The Beginning of Cold War
Post-WW2 Germany
The Grand Alliance countries were in agreement about what goals for post-WW2 Germany?
Complete removal of the government, aggressive re-education, elimination of the Nazi party and its affiliated groups from public life, and the prosecution of Nazi war criminals.
What was the ACC?
The council established to ensure Germany is administrated in a consistent manner.
When did Nazi Germany surrender to the Allies?
In May 1945
How many zones was post-WW2 Germany divided into?
4 zones
Which part of Germany did the Soviets control, and approximately how much of the country did they control?
The east sector, which is Berlin and areas surrounding it approximately 1/4 of Germany.
What was critical for Stalin’s vision of a secure USSR? Why?
The division of Germany or otherwise it is estimated by USSR that Germany could recover in 15 to 20 years.
Why did Stalin believe that he could eventually take total control of Germany?
Because he thinks the UK is so weak after war, and the USA would soon withdraw their forces back to homeland just like they did after world war I.
What incorrect assumption did Stalin make about Europe in the post-WW2 world that undermined his vision of securing Germany?
That USA would withdraw its forces and support from Europe.
Soviets in Germany
As a quick note, were there any issues between the occupied Germans and the Red Army? If so, why?
Yes, the occupied Germans suffered harshly under the Red Army’s occupation, because the Red Army is eager to exact revenge their losses when battle with the Nazis.
What did Potsdam require of the defeated Germans? How did the Soviets acquire this from the Germans? (Pick one statistic for you to memorize!)
The Potsdam agreement required Germans to pay reparations to the USSR, so the USSR acquire all military industry, state-owned industry and Nazi-owned industry which accounts for 60% of all industrial activity.
What was the nature of the refugee crisis in Eastern Germany after the war? What problems did it cause? How did Stalin view this situation?
The USSR taken away most factories which makes East Germans loss 100billion income These refugees was relocated to Poland and the USSR which caused social problems and create an economic strains on the impoverished economy of Poland and USSR.
What is a possibility for Stalin’s motives in his actions in East German according to your text on page 39?
That Stalin wants economic and social hardship to spark communism in Germany.
The West in Germany
According to the ACC members, what was the key to eliminating Nazism in post-WW2 Germany? What U.S. policy did this ultimately manifest in?
The key is through economic assistance, so the U.S announced the Marshall plan to rebuild western Europe.
How did Truman hope Stalin would react to the Marshall Plan? Why?
To reject the marshal plan, so the western Europe could recover.
How did Stalin react to the Marshall Plan? Why?
He was shocked by this plan because this means that the USA was not withdrawing from Europe.
What was “Bizonia” and why was it created?
The combination of British and American sectors.
Soviet Perspective Chart
Soviet benefits from a divided Germany |
Soviet Benefits from a unified communist Germany |
|---|---|
Germany would remained weak and made the buffer states more effective |
Stalin could put the entire Germany under his sphere of influence. |
Soviet disadvantages from a divided Germany |
Soviet Disadvantages from a unified communist Germany |
Berlin Blockade and Airlift 1948-1949 (The Berlin Crisis)
How is Berlin divided?
It was divided into Four zones control by the USA, UK, France, and USSR
In February 1948, what did the 3 Western Powers in the ACC propose?
The proposed a new four-power currency
This was discussed in a March 1948 meeting called the London Conference. What did Soviets do at the conference and subsequently begin planning afterwards?
USSR’s delegate walked out of the conference and began planning for the creation of an east German state
Explain the geographical problem of Berlin within Cold War Germany.
Berlin was enclaved by Soviet control territories.
What causes does the book list for the Berlin Blockade?
- Marshal plan
- The treaty of Brussels
- Report from the party of socialist German Unity
- Announcement of a new currency and a united sectors.
In April of 1948, what did Stalin prevent from entering Western Berlin? What was Stalin’s justification for these drastic actions?
The supply of food and fuel from entering the city. Because there was no official treaty about transportation through the soviet sectors, so the USSR did not violate the international law.
The United States had a nuclear monopoly in 1948. Many of Stalin’s critics feared nuclear retaliation from the United States after the blockade. What 3 reasons did Stalin give to counter this fear?
- The USA would not use nuclear weapons over Berlin
- The Red Army would be ordered to resist any forced attempt of the USA to end the blockade through a military convoy.
- If the USA decided to launch a full-fledged attack, Stalin alone would determine how to respond.
What was “Operation Vittles” or the Berlin airlift?
to supply Berlin through airlift in a rate of 13000 tons per day.
What was Truman’s personal goal for the airlift?
To show that he could be firm on communism.
On April 15th, 1949 an event called the “Easter Parade” happened. What was it? And how did the Soviets interpret it?
An unprecedented 1383 flight delivers 13000 tons of coal to west Berlin. The soviets knows that the airlift could continue indefinitely.
When was the blockade lifted?
On 12 May 1949.
Many say the Berlin Crisis solidified dividing Europe into two “blocs.” What does this mean?
That the soviets admitted that the west Berlin is linked to the west.
What was erected in Berlin by the Soviets in 1961?
The Berlin Wall.
Germany Divided
What was Trizonia? When was it created and what did it eventually become?
A joint administration of USA, France, and UK occupation zones. It was created in 1948, and it eventually becomes the Federal republic of Germany.
West Germany was granted sovereignty, but foreign elements were to remain in the country?
Yes the USA, UK and France has the right to keep their forces and monitor FRG on its agreement to disarmament, demilitarization, and refugees.
What did the Soviets create in October 1949 in response to West Germany?
They create the German Democratic Republic.
What kind of country was GDR?
Who were the Stasi, and what was their purpose? Was there any response amongst the general population to the Stasi/Soviet actions in the GDR?
Monitor east German, and the general population responded with massive emigration.
NATO
What was the goal of the 1948 Treaty of Brussels? What did that goal eventual evolve into?
Preventing the spread of communism, it expand to mutual defense agreement.
What was created in April 1949 with a total of 12 countries? What was agreed upon within this treaty? What was the name for the organization that this treaty represented?
The nNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization, all members in the NATO agreed that an attack on one would be considered an attack on all, and that they would coordinate joint military action in the event of such an attack, with the specific exclusion of attacks in colonial territories.
What was the Mutual Defense Assistance Program?
A program USA created to assist the member states of NATO.
How did the Soviets react to the creation of this organization?
The Soviets argued that this was an aggressive alliance directed against the USSR and eastern Europe and that it violated the principles of the United Nations.
How did Truman respond to this reaction?
He claim that it was a defensive alliance that was consistent with the UN covenant.
What “Pact” did the Soviets create in response to NATO?
The Warsaw pact and Nuclear Parity
Was Stalin worried about U.S. Nuclear weapons?
No, he haven’t show any of it in his public statements.
What effectively sped up Soviet Nuclear development by two years?
Soviet espionage obtain details from those involved in the Manhattan project.
What is Nuclear Parity?
That USSR and USA all have nuclear weapons
What did the Soviets hope to prevent with the development of their own Nuclear Weapons?
To prevent future use of the atomic bomb.
When was Nuclear Parity achieved by the USSR?
On 29 August 1949.
In June 1947 a report entitled "An evaluation of the atom bomb as a military weapon" was presented to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military. What did this report argue?
Although nuclear weapons are dangerous, but the USA should continue its atomic program and maintain a supercity in number of weapons.
How did the development of nuclear parity change the dynamic between the USA and USSR?
USA no longer has an absolute advantage against the red army .
What did the United States and the Soviet Union both actively do with their nuclear secrets after Nuclear parity was achieved?
An arm race