The Yalta Conference, February 1945

The Big Three:

Stalin
Roosevelt
Churchill

What happened at the conference?

1. Stalin agreed to enter the war against Japan (after Germanys surrender)
2. They agreed that Germany would be divided (American, French, British, Soviet)
and so was Berlin
3. They also decided to hunt down and punish war criminals after realizing the
horror of the Nazi concentration camps
4. They agreed to liberate countries from the German armies occupying them, and
allowed them to have free elections and choose the govt. they wanted
5. The big three decided to join the United Nations Organization
6. As Stalin was concerned about the future security of the USSR, the big three
agreed that eastern Europe could be seen as soviet sphere of influence
7. Disagreement: Poland. Stalin wanted the border of the USSR move into Poland
and in turn Poland could move its border westward into Germany. Roosevelt was
unhappy about the plan, but Churchill persuaded him to accept itas long as the
USSR did not interfere with in Greece, were the British were trying to prevent
communist takeover.
The Big Three disliked each other in many ways Pgs. 320, 321
The Potsdam Conference, August 1945 (held 3 months after the former. Hitler suicided.
Germany surrendered. The war in Europe was won)
Changes taken place that affected the relationship between leaders:

Stalins armies occupying most of Eastern Europe: his troops were not
withdrawn. They effectively controlled the Baltic States, Finland, Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. He set up a communist
government in Poland. Britain and USA protested but Stalin insisted that his
control of Eastern Europe was a defensive measure against future attacks.
America had a new president: President Roosevelt died, and was replace by
Harry Truman, who was very anti-Communist and suspicious about Stalin. He
saw Stalins actions in Eastern Europe as e preparation for Soviet takeover of the
rest of Europe.
The Allies had tested an Atomic bomb: At the start of the Potsdam conference
Truman informed Stalin about the testing of the Atomic bomb in the USA.

Disagreements:

1. What to do with Germany?

Stalin wanted to cripple Germany to protect the USSR against future
threats
Truman did not want to repeat the mistakes of the Treaty of Versailles
2. Reparations?
Stalin wanted compensation (twenty million Russian died)
Truman did not want to repeat the mistakes made at the end of WW1
3. Soviet policy in Eastern Europe?
Truman was unhappy about the Soviet intentions (that had been agreed
at Yalta) and maintained a tough attitude towards Stalin
Iron Curtain: The Potsdam conference ended without a complete agreement on the
issues. Stalin spent the next nine months, by rapid domination of Eastern Europe
Iron curtain
Stalin tightens his control:

Set up the Communist Information Bureau

Also known as Cominform
To co-ordinate the work of the communist parties in eastern Europe
It brought together the leaders of each communist party to Moscow to be
briefed by Stalin and his ministers

The wartime friendship between the Allies had broken down into suspicion and
accusation.
Differences between USA and the USSR:

The reaction from the West:

Alarmed by soviet invasion and communist domination

Greece:
o There were two rival groups: Monarchists, Communists
o Both groups had been involved in resistance against Nazis
o The communists wanted Greece to be a Soviet republic
o The monarchists wanted the return of the king of Greece
o Churchill sent British troops supposedly to help restore order and
supervise elections
o (but they actually supported the monarchists and wanted the king to return
to power)
o USSR protested to the United Nations that the British troop were a threat
to the peace of Europe
o The United Nations took no action
o So the communists tried to take control by force
o A civil war quickly developed
o The British could not afford the cost of a war and announced that it was
withdrawing its troops
o Truman stepped in
o The Americans paid the British troops to stay in Greece
o They tried to pop up the kings government
o Although they were very weak and always in crisis
The Truman Doctrine
o American intervention in Greece marked a new era in the USAs attitude
towards world politics
o The USA was prepared to send money, equipment and advice to any
country which was threatened by Communist takeover
o Truman accepted that Eastern Europe was now communist; but now
aimed to stop Communism from spreading any further
o CONTAINMENT
Marshall Aid
o Truman believed that Communism succeeded when people faced poverty
and hardship
o He sent the American General George Marshall to assess the economic
state of Europe
o He found out a ruined economy
o The countries of Europe owed $11.5 billion to the USA
o There were extreme shortages of all goods
o Most countries were still rationing bread
o There were also coal shortages
o Marshall suggested that about $ 17 billion would be needed to rebuild
Europe (policy against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos)
o Truman put this plan to Congress
Czechoslovakia:

o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Czechoslovakia had been ruled by a coalition government

The soviets came down hard in 1948
Anti-Soviet leaders were purged
Jan Masaryk (pro-American minister) found dead below his open window
Communists he jumped
Americans he might have been pushed
This caused the Congress to accept the Marshall plan and made $17
available

The Marshall plan:

Seen as an extremely generous act by the American people

American self-interest they wanted to create new markets for American goods
Truman wanted to prevent another worldwide slump Depression 1930s
Seen by Stalin with suspicion
He refused to have anything to do with it
Forbade any of the eastern European states to apply
He felt it was made to weaken him
He felt that USA was trying to dominate as many states as possible by making
them dependent on dollars

Why did the Soviet Union blockade Berlin?

The allies realized that it was impossible to feed the Germans if it was not allowed to
rebuild its industries. Britain, France and USA combined their zones in 1946 West
Germany. In 1948 reformed the currency.

Stalin knew he couldnt do anything about it

So he decided to stamp his authority on Berlin
Berlin was linked to West Germany through vital roads, railways and canals
In 1948 (June), Stalin blocked all these supply lines
Cutting off the 2 million population of West Berlin from western help
He believed that this would force the allies out of Berlin, and make it entirely
dependent on the USSR
If US tanks did try to ram the railway or road blocks an act of war
Americans not prepared to give up
They couldnt give in, it was a test case
Truman wanted to show that he was serious about containment
He wanted Berlin to be the symbol of freedom of the Iron curtain
The allies decided to air-lift supplies

As the first planes took off, everyone feared that the soviets would shoot them
down war
No shots were fired
The planes got through and dropped food, clothing, oil, building material etc.
1949 clear that allies would not give up, so Stalin reopened communications

NATO

Allies met in Washington and signed an agreement to work together

New organization founded in 1949 North Atlantic treaty organization

Germany divided:an oasis of democratic freedom in the middle of communist

repression

Federal republic of Germany (West Germany) French, American, British

German democratic republic (east Germany) communist zone

Cold war:

Shows how the 2 superpowers and allies were suspicious of each other
How they would obstruct each other in any way they could
How they would bombard each other with propaganda
They also showed that they werent going to war with each other
A tense balance between the superpowers

The Cold War

1950-1953 The Korean War

1956 Hungarian uprising
1962 Cuban missile crisis
1968 the Prague spring: Czechoslovakia
1980-1981 Solidarity in Poland
1989 Collapse of communism in eastern Europe
1991 collapse of the Soviet Union

The Korean War

1949 China became Communist (even if from 1946-1949 they pumped $2

billion in aid to China to support the Nationalists
Pres. Truman was reported that Stalin was using Cominform to help communists
in Malay, Indonesia, Burma, the Philippines and Korea
The Americans saw communists toppling the countries like a row of dominoes

Background:

Korea had been ruled by Japan until 1945

After WW2, the northern half was controlled by Soviet troops

Southern half American troops

North Communist, South Anti-Communist
Norths Communist leader (Kim 1I Sung)
Souths leader Syngman Rhee
Reunification did not seem likely
North Korean troops overwhelmed the Souths forces
1950 all except a small corner of south-east Korea was under Communist
control
Pres. Truman sent advisors, supplies and warships to the waters around Korea
He put enormous pressure on UN Security council to condemn the action of the
North Koreans
(In the cold war atmosphere each superpower always denounced and opposed
each others action, but)
The USSR boycotted the UN this time
When China had become Communist, the USA blocked its entry to the UN (since
it regarded the Nationalists as the rightful
govt. of China), and the USSR had
walked out in protest
So when the resolution was passed, the
USSR was not even present
The UN was now committed to using
member forces to drive NK troops out of
SK
18 states provided troops but the majority
was Americans Commander: General
MacArthur

UN forces stormed ashore at Inchon in Sep. 1950

Same time: other UN forces and South Korean troops advanced from Pusan
The north Koreans were driven back beyond their original border
But the Americans did not stop
Despite threatening warnings from Mao Tse-tung that advancing further would
mean China joining the war
But the UN approved a plan to advance into North Korea
By October, US forces had reached the Yalu river and the border with China

It was now clear that MacArthur and Truman wanted to remove Communism
from Korea completely
MacArthur underestimated the power of the Chinese
In October 1950, 200,000 Chinese troops joined the North Koreans
They launched a blistering attack (the soldiers were strong communists, and
were taught to hate the Americans)
Tanks and planes were supplied by Soviet Union
The united nations was pushed back in SK
The UN troops recovered and finally reached a stalemate around 38 th parallel
MacArthur wanted to carry on fighting and invade NK, using nuclear weapons if
necessary
Truman felt that saving SK was good enough
He was convinced by his allies at the UN, that the risks of attacking China and of
starting war with USA were too great
In March 1951, MacArthur blatantly ignored the UN instructions
And threatened an attack on China
Truman removed him from his position, and brought him to America
He rejected MacArthurs aggressive policy towards communism
Peace talks between NK and SK began in June 1951
Bitter fighting continued until 1952
Until Truman was replaced by President Eisenhower
After Stalins death in 1953 the Chinese and North Koreans were less confident
An armistice was signed in July 1953

Was containment the right policy?

Some felt containment was not enough

They felt that the President had been weak
Dulles set up a network of anti-communist alliances around the world
SEATO formed in 1954 (South-east Asia treaty organization)
CENTO formed in 1954 (the Central Treaty organization)
The USSR felt threatened by these and accused USA of trying to encircle the
communist world
USSR and all Communist East European (except Yugoslavia) set up the Warsaw
Treat Organization

Co-existence:

Stalin died in 1953

New leader Nikita Khrushchev
He seemed keen to ease tensions with USA
He met with Western leaders in 1955 and 1960

The arms race:

1949 (August) USSR detonates first atomic bomb

1951 US Strategic Air Command develops policy of constant readiness (in an
event of war around 6000 targets were to be hit)
1952 (November) USA detonates hydrogen bomb (1000 times more powerful)
1953 (August) USSR detonates its own hydrogen bomb
1954 (March) develops H bomb small enough to be dropped from a bomber
1954 (September) USSR drops H bomb from bomber
1956 (July) USA develops U-2 spy plane
1957 (May) USSR develops first ICBM
1957 (October) USSR launches Sputnik satellite
1958 (January) USA launches satellite into orbit
1959 USA:
o Develops sophisticated Atlas and Minuteman ICBMS
o Develops Polaris missiles (can be fired from submarines)
1961 (April) Soviet Yuri Gagarin becomes first man in space
1961 (October) USSR detonates largest H bomb ever seen

Both sign Nuclear Test Ban in 1963

The Cuban missile crisis

Background:

Large island 160 km from Florida

Had been American ally
Most of American businesses in Cuba
Huge American naval base there
1959- after a 3 year GUERRILLA campaign, Fidel Castro overthrew (the
American-backed) Batista
Real test for USAs policy of containment

1959-1961:

Castro wanted to run Cuba without interference

But he was receiving arms from USSR

January 1961:

USA broke of diplomatic relations with Cuba

It was clear USA was not prepared to tolerate Soviet satellite in the heart of its
own sphere of influence

April 1961:

Kennedy supplied arms, equipment and transport for 1400 anti-Castro exiles to
invade Cuba and overthrow him
The exiled landed in the Bay of Pigs
They were met by 20,000 Cuban troops, armed with tanks and modern weapons
The invasion failed
The anti-Castro exiles were all killed or raptured within days
Cuba and USSR felt that USA was unwilling to get directly involved in Cuba

Kennedy felt: The US policy in Cuba had been responsible for Communist strength, and
further encouraged the spread of communism.
What was the USSR doing in Cuba?

Soviet arms flooded into Cuba

Cuba had the best equipped army in Latin America (patrol boats, tanks, radar
vans, missile erectors, jet bombers, jet fighters 5000 Soviet technicians.)
USA alarmed: would they place nuclear weapons in Cuba?
Kennedy warned the USSR that he would prevent by whatever means necessary
Cuba becoming an offensive (nuclear missile) military base
The USSR assured that they had no need or intention to do so

The October crisis:

American U-2 spy plane flew over Cuba detailed photographs of nuclear
missile sights in Cuba, being built by USSR
They could be ready to launch missiles in 7 days
20 Soviet ships with missiles approaching

Kennedys options:

Do nothing
Surgical air attack
Invasion
Diplomatic pressures
Blockade

So?

Kennedy decides on a blockade of Cuba

Kennedy announces blockade and calls on USSR to withdraw missiles
Khrushchev replies: soviet ships will not observe blockade
Blockade begins: soviet ships approaching stop or turn around
Aerial photography reveals that work on missiles in Cuba proceeding rapidly

Long letter to Kennedy from Khrushchev: if USA does not attack Cuba and the
blockade is lifted then it could possibly be considered.
Another letter to Kennedy from Khrushchev (revising his proposals): USA has to
withdraw missiles from Turkey
Kennedy cannot accept this condition
American U-2 plane shot down over Cuba, pilot killed
President advised to launch an immediate reprisal attack
Kennedy delays attack and ignores Khrushchevs second letter
And accepts terms suggested by Khrushchev: and says if USSR does not
withdraw, an attack will follow
Khrushchev replies: new order given to dismantle arms and to crate and return
them back to Soviet Union

Why did USSR put missiles in Cuba?

To bargain with USA (in return for some American concessions)

To test the USA (to see how strong the Americans were, and if they back off or
face up
To trap USA (he did not even try to hide them)
To defend Cuba (genuinely)
To get upper hand in the arms race

Outcomes:

Cuba stayed communist

Highly armed
Kennedy came out of the crisis with a greatly improved reputation (he made
Khrushchev back down)
Khrushchev claimed a personal triumph:
o Responsible peacemaker
o Willing to take the first move towards compromise
Both leaders now prepared to take steps to reduce the risk of nuclear war
In USA the crisis had a great effect on anti-communist opinion: an intervention
was simply not worth it.
The Vietnam War

Vietnam had been ruled by France

Was known as Indochina
After France was defeated in WW2 by Germany (1940), the Japanese took
control of main resources of Vietnam
A strong anti-Japanese resistance movement developed- the Viet Minh
Under leadership of communist Ho Chi Minh
He inspired the Vietnamese to fight for an independent Vietnam

After WW2 the Viet Minh controlled the north of the country
Entered city of Hanoi in 11945 and declared Vietnamese independence
The French wanted to rule Vietnam again, in 1946 war between the French and
Ho Chi Minh
(he kept quiet of wanting a communist Vietnam, so as to not involve USA)
1949 the communists took over china and began helping Ho Chi Minh
Now Americans saw Viet Minh as puppets of Mao Tse Tungand Chinese
communism
The USA poured $500 million a year into French war effort helping them to set up
a non-Communist government in the south of the country
The war dragged on from 1946 1954:
o French towns
o Viet Minh countryside
Viet Minhs guerrilla tactic mad t impossible to beat
Peasant villages increased support for Viet minh

Why did the USA become increasingly involved in Vietnam?

They applied for a rule that prevented elections

They did not communism to spread
1955 americans helped Ngo Dinh Diem to set up the Republic of South
Vietnam
Because he was bitterly anti-communist
Their horrible, corrupt actions increased support for the communists
Viet Cong = South Vietnamese opponents of government + Communist North
Vietnamese supporters of Ho Chi Minh
The Viet Cong vs South Vietnamese government
Using Ho Chi Minh trail the Viet Cong sent reinforcements and ferried supplies
to guerrilla fighters
They attacked South Vietnamese forces, officials and buildings and American air
force and supply bases
President Kennedy decided to send military personnel

President K assassinated in 1963:

Successor: Lyndon Johnson

More prepared to commit USA into full scale conflict
August 1964: north Vietnamese patrol boats opened fire on US ships in Gulf of
Tonkin
Tonkin Gulf resolution passed
Came president the liberty to prevent further aggression
Full scale war

What kind of war was the Vietnam War?

Viet Cong and guerrilla tactics

Well supplied from china and the
USSR
But they were outnumbered and
outgunned by SV and American
forces
Guerrilla tactics:
o Retreat when enemy
attacks
o Raid when enemy camps
o Attack when enemy tires
Nightmare for US army
Guerrillas did not wear uniform
Had no base camp or
headquarters
Worked in small groups with
limited weapons
Hard to tell
Attacked and disappeared
Main aim to wreck and wear
down their morale
Viet Cong fighters always
respectful to peasants
Also ruthless
Refused to give in
Supplies from north through Ho
Chi Minh trail

US tactics in Vietnam
Bombing
o Rolling thunder
o Extensive bombing raids on
military and industrial
targets
o Sites along Ho Chi Minh
trail
Chemical weapons
o Agent orange
o Highly toxic weed killer
o To destroy jungles where
Viet Cong hid
o Napalm
Search and destroy
o Using helicopters