The Cold War (1945-1991)

The Cold War: Roots of the Conflict

Soviet Expansion:

· The Soviet Union occupied most of Eastern Europe by the end of World War II.

• In 1946, Winston Churchill correctly warned that the Soviets were creating an “iron curtain” in Eastern Europe.

Winston Churchill giving the “Iron Curtain” address at Westminster College on March 5, 1946

Peep under the Iron curtain

March 6, 1946

The “Iron Curtain”

Cold War (1945-1991)Conflict between the U.S. (G.B.

and NATO Nations) and Soviet Union ◦U.S. wanted to stop spread of

Communism (wanted European nations to determine their own gov’ts)

◦Soviet Union wanted to spread Communism (to Eastern Europe and the World)

◦“Cold War”- no actual shots fired/threat of war

Cold War After WW II, (1945) Germany was

divided into 4 zones◦U.S.◦G.B.◦France◦Soviet Union

2 World Super Powers that emerged◦U.S. and Soviet Union

Focus on Berlin

After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones, occupied by French, British, American, and Soviet troops.

Occupation zones after 1945. Berlin is the multinational area within the Soviet zone.

Cold War (1945-1991)

Truman Doctrine (1947)◦Stated U.S. would provide money in countries

threatened by Communist expansionMarshall Plan (1947)

◦Was designed to rebuild war torn Europe◦$ 13 billion for Europe, Communism would only

spread in countries w/ debt◦Upset U.S.S.R. and its satellite countries

(responded with COMECON) A country that is economically and politically

dependent on other countries By 1947, Europe was split between beliefs of U.S.S.R.

and the U.S.

* The U.S. gave over $12 billion in aid to European countries between 1948 and 1952, helping to improve their economies and lessen the chance of communist revolutions.

Cold War (1945-1991)Division of Germany

◦ In Feb. 1948, G.B., France, and U.S. unified West Germany (Berlin) Created their own gov’t Soviets opposed → blockaded West Germany

2.5 million people couldn’t receive food and supplies Led to Berlin Airlift- supplies flown in by the

American and British planes 10 months, 200,000 flights carried 2.3 million tons of

supplies

◦Sept. 1949, West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany ) was created, Oct. 1949, East Germany (German Democratic Republic) was established by Soviets

· In June of 1948, the French, British and American zones were joined into the nation of West Germany after the Soviets refused to end their occupation of Germany.

Soviet blockade:

West Germany

East Germany

West Berlin

East Berlin

· In response, the Soviets cut off West Berlin from the rest of the world with a blockade.

Eventual site of the Berlin Wall

Cold War (1945-1991)By 1949, U.S. and U.S.S.R. were

entangled in an arms race◦Both countries were competing in building

up of nuclear weapons and their army Believed nuclear weapons would prevent war

New Military Alliances◦NATO- North Atlantic Trade Organization in

April 1949, countries joined together in case their was war (between U.S. and other countries against communism)

◦Warsaw Pact- (1955) Soviet Union alliance w/ countries in favor of Communism

The Arms Race:A “Missile Gap?”

} The Soviet Union exploded its first A-bomb in 1949.

} Now there were two nuclear superpowers!

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949)

United States

Belgium

Britain

Canada

Denmark

France

Iceland

Italy

Luxemburg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

1952: Greece & Turkey

1955: West Germany

1983: Spain

Warsaw Pact (1955)

} U. S. S. R.

} Albania

} Bulgaria

} Czechoslovakia

} East Germany

} Hungary

} Poland

} Rumania

Cold War (1945-1991)Berlin Wall

◦Nikita Khrushchev emerged as new leader of U.S.S.R. in 1955 Built Berlin Wall (1961), prevented people

form fleeing Soviet part of Berlin

Conflicts of Cold WarKorean War (1950-1953)

◦U.S. wanted to prevent communist N. Korea from invading S. Korea

◦U.S. prevented invasion

The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961)

Checkpoint

Charlie

Ich bin ein Berliner!

(1963)

President Kennedy tells Berliners that

the West is with them!

Premier Nikita Khrushchev

About the capitalist states, it doesn't depend on you whether we (Soviet Union) exist.If you don't like us, don't accept our invitations, and don'tinvite us to come to see you. Whether you like it our not, history is on our side. We will bury you. -- 1956

De-Stalinization Program

The Korean War: A “Police Action” (1950-

1953)

Syngman Rhee

Kim Il-Sung

“Domino Theory”

Cold War (1945-1991)

Cuban Missile Crisis◦JFK became pres. in 1961◦Fidel Castro took control of Cuba in 1959,

made alliance with Soviets◦JFK attempted overthrow of Castro called

the Bay of Pigs Exiles from Cuba were going to be used to

overthrow Castro, failed miserably Soviets sent missiles to Cuba, Kennedy

blockaded Cuba preventing the missiles from arriving

Khruschev Embraces Castro,1961

Bay of Pigs Debacle (1961)

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

We went eyeball-to-eyeball with the Russians, and the other man blinked!

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Cold War (1945-1991)Vietnam War (1963-1973)

◦Conflict between U.S. and N. Vietnam (Communist) Feared Domino Theory- if S. Vietnam fell

other countries in Asia would follow

◦N. Vietnam invaded S. Vietnam, U.S. aided S. Vietnam

◦In 1973, Pres. Nixon sign agreement allowing U.S. troops to withdraw from Vietnam N. Vietnam took S. Vietnam, became Vietnam

(Communist till today)

Vietnam War: 1965-1973

Cold War (1945-1991)End of Cold War

◦Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in U.S.S.R. in 1985, brought dramatic end to Cold War New Thinking policy helped thaw Cold

War Soviet Union broke up as countries

gained freedom for 1989 to 1991

◦Berlin Wall was torn down led to reunification of Germany in 1990

Tearing Down of Berlin Wall

Tearing Down of Berlin Wall