Cold War

1. Context:

In 1945, World War II was drawing to a close with the surrenders of the Axis Powers and consolidation of power in the Allies. However, the close wartime alliance between the Soviets and the United States began to splinter as the necessity of wartime cooperation faded with the war. In reality, the extreme difference in ideologies and contest over who would fill the power vacuum led to a series of confrontations between the United States and Soviets that ultimately caused the deterioration of the relationship between the wartime Allies.

 

Central Reason: struggle for dominance of a certain ideology: Captialist v communist

 

• Way: Yalta: Poland, germany
  • Would give the dominant group/ideology power of influence
  • Pro-west or pro-Soviet, Lublin vs. London
  • Germany—correctionist or constructionist—capitalist or weak for soviet control
  • Contest for dominance
  • Emergence of the dealing with a postwar world with very different objectives
    • Arguments, but at Yalta
• Way:  Truman Doctrine, Containment of communism, Marshall Plan
  • Know through Kennan Telegram, Soviet spies
    • Knew about the Americans’ intentions to counter Soviets with all their resources that was not present in Yalta/Potsdam
    • Distrust, Stalin genuine reason for suspicion of American actions, contrary to arguments that Stalin’s personality was at fault (Gaddis)
    • RepercussionsàSoviets realize that US is trying to encroach on its sphere on influence, counter with greater antagonism
      • Evidence of harsh American intentions
      • Threaten satellites (Czechoslovakia) not to accept Marshall Aid
• Way: NATO/ Berlin Blockade
  • Symbolic power struggle—Berlin airlift
  • Formal, public separation in relations between the two nations—SOLIDified DIVISION
  • Solidified western bloc
  • Congregation of capitalist nations that excluded Soviet Union

 

 

 

1. Superpowers emergence
   1. Marshall Plan—collapse of Europe, military/industrial advancement of Soviets/US
   2. UN leaders
   3. Arms Race—nuclear powers, scientific development

i.      US military-industrial complex

ii.      Soviet resources

 

• Left in an advanced postwar situation facing the turmoil in Europe, Asia
• Competition to fill the power vacuum—greater, faster development, advancement

 

1. Ideological Differences—large role in fact.

• Different views on security
  • Unilateral (Soviet) or collective (US)
  • Essentially communism v. capitalism
  • Soviets feel that security involves soviet control of territory, imposing values
  • Historiography: theory of the arms race that created fear, need for dominance

 

Capitalism v. Communism

1. Germany question—construction or correction
2. Cominform, Comecon vs. Marshall Plan’
3. Soviet aggression in Poland vs. US attempts
4. Containment vs. global communist revolution and proliferation

 

 

4. Potsdam/Yalta

Yalta issues: Poland government, Japan entrance, UN creation

Potsdam Issues: Poland’s boundaries, German Reparations and division into 4 zones

 

Moderate extent, Conferences set the stage for ideological issues that formed the basis of conflict during the Cold War

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