The Cold War

“Germany is finished . . . The real problem is Russia. I can’t get the Americans to see it.”—Winston Churchill

Origins of the Cold War

1945

• Yalta– The Allies agreed on the division of Germany– Russia insisted that the Polish Government be

sympathetic, but agreed to free elections.

• The UN– Creation was agreed upon at Yalta– Consisted of:

• General Assembly (All nations)• Security Counsel (5 permanent; 10 rotating)

Conflicting Goals

• American Goals– WWII had been fought for freedom and democracy– All of postwar Europe and Asia should be free.

• Soviet Goals– Lost 20 million in WWII– Sought to establish satellite nations as a buffer

against future attack– Refused to cooperate w/ the rebuilding of Europe– Began installing/backing communist governments in

Eastern Europe

The Soviets Secure Eastern Europe

• Poland– The elections were delayed for 2 years.– The Soviet-installed gov’t eliminated all opponents.

• Albania– “Liberated” in 1944 by the USSR– Anti-communists were silenced and the elected gov’t

was communist.

• Bulgaria– Soviet Army entered in 1944 and the communists

were in control by 1948.

• Czechoslovakia– The communists took power by replacing police

officers w/ party members– By 1948 it was a satellite nation.

• Hungary– Soviet army demanded communist control of the

police.– Anti-communists were arrested.– By 1947, communists controlled the country.

• Romania– 1945—USSR forced the King to name a communist

Prime Minister.– 1947—the PM forced the King to abdicate.

• East Germany– Stalin established national control of all resources.– Installed a brutal regime– Became known as the German Democratic Republic.

• Finland– 1948—Signed a treaty of cooperation w/ the USSR– Managed own domestic affairs while neutral in foreign

affairs.

• Yugoslavia– Communist Josip Broz (“Tito”) took power.– Refused to take Stalin’s orders.– Pursued his own style of Communism (Titoism).

The Iron Curtain

• Stalin’s Vow– 1946—Stalin predicted that communism

would triumph over capitalism.– Called on communists worldwide to spread

communism.– Established the Comminform to coordinate

the spread of communism to the world.

• Churchill’s Response– Speech at Westminster College in Fulton,

Missouri.• “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic,

an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” p.744

• The Cold War– Churchill and Stalin’s speeches set the tone

for the Cold War.– It will be a long struggle b/w the US and the

USSR for superiority in every area.– Never became a “hot war” of direct conflict

b/w the two superpowers.

• Containment – Doctrine promulgated by diplomat George

Kennan.• “In these circumstances, it is clear that the main

element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.” p. 745

• IOW – Eastern Europe was already lost– US must resist Communist expansion.– Meanwhile the Soviet system would crumble on its own

b/c of its inherent defects.

• Truman Doctrine– Since 1945 the USSR had been threatening Turkey

b/c it wanted a warm water port.– 1945—Civil war had broke out in Greece– 1947—UK announced it could no longer aid either

one.– Truman announced a major shift in policy

• “I believe that it must be the policy of the United states to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I beliee that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.” p. 746

– For 40+ yrs. the US followed this doctrine by aiding countries that were threatened by communism.

The Cold War at Home and Abroad

The Marshall Plan (European Recovery Plan)

• Designed by Sec. of State George Marshall.

• US sought to rebuild Europe.• Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslov

Molotov called it a vicious scheme.• Aid was offered to all of Europe, including

the USSR.• Only the free nations of Western Europe

joined the plan.

Berlin Airlift

• The West decided to combine their ocupation zone into the Federal Republic of Germany.

• West Berlin, though free, remained in E. GR.• Thousands of Eastern Europeans fled to the

West through Berlin.• June 1948—USSR blocked allied access to

West Berlin.• Stalin hoped to “starve out” the 2.5 million

people of W. Berlin.• Truman ordered the Berlin Airlift.

• For 15 mos. the UK and US flew 200K flights to deliver food, fuel, etc.

• 13K tons arrived daily.

• The Soviets finally gave up and opened West Berlin.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

• April 1949—Formed to answer the Soviet threat b/c the UN was inefective

• Canada, US, Belgium, UK, DK, FR, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal (Turkey)

• Collective Security— “an armed attacked against one or more of them . . . Shall be considered an attack against them all.

• The Soviets responded by creating the Warsaw Pact.

Communism Advances

• 1949—USSR exploded their own atomic bomb

• 1950—Truman approved development of the hydrogen or thermonuclear bomb. (dev’d by 1952)

• Truman also created the Federal Civil Defense Administration.– Prepared the US public to face nuclear atack.– Built bomb shelters– “Duck and Cover” drills

• China Falls– Communists—Mao Zedong vs. Nationalists—Chiang

Kaishek.– Had been fighting since 1920s.– 1949 Peking (Beijing) fell to Mao and he established

the People’s Republic of China.– The Nationalists fled to Taiwan and continued the

Republic of China. – Taiwan ROC continued to be recognized by the West

as the official gov’t and held China’s seat on the UN Sec. Council.

The Cold War at Home

• Overview:With the threat of communism, many began to

fear a communist plot within the US.

• The Loyalty Program– All new gov’t employees had to be investigated.– FBI checked existing employees for suspicious

activities.

• The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)– Est’d by Congress b/4 WWII.– Now turned to the Communist threat.– 1947 Congress accused Hollywood

• The Hollywood Ten– Oct.—Congress subpoenaed Hollywood writers, directors,

actors, and producers.

– 10 pleaded the Fifth and had to serve time for contempt of Congress

• In fear, Hollywood compiled a blacklist of actors.

• McCarran-Walter Act– Passed over Truman’s veto.– Est’d a quota system limiting immigration from

Communist countries.

• Espionage– Alger Hiss

• Accused but only convicted of perjury and served 4 yrs.

– Julius and Ethel Rosenberg• Convicted of selling the A-bomb to the USSR• Executed in 1953

– 1991—After the fall of the USSR, documents found indicated Hiss and the Rosenbergs were spies.

The Cold War Expands

Overview

1945—Korea had been divided at the 38th parallel. USSR occupied the North and the US occupied the South. Sympathetic governments were established in both regions, and the country was never united.

WAR!

• June 1950—North Korea invaded the South.

• The UN could act b/c the Soviets were boycotting the Security Council.

• UN forces under Gen. Douglas McArthur were sent to Korea.

• Only the region around Puson remained free.

• McArthur’s Strategy– Believed the North’s supply lines were weak

b/c of the rapid advance.– Landed troops at Puson and landed troops in

the NW at Inchon to attack from behind.

• The plan succeeded and the Communists were driven back to the North.

• UN forces pushed further north and came close to the Chinese border.

• China warned the US not to advance any closer.

• McArthur announced the “Home by Christmas” offensive which involved driving the North Korean army out of Korea and ending the war.

• Chinese troops attacked and a stalemate developed.

• McArthur wanted Taiwan to attack and open a 2nd front.

• Truman disagreed and McArthur sent a letter to a Congressman criticizing him.

• 1951—Truman fired McArthur for insubordination.

• 1953– The War ended with a cease fire.– Korea was divided at the 38th parallel.– 55K US troops had died, 113K had been wounded

Sen. Joseph McCarthy “McCarthyism”

• Claimed he had a list of 205 known communists in the State Dept.

• Accused George Marshall• Attacked the Army• Held hearings which were televised at the

request of democrats.• The hearings resulted is a loss of support.• Recent evidence suggests to some degree

he was correct.

Cold War in the 1950s

• Overview:– As President, Eisenhower continued the

policy of containment. He also based foreign policy on the “domino theory.”

• Southeast Asia– 1953—Eisenhower fulfilled his promise to end

the Korean War.– Vietnam

• French colony• 1945—Communists under Ho Chi Minh had

declared independence.• The US sent aid to the French in Vietnam.• May 1954—French were defeated at Dien Bien

Phu and withdrew.• The UN divided Vietnam into North Vietnam

(Communist) and South Vietnam (free).

• The Middle East– Israel

• May 1948—The Jews declared the formation of the state of Israel.

• The USSR backed the Arab opposition.

– Iran• 1952—Pro-communist leader took over• 1953—The CIA organized his overthrow and the

return of the Pro-American Shah

– Suez Canal• 1956—UK and FR forces took the canal zone to

“secure it”• Eisenhower convinced them to return it to Egypt.

• Eisenhower Doctrine– Jan 1957– US would use force “to safeguard the

independence of any country or group of countries in the Middle East requesting aid against aggression.”

• Latin America– Cuba 1958—Fidel Castro overthrew

Fulgencia Batista.– Cuba became communist and turned to the

USSR for aid.

The Arms Race

• Overview– The US and the USSR competed in the

development of conventional and nuclear weaponry. The result was a massive buildup of weapons arsenals and the creation of more deadly weapons.

• Nuclear Weapons– 1953—Soviets developed their own H-bomb.– US continued to test more powerful bombs.

• Bikini Island– 19 tests above ground in 4 yrs.– The 1st was 750X more powerful than the Nagasaki A-

bomb. Burned Japanese fishermen 90 mi away. Forced evacuations 200 mi away.

• Brinkmanship– US Policy– Sec. of State John Foster Dulles— “The ability

to get to the verge without getting into the war is the necessary art. If you cannot master it, you inevitably get into war. If you try to run away from it, if you are scared to go to the brink, you are lost” p. 762

• ICBMs and Sputnik– Both sides dev’d Intercontinental Ballistic

Missiles.– Sputnik 1957

• First artificial satellite• Launched by the USSR• Proved had the capability to reach us with a bomb.

– U-2 Incident May 1960• Soviets used a guided missile to shoot down a US

spy plane.

The Cold War will be a massive, long struggle between two ways of life—the impact will be great and lasting.