Origins of the Cold War

Yalta - February, 1945

Soviet Participation - War on Japan

Fate of E. Europe,
Administration of Germany
especially Poland

Membership, voting rules, procedures -

New UN organization
 Potsdam - July 16th to August 2nd, 1945
An Atmosphere of Suspicion and Distrust

Stalin believes America will use its economic

advantage and success to entice other
nations into policies advantageous to the
West.

Stalin wants a buffer zone to prevent future

aggression or possibility of invasion from the
West. Asserts Soviet authority in Eastern
Europe

Truman sees Soviet actions as aggressive

and a dangerous expansion of communism

Stalin reneges on Yalta promise: he prevents

free elections in Poland, bans democratic
parties, installs Soviet style governments

Truman objects to reparations, Stalin

demands them
Occupation Zones
of Germany, Post
World War II

Germany and Berlin are

divided into four sectors

Inside the Soviet Sector,

the city of Berlin is
divided into between the
Allies and the Soviets.
Soviets Tighten Their Grip On Eastern Europe

Soviet psyche is one of

paranoia and mistrust; 20M+
deaths in WWII

Soviets felt justified in their

claim to Eastern Europe

By dominating this region,

the Soviets had a buffer
zone they felt would protect
against future invasions from
the west.

Stalin establishes “Satellite

Nations”; in 1946 announces
that communism and
capitalism are incompatible
George F. Kennan and the Long Telegram

Kennan outlines Soviet intentions for

expansion of communism in an 8,000
word memorandum;

Proposes that US should adopt a

policy of “Containment” to counter
Soviet ambitions

Goal is to prevent further communist

expansion into other countries

Containment guides Truman’s

approach to the Soviets and becomes
the de-facto guide to US cold war
foreign policy with respect to spread
of communism for the next 40 years.
The Truman Doctrine
“It must be the policy of
the United States to
support free peoples
who are resisting
attempted subjugation
Paired with Containment, and intended to counter Soviet
by armed minorities or geopolitical expansion, the Truman Doctrine becomes the
cornerstone of US Foreign Policy for the remainder of the
by outside pressures...” Cold War

Truman puts the doctrine to work with an infusion of

$400M to Turkey and Greece to help resist Soviet
influence and prevent a communist take-over.
 The Marshall Plan
Winter of 1946-47: Bitterest in centuries. Factories
looted or bombed; millions of refugees, homeless
starvation is imminent

Western Europe in danger of descending into

chaos. Communism looks like a solution

George Marshall proposes US provide aid to all

countries who need it

Over the next four years, 16 countries receive

more than $13B in aid

By 1952, Western Europe flourishes, communism

loses its appeal
 Soviet Blockade

Soviets oppose Allies intention to

reunify Germany.

June 1948: US, French and

Americans combine to form new
nation of West Germany.

Soviets refuse to end their

occupation of Germany

Stalin sees an opportunity to take

all of Berlin and eliminate the
Allied presence. He closes all
road and river access to Berlin.

2.1M residents only have a few

weeks of food supplies
 Berlin Airlift
Americans and British start the
Berlin Airlift to bring food and
fuel to Berlin residents.

277,000 round the clock flights

bring 2.3M tons of supplies over
the course of 327 days.

American attempt to save Berlin

boosts its prestige worldwide

May 1949: Soviets realize they

are beaten and lift blockade
NATO
Berlin blockade increases Western
fear of Soviet aggression

April 1949 - Ten Western European

nations join the United States and
Canada to form a defensive alliance

Known as NATO: North Atlantic

Treaty Organization. 500K troops,
thousands of airplanes, tanks, other
equipment

The Cold War ends any hopes of US

return to a policy of isolationism
1957 - NATO jets fly 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle, on guard against Soviet bomber threat