Download - The Legacy of World War II
THE LEGACY OF WORLD WAR II
The Cold War
Europe After WWII“What is Europe now? A rubble heap, a charnel house, a breeding ground of pestilence and hate.”
- Winston Churchill
4x the casualties of WWII than WWI 60 million people died (15-25 million in USSR
alone) Flattened cities crippled industry Millions of refugees (DPs, or displaced
persons)
Changes since Yalta (Feb. ‘45) . . . 1. Soviet Union occupying Central &
Eastern Europe2. Britain had new Prime Minister (Atlee)3. America had a new President (Truman)4. War in the Pacific was ending5. U.S. had tested an atomic bomb (a
secret???)“a new weapon of unusually destructive
force”- Tested in New Mexico on July 16, 1945
Potsdam Conference July 17 – Aug 2, 1945 Big Three, again
US (Truman, FDR died) USSR (Stalin) G.B. (Churchill &
Clement Atlee) Goals
Punish Germany restore order peace treaties counter effects of war
The Reality of Potsdam HEAVY
disagreements 4 zones of
occupation Russia gets
reparations from Soviet Zone, plus more
Communist (Soviet) power spreading in Eastern Europe
The Buffer Zone USSR attacked in both WWI & II
and suffer heavy casualties They desire a “buffer zone” =
Eastern Europe Stalin promises to respect the
rights of free governments in that region
“A freely elected government in any of these East European
countries would be anti-Soviet and that we cannot allow.” - Stalin
The “Iron Curtain”“An Iron Curtain has
descended across Europe…” – Churchill (Missouri, 1946)
Means that the Eastern Europeans have turned to communism due to Soviet influence (no free elections after all…)
Danger to all of Europe Regarded as beginning of
Cold WarIron Curtain speech
Why is it called the Cold War? Never an open attack
between the US & USSR (no real fighting)
The whole problem is the US doesn’t want communism to spread, and the USSR does
US Response to the Iron Curtain Truman Doctrine – US
promises to help any country under threat of communism Containment – Policy of
stopping spread of Communism
Marshall Plan – US pumps billions into Europe to help recover from WWII Also, helps keep other
countries from possibly going communist
USSR Response to US Marshall Plan COMECON
Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
Berlin Crisis Problem in Berlin
located in East Germany, partly under Soviet Control
French, British and US zones combine to form West Germany (democratic)
Also want to combine zones in Berlin USSR says NO!
Berlin continued… USSR cuts off East
Berlin from all aid and assistance provided by Marshall Plan
East Berliners want to escape, Soviets say NO!
US responds with Berlin Airlift – dropping packages from the sky to help the people
USSR calls off blockade in May 1949
Results of Berlin Crisis Western Zones (US, GB, France) become West
Germany Eastern Zone (USSR) becomes East Germany North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO –
Alliance against Communism (1949) Warsaw Pact – Communist Alliance (1955)
Arms Race Arms Race – struggle
between USSR and USA to gain advantage in weapons
Both have the hydrogen bomb – more powerful than atomic bomb
Leads to policy of deterrence – or using a policy of having more weapons to scare the enemy into not attacking
Space Race USA and USSR are
competing in everything that is technological
1957 - USSR launches Sputnik, first artificial satellite
USA response – creation of NASA in 1958
Western European Growth (despite Cold War)
Unity politically, culturally, & economically Economic growth & stability
International Monetary Fund & World Bank Political unity
Socialists, communists, Christian Democrats
Consumer Revolution Race to have best standard of living
Life in the Soviet East BlocNew “East Bloc” states remade on Soviet model Dictatorship Indoctrination No civil liberties Top priority to
industry & military Censors promoted
anti-Western ideals
De-Stalinization of USSR Stalin dies in 1953 Soviet Communists agree
reform is needed Nikita Khrushchev takes
over (1957) & liberalizes USSR Controls over workers
relaxed Allows for modest consumer
growth – cars, TVs, etc. Slightly raises standard of
living through 1960s
“Peaceful Coexistence” Khrushchev believed in
peaceful coexistence with capitalism (Western countries) Cold War relaxes
De-Stalinization = rebellions Polish rebellion (1956) Hungarian/Budapest Uprising
(1956) Briefly removed Soviet rule,
only to be invaded & crushed 2700 Hungarians died
The Berlin Wall & Fall of Khrushchev
East Berliners fleeing to West Berlin
Khrushchev demands wall be build to stop them, & to scare West (but it doesn’t)
Khrushchev starts to lose power
Leonid Brezhnev takes over in bloodless coup 1964
USSR re-Stalinizes
Cold War Thaws in1960s & 70s
Despite tensions, Cold War stable after 1961
Except, Soviets crushing the Prague Spring Czechoslovakia tried to free themselves in 1968 Soviet troops stayed until 1987
Fear of Mutually Assured Destruction prevented conflict Détente – relaxation of Cold War tensions
Cold War Tensions Thaw cont’d
Ostpolitik West German Chancellor
Willy Brandt’s plan Sought closer ties with
East Hope of more “thaw” &
future reunification Pushed treaties with
East Other nations follow
The Cold War in the 80s By the 1980s, Soviets appeared to be winning
more productive economy better missiles growing navy even though system was corrupt and built on
propaganda America moved to re-arm and build up forces
US President Reagan increased defense spending Ends Mutually Assured Destruction
Beginning of the End of the Cold War
Brezhnev dies in 1982, change needs to happen…
Mikhail Gorbachev takes over in 1985
Glasnost and Perestroika = massive reform of economics, politics & culture Glasnost = “openness,” allowed
freedom of speech and the media to air grievances
Perestroika = “reconstruction”, re-ordering of the Soviet Union More democratic processes were installed
in the party and government, better technology too
Middle of the End of the Cold War
In 1988, Gorbachev addresses UN Allows democratic choice in
Soviet states Stops arms race
Within 2 years, these states set-up democratic govts (Poland, Hungary, East Germany, etc.) Soviets don’t stop them Fall of the Berlin Wall! Gorbachev earns1990 Nobel
Prize
The END of the Cold War USSR still faces problems Gorbachev has trouble
fixing them, and angers hard communists
Gorbachev steps down on Dec. 25, 1991
USSR no longer exists Now, Russian Federation
with Boris Yeltsin as leader