CWB - East vs. West: Beginnings of the Cold War (Lesson)

East vs. West: Beginnings of the Cold War.

Roots of Cold War.

Tehran Conference, 1943: USSR guaranteed to be only power to liberate Eastern Europe.

Yalta Conference, 1945: Stalin pledged to allow democratic elections in E. Europe (but later reneged). Germany would be divided into four zones controlled by U.S., France, Britain and USSR. After war, Soviets dominated their zone and did not allow reunification of Germany.

Potsdam Conference, 1945: Truman demanded free elections in Eastern Europe but Stalin refused.Stalin wanted a buffer zone between Germany and USSR for protection against future war.

Photograph of The Big Three at the Yalta ConferenceYalta Conference (1945):

U.S. point of view:

  • Stalin seemed intent on creating "spheres" of influence in Eastern Europe.
  • He broke pledges at Yalta; refused to allow reunification of Germany.
  • Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech in 1946 alerted Americans to a future conflict.
  • U.S. wanted democracy spread throughout the world with a strong international organization to maintain global peace.

 Soviet point of view:

  • Democracies traditionally hostile towards communism and the USSR/
  • US & Britain did not open the western front in Europe early enough; millions of Soviet soldiers were dying while fighting the brunt of Nazi armies alone until mid-1944.
  • The US and Britain froze Russia out of the atomic bomb project.
  • US terminated lend-lease to Moscow in May 1945, but gave Britain aid until 1946.
  • Wanted "buffer zone" for the Soviet western border especially in Poland,.

Partition of Germany.

  • USSR, U.S., Britain & France would each occupy a part of Germany but would allow for German reunification once it was no longer a threat.
  • Germany was to pay heavy reparations to USSR in form of agricultural and industrial goods.
  • Soviets dominated their Eastern German zone
    • Did not want revitalized Germany that could once again pose a threat.
    • Stripped E. Germany of much of its resources, dismantled factories and shipped them back to Russia.
  • U.S. and W. Europeans felt German economy vital to recovery of Europe
    • 1949, West Germany became an independent country when US, France and Britain gave back each of their zones.
    • became the Federal Republic of Germany – led by Konrad Adenauer.
  • 1949, East Germany formally established – Democratic Republic of Germany led by Walter Ulbricht (1883-1973); communist regime influenced by Moscow

"Containment."

By 1947, US pledged to prevent further spread of communism

Truman Doctrine, 1947: U.S. gave aid to Greece and Turkey to defeat communist forces there

Marshall Plan, 1947: Massive aid package to help war-torn Europe recover from the war

  • Purpose: prevent communism from spreading into economically devastated regions
  • Result: Western and Central Europe recovered economically -- the "economic miracle"
  • Soviets refused to allow U.S. aid to countries in eastern Europe

Berlin Crisis (1948-49): Soviets attempted to remove Allies from Berlin by cutting off access, U.S. instituted a massive airlift; Soviets lifted blockade in 1949

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed in 1949, was a collective security organization consisting of democracies in Europe, U.S. & Canada to prevent against Soviet expansion in Europe

Radio Free Europe & Voice of America set up to send pro-democracy messages to countries behind the "iron curtain" 

 

Eastern Bloc.

  • Countries in Eastern Europe dominated by Soviet Union after WWII
  • Included Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Romania, Bulgaria
  • Communist parties of eastern Europe established one-party states by 1948, with help of Red Army and KGB (Soviet secret police)
  • Only Yugoslavia, led by Marshal Tito, is not dominated by Soviets
  • Postwar economic recovery in eastern Europe proceeded along Soviet lines.
  • Changes went forward at slow & uneven pace; came to almost a halt by the mid-1960s
  • Five-year plans in USSR reintroduced to tackle massive economic reconstruction
  • Stalin re-institutes oppressive rule
    • Great Patriotic War of the Fatherland had fostered Russian nationalism and a relaxation of dictatorial terror
    • Stalin's new foe, the U.S., provided an excuse for re-establishing harsh dictatorship
    • After war, Stalin repressed millions of Soviet citizens living outside Soviet borders when the war ended
    • Stalin revived many forced labor camps, which had accounted for roughly 1/6 of all new construction in Soviet Union before the war
    • Culture and art were also purged

Czechoslovakia.

  • Czechoslovakia was the economic exception in E. Europe: industrialized, strong middle class, industrial working class and had experience of political democracy between the wars
  • During "dualist period", President Benes and Foreign minister Jan Masaryk proposed to govern a social democracy while maintaining close voluntary relations with the USSR
  • In response to Marshall Plan in 1947, Stalin replaced gov't in 1948 with 1-party communist rule to prevent nation from courting the West

 

Western Europe Political Recovery.

  • All faced economic hardship after WWII: scarcity of food, runaway inflation, black markets
  • Many people believed Europe was finished
  • Suffering was worst in Germany
  • Political restructuring
    • Christian Democrat party begins, inspired by common Christian and European heritage
    • Rejected authoritarianism & narrow nationalism; had faith in democracy and cooperation
    • Catholic parties also progressive in nature
    • Socialists and Communists also emerged with increased power and prestige, especially in France and Italy
  • Pushed for social change and economic reform with considerable success
  • Result: social reform and political transformation created foundations for a great European renaissance

"Economic Miracle": unprecedented economic growth in European history.

  •  Europe entered period of rapid economic progress lasting into late 1960s
  •  By 1963, western Europe produced over 2.5X more than they did before the war

Causes:

  •  Marshall Plan aid helped western Europe begin recovery in 1947
  •  Korean War in 1950 stimulated economic activity
  •  Economic growth became a basic objective of all western European governments
  •  Governments accepted Keynesian economics to stimulate their economies
  •  Germany and France were especially successful and influential
  •  In most countries many people willing to work hard for low wages; expanding industries benefited
  •  Increased demand for consumer goods
  •  Many economic barriers eliminated and a large unified market emerged: Common Market

Germany.

  • economic recovery led by finance minister Ludwig Erhard
  • Combined free-market economy & extensive social welfare network inherited from Nazi era
  • By late 1950s, West Germany had robust economy, full employment, a strong currency and stable prices

France.

  • Combined flexible planning and a "mixed" state and private economy to achieve most rapid economic development in its history
  • Jean Monnet: economic pragmatist and architect of European unity
  • France used Marshall Plan aid money and the nationalized banks to funnel money into key industries, several of which were state owned

France steps back from European unity

  • Bitter colonial war in Algeria resulted in the 1958 election in of Charles De Gaulle who established the Fifth French Republic and ruled as president until 1969
  • Withdrew France from "US controlled" NATO and developed own nuclear weapons program
  • De Gaulle twice vetoed application of pro-American British to European Union

 

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.