Cold WarCold War

Cold vs. Hot WarCold vs. Hot War

‘‘Hot wars’ = actual fightingHot wars’ = actual fighting ‘‘Cold wars’ = no fighting but a lot of tension Cold wars’ = no fighting but a lot of tension

and high risk of war.and high risk of war. The conflict was between the “West” vs. The conflict was between the “West” vs.

“East”“East” West: USA, Britain, France, Canada (democratic West: USA, Britain, France, Canada (democratic

countries).countries). East: Soviet Union, East Germany, Poland East: Soviet Union, East Germany, Poland

(communist countries).(communist countries).

East vs. WestEast vs. West

Iron CurtainIron Curtain: term used to describe the division between : term used to describe the division between Democratic & Communist countries in Europe (1945-1989) – Democratic & Communist countries in Europe (1945-1989) – invisible line begins in Germanyinvisible line begins in Germany

Berlin WallBerlin Wall: concrete wall constructed by E.Germany to divide them : concrete wall constructed by E.Germany to divide them from W.Germanyfrom W.Germany

prevented people from leaving the East and entering the Westprevented people from leaving the East and entering the West 1961-19891961-1989 Guard towers built & armed with soldiers to shoot anyone trying Guard towers built & armed with soldiers to shoot anyone trying

to leaveto leave E.Germany claimed the Wall was built to protect them against E.Germany claimed the Wall was built to protect them against

“Fascist beliefs” because W.Germany had NOT fully denazified…“Fascist beliefs” because W.Germany had NOT fully denazified…lielie

Talks to destroy the Wall began Oct.3, 1989, actually fell Nov.9, Talks to destroy the Wall began Oct.3, 1989, actually fell Nov.9, 19891989

Fall of the Berlin Wall led to the reunification of Germany under Fall of the Berlin Wall led to the reunification of Germany under DemocracyDemocracy

Berlin BlockadeBerlin Blockade June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949 First international issue of Cold War – created tensions & First international issue of Cold War – created tensions &

risk of nuclear war escalated risk of nuclear war escalated Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway and road Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway and road

access to the sectors of Berlin under Allied controlaccess to the sectors of Berlin under Allied control aim was to force the western powers to allow the Soviet aim was to force the western powers to allow the Soviet

zone to start supplying Berlin with food and fuel, thereby zone to start supplying Berlin with food and fuel, thereby giving the Soviets practical control over the entire citygiving the Soviets practical control over the entire city

Response - Western Allies organized the Response - Western Allies organized the Berlin AirliftBerlin Airlift to to carry supplies to the people in West Berlin.carry supplies to the people in West Berlin.

blockade was lifted in May 1949 and resulted in the blockade was lifted in May 1949 and resulted in the creation of two separate German states - creation of two separate German states - Federal Republic Federal Republic of Germany of Germany (West Germany) and (West Germany) and German Democratic German Democratic Republic Republic (East Germany)(East Germany)

Cold War DefencesCold War Defences

NATONATO In 1949, Canada and the United States joined with In 1949, Canada and the United States joined with

ten western European countries to form the North ten western European countries to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Its purpose was to defend Europe and the North Its purpose was to defend Europe and the North Atlantic from Soviet aggression. Atlantic from Soviet aggression.

NATO had an economic advantage for Canada as NATO had an economic advantage for Canada as well, since it bound together all of Canada's trading well, since it bound together all of Canada's trading partners. partners.

In 1955, the Soviets formed their own alliance, the In 1955, the Soviets formed their own alliance, the Warsaw PactWarsaw Pact, with the Soviet satellite countries of , with the Soviet satellite countries of Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe.

In the event of attack by NATO countries, the In the event of attack by NATO countries, the Warsaw Pact members agreed to come to each Warsaw Pact members agreed to come to each other's defence.other's defence.

NORADNORAD

In 1957, Canada signed a treaty with the In 1957, Canada signed a treaty with the United Sates that created the North United Sates that created the North American Air Defence System (NORAD). American Air Defence System (NORAD).

Aimed at protecting North American from Aimed at protecting North American from Soviet attack - NORAD joined Canadians Soviet attack - NORAD joined Canadians and American fighter, missile and radar and American fighter, missile and radar units under a single command center. units under a single command center.

NORAD headquarters are located deep NORAD headquarters are located deep inside a mountain in Colorado. inside a mountain in Colorado.

DEW LinesDEW Lines

Canada's geographical position between the Canada's geographical position between the United States and the Soviet Union makes it vital United States and the Soviet Union makes it vital to North American's defence.to North American's defence.

In 1957, the United States and Canada built a line In 1957, the United States and Canada built a line of long-range warning stations, known as Distant of long-range warning stations, known as Distant Early Warning (DEW) stations, to monitor airspace Early Warning (DEW) stations, to monitor airspace activity. activity.

If any station - there were fifty in total - detected If any station - there were fifty in total - detected missiles or aircraft of unknown origin, it sent a missiles or aircraft of unknown origin, it sent a message to NORAD headquarters in Colorado. message to NORAD headquarters in Colorado.

Although both Canada and the United States were Although both Canada and the United States were involved in the creation of DEW stations, involved in the creation of DEW stations, the $250 million cost of building these radar stations the $250 million cost of building these radar stations

was paid for solely by the United States.was paid for solely by the United States.

The Debate of Nuclear WarheadsThe Debate of Nuclear Warheads

After the NORAD agreement, the United States After the NORAD agreement, the United States moved 56 Bomarc B anti-aircraft missiles to moved 56 Bomarc B anti-aircraft missiles to Canadian NORAD sites. Canadian NORAD sites.

The missiles were equipped with nuclear warheads. The missiles were equipped with nuclear warheads. In 1960, when Canadians became aware that there In 1960, when Canadians became aware that there

were nuclear warheads in the country, there was were nuclear warheads in the country, there was an uproar; an uproar; should Canada adopt nuclear weapons and was this a should Canada adopt nuclear weapons and was this a

result of the United States' domination of Canadian result of the United States' domination of Canadian defence policy?defence policy?

Both the Canadian and American governments had Both the Canadian and American governments had to agree to put the armed forces on any alert, to agree to put the armed forces on any alert, however the NORAD forces were clearly under an however the NORAD forces were clearly under an American commander. American commander.

The atmosphere became even more tense The atmosphere became even more tense when federal Civil Defence authorities when federal Civil Defence authorities distributed pamphlets with plans for distributed pamphlets with plans for making underground shelters. making underground shelters.

These shelters were to protect people from These shelters were to protect people from nuclear fallout. nuclear fallout.

While experts debated on whether these While experts debated on whether these shelters would serve any purpose, about shelters would serve any purpose, about 2400 were built in Toronto alone, at a cost 2400 were built in Toronto alone, at a cost of about $4000 each.of about $4000 each.

Anti-nuclear protesters were convinced that the arms Anti-nuclear protesters were convinced that the arms build-up would not stop the Soviets from attacking the build-up would not stop the Soviets from attacking the West. West.

People understood that a nuclear war could mean People understood that a nuclear war could mean complete and utter destruction.complete and utter destruction.

The controversy over nuclear weapons in Canada led The controversy over nuclear weapons in Canada led John Diefenbaker, who had become prime minister in John Diefenbaker, who had become prime minister in 1957, to refuse arming nuclear warheads for the 1957, to refuse arming nuclear warheads for the Bomarc missiles. Bomarc missiles.

He felt that arming the Bomarcs with nuclear He felt that arming the Bomarcs with nuclear warheads would set back the hopes for nuclear warheads would set back the hopes for nuclear disarmament in the world. disarmament in the world.

He preferred storing nuclear warheads south of the He preferred storing nuclear warheads south of the border until they were needed. His opponents argued border until they were needed. His opponents argued that Bomarc missiles without nuclear warheads were that Bomarc missiles without nuclear warheads were useless.useless.

Canada and the Cuban Missile CrisisCanada and the Cuban Missile Crisis

The question became critical during the Cuban The question became critical during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when the world came Missile Crisis in 1962, when the world came dangerously close to nuclear war. dangerously close to nuclear war.

Cuba was a communist country and the Soviet Cuba was a communist country and the Soviet Union had installed missiles in Cuba. Union had installed missiles in Cuba.

From the Cuban launch sites, missiles could attack From the Cuban launch sites, missiles could attack most major American and Canadian cities. most major American and Canadian cities.

The United States demanded the Soviet missiles be The United States demanded the Soviet missiles be removed and blockaded the shipment of Soviet removed and blockaded the shipment of Soviet military equipment to Cuba.military equipment to Cuba.

The United States asked Canada to put all Canadian The United States asked Canada to put all Canadian forces on alert as war could be on the horizon. forces on alert as war could be on the horizon.

Canada hesitated, causing deep rift between the Canada hesitated, causing deep rift between the American and Canadian governments. American and Canadian governments.

Prime Minister Diefenbaker accused the Prime Minister Diefenbaker accused the United States of pressuring Canada. United States of pressuring Canada.

He also accused Liberal leader Pearson of He also accused Liberal leader Pearson of flip-flopping on the issue of nuclear arms. flip-flopping on the issue of nuclear arms. Pearson had opposed nuclear missiles in Pearson had opposed nuclear missiles in Canada, Canada,

After Pearson was elected as Prime Minister After Pearson was elected as Prime Minister in 1963, the Bomarc missiles were armed in 1963, the Bomarc missiles were armed with nuclear warheads. with nuclear warheads.

The issue highlights the controversy in The issue highlights the controversy in Canada over fears of nuclear attack on the Canada over fears of nuclear attack on the one hand, and the desire for a strong anti-one hand, and the desire for a strong anti-nuclear policy on the other.nuclear policy on the other.