to protect communism from being undermined by capitalism after WWII which led to him creating the Eastern bloc.
For example, The USA believed that the Soviet creation of satellite states in Eastern Europe was evidence of the expansionist nature of communism which went against the agreements made at Yalta to hold free elections throughout Europe after the war. Therefore, Truman’s
response, the Truman Doctrine which claimed that there were two ways of life in the world, and one of them, communism, was aggressive and a threat to peace was based on an ideological commitment to safeguard capitalism and democracy.
Equally Stalin was convinced that he had to do all he could after WWII to protect communism from being undermined by capitalism after WWII which led to him creating the Eastern bloc.