1. PROBLEM: USA and USSR understood 'DEMOCRACY' Differently
1.1. FOR USA: Demography meant being able to elect a gvt from a multi party system
1.2. FOR USSR: Democracy meant one party representing people
2. Post-WW2 Governments in Eastern Europe: According to Declaration of Liberated Europe, (a) the temporary government to be established (b) free elections were to be held and nations could decide what form of gvt to have --> democratic
2.1. Poland: Important for Stalin to have Stalinist Communist government
2.1.1. Elections Rigged: becomes Communist in 1947 after the Communists intimidate the electors.
2.1.1.1. In Opposition to the spirit of Declaration of Liberated Europe
2.1.2. For Russia it is not only a question of honour, but security - not only because we are on Poland's frontier, but also because throughout history, Poland has always been a corridor for attack on Russia. Stalin's words
2.2. Romania:
2.2.1. becomes Communist in 1947 after the monarchy was abolished and elections were fixed.
2.3. Hungary: Facing economic crisis
2.3.1. Communist controlled Ministry of Interior and thus the Police. :( Elected PM Imre Nagy forced to resign. Communist came to power in after general elections of 1947.
2.3.2. BANNED ALL OTHER PARTIES
2.3.2.1. In opposition to the spirit of Declaration of Liberated Europe
2.4. Bulgaria: Elections of Nov 1945 were rigged--> Power to the Communist
2.4.1. BANNED ALL OTHER PARTIES
2.4.1.1. In opposition to the spirit of Declaration of Liberated Europe
2.5. Czechoslovakia
2.5.1. becomes Communist in 1948 by controlling the media and arresting other political leaders.
2.5.1.1. In opposition to the spirit of DoLE
2.6. Yugoslavia: Marshal Tito a strong communist leader elected as President--> Would not blindly follow Stalin's orders
2.6.1. Yugoslavia expelled from Cominform
2.6.1.1. Stalin told other communist countries to impose sanctions on Yugoslavia
2.6.1.1.1. Tito sought help from West
3. Germany Germany... What to be done with thou!
3.1. BIG AIMS of Big three
3.1.1. De-nazify
3.1.2. Divide Germany into 4 zones
3.1.3. Divide Berlin into 4 zones
3.1.4. Reparations from Germany: Who to get how much and how
3.1.5. Soviet's Aim: Never Again will Soviet be attacked and suffer such DEEEEPPP Agony --> Soviet Union lost 27 million people in WW 2
3.1.5.1. Stalin's message in newspaper, Pravada, in March 1946: The Soviet Union's loss of life has been several times greater than that of Britain and the United States put together. The Soviet Union cannot forget them. And so why is it surprising that the Soviet Union is anxious for its future safety and is trying to ensure that governments loyal to the Soviet Union should exist in these countries? --
3.1.6. Britain and USA:
3.1.6.1. Can't allow Germany to break down---BALANCE -BALANCE
3.2. BERLIN WHY ART THOU SO IMPORTANT:: Capital of Germany - cause of two world wars; place where East met West, communism v. capitalism; focus of world events at Yalta & Potsdam (1945) and other future events - Berlin Blockade of 1948-49 and Berlin Wall of 1961 - 1989
3.3. GERMANY to be divided in 1945 post-Potsdam Conference + Inter Allied Control Council established on 30 Aug 1945
3.3.1. America: the SOuth Zone
3.3.1.1. LET's PLAN ECONOMIC UNIFICATION OF Occupied Zones
3.3.1.1.1. Germany and Berlin Zones of USA + Britain=BIZONIA ==> Jan 1947
3.3.1.1.2. Trizonia: France joined in April 1949
3.3.1.1.3. advance the development of a growing economy
3.3.1.1.4. reduce the burden of the administration of the occupation zones.
3.3.1.1.5. Currency Reform--> Replaced Reichsmark which was inflated with DEUTSCHE MARK
3.3.1.1.6. SOVIET NOT CONSULTED: In opposition to the spirit of Yalta and Potsdam
3.3.2. Britain: West and North
3.3.2.1. The British zone had industrial population but facing economic problems --> They needed to be part of US's pledge to revitalise German economy + Soviet demands of reparations :(
3.3.3. France: South-West
3.3.4. Soviet: Central Germany
4. ADDING FUEL TO FIRE: Events which made relations between the West and Soviet Union worse
4.1. The Iron Curtain Speech by Winston Churchill in March 1946 @ Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri
4.1.1. IMAGINE THE MESSAGE THAT WINSTON WAS SENDING OUT [FYI He had lost the elections of 1945-- and Attlee was the PM at this time]
4.1.2. "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe."
4.1.3. The U.S. and its allies have a duty, Churchill said "to guard the homes of the common people" from tyranny, war and poverty.
4.1.3.1. US and English-speaking nations UNITE AGAINST Soviet AGGRESSION
4.1.3.2. USSR Expansionist
4.1.3.3. The speech shattered the facade of post-ww2 allied unity...
4.1.3.4. Became a symbol of the beginning of Cold War
4.1.4. the best way to do that was through the world body of the United Nations, which should be equipped with its own international armed force.
4.2. The LLLLOOOONNN Telegram
4.2.1. By George Kennan: USA's Deputy Chief of Mission at US Embassy in Moscow in 1947.
4.2.2. Wrote an 8000 words long TELEGRAM-- IMAGINE this is a telegram!
4.2.3. In the beginning in 1930s, Kennan was not SUPER critical of Soviet but became more critical as time passed
4.2.4. Content of telegram: Kennan's views on Soviet Union and the policy that US should adopt
4.2.4.1. Excerpt: It is clear that the United States cannot expect in the foreseeable future to be close to Soviet regime. It must continue to regard the Soviet Union as a rival, not a partner, in the political arena. It must continue to expect that Soviet policies will reflect no abstract love of peace and stability, no real faith in the possibility of a permanent happy coexistence of the communist and capitalist worlds. Rather, Soviet policies will be a cautious, persistent pressure toward the disruption and weakening of all rival influence and rival power.
4.2.4.1.1. INFLUENCED TRUMAN's ATTITUDE towards Stalin and Communism
4.2.4.1.2. USSR's Response
4.2.5. Felt that FDR was too soft and his faith in cooperation with Stalin was MISPLACED
4.2.5.1. FDR died 12 April 1945
4.2.5.1.1. Kennan wrote the LLLOONNNGG Telegram a year later!
4.2.6. “undoubtedly the greatest task our diplomacy has ever faced and probably the greatest it will ever have to face.” Kennan identified the following ideas or concepts that became the foundation of American Cold War policy: a. The USSR perceived itself at perpetual war with capitalism. b. The USSR viewed left-wing, but non-communist, groups in other countries as an even worse enemy than the capitalist ones. c. The USSR would use controllable Marxists in the capitalist world as allies. d. Soviet aggression was fundamentally not aligned with the views of the Russian people or with economic reality, but rooted in historic Russian nationalism and neurosis. e. The Soviet government’s structure inhibited objective or accurate pictures of internal and external reality.
5. POLICIES AND PLANS
5.1. THE Question of GREECE: Civil War in Greece from 1944. Brit helping the Greek Royalist Government FIGHT the COMMUNIST. Communist defeated in elections of 1947... Communist start guerrilla war for power ==> DRAIN of British Resources --- Britain fighting opposition in her colonies too
5.1.1. Britain can no longer continue to support Greece fight the Communist
5.1.1.1. Attlee tells TRUMAN: WE can't continue fight the Communist in Greece... HELP
5.1.1.1.1. TRUMAN: If Greece falls to Communist, then Stalin's will block trade... TIME to take action and get our hands dirty
5.1.1.1.2. Soviet pose's more danger: Part of a Letter from Truman to James Byrne, Secretary of State, January 1946 There isn't any doubt in my mind that Russia intends an invasion of Turkey. Unless Russia is faced with an iron fist and strong Language, another war is in the making. I'm tired of babying the Soviets.