The Cold War

1945 - 1991

Yalta Conference: A Postwar Plan

In February 1945 leaders of the US, Britain, and the Soviet Union met.

Place: Soviet Black Sea resort of Yalta.

Germany would be divided in to zones of occupation

Controlled by the Allied military forces.

Germany would have to pay the Soviet Union for loss of life and property.

Yalta Conference

Stalin agreed to join war against Japan.Stalin promised that Eastern Europeans would have free elections.Winston Churchill predicted Stalin would only keep his pledge if the Eastern Europeans followed “a policy friendly to Russia.”

Eastern Europe’s Iron CurtainMajor goal of Soviet Union was to shield it self from another invasion from the west.Soviets build a buffer

At war’s end Soviet troops occupied a strip of countries along their western border.Stalin regarded these countries as a necessary buffer or wall of protection.

Soviets Build a Buffer

Stalin ignored his agreement at Yalta.He installed or secured Communist governments in Eastern Europe

Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland and Yugoslavia.

Truman saw this was clear violation of these nations rights.

Soviets Build a Buffer (cont.)

Truman, Stalin, and Churchill met at Potsdam, Germany, in July 1945.There Truman pressed Stalin to permit free elections in Eastern Europe.

Stalin refused.

In a speech in 1946 Stalin declared communism and capitalism could not exist in the same world.

The Cold War Begins

What is a “cold” war?Conflicting ideologies and mutual distrust led to the “Cold War”• Fighting without armed conflict• Used weapons, politics, and propaganda

Both sides used propagandaTry to gain as many allies as possibleTry to paint the other side as “evil”

United States PolicyThe Truman Doctrine

“Containment”• US policy was to stop the spread of

communism

The Marshall PlanUS aid to help rebuild Europe$13 Billion

Clash over Germany

US and its Allies clashed with Soviet Union over Germany.Soviets wanted to keep Germany weak and divided.In 1948, France Britain and the United States withdrew their forces from Germany.

Allowed their occupation zones to form one nation.

The Split of Germany

West Germany became democratic East Germany became communist Officially 2 countries as of 1949Berlin was split as well into West Berlin and East Berlin.Berlin lay deep within East Germany.

Two Germanys

The Berlin Airlift

June 1948-May 1949All roads, waterways, railways closed in East Germany to Berlin

Response to unification of West Germany.

US and UKOver 277,000 flights to BerlinOver 2 million tons of suppliesLanding, unloading and taking off took about 15 minutes

The Berlin Airlift

Military Alliances

1949 NATO was formed – European defense alliance

U.S. and eleven other countries

1955 Warsaw Pact USSR and seven European Communist nations

The Arms RaceThe most frightening aspect of the Cold War was the constant threat of nuclear war.US was the only atomic power in 1945

Soviet Union gained atomic weapons in 1949Began an “arms race”– who had the most

Truman ordered construction of the hydrogen bomb.Call for buildup of conventional forces to provide alternative to nuclear war.

Global Nuclear ConfrontationSoviet army stayed strong after war.US had reduced forces by half by 1947.American military planners were forced to adopt a nuclear strategy in face of the overwhelmingly superiority of Soviet forces. They would deter any Soviet attack by setting in place a devastating atomic counterattack.

Global Nuclear Confrontation (cont.)

For the next quarter century, the U.S. and the USSR would engage in a nuclear arms race that constantly increased the destructive capability of both sides.

China

Chinese Flag

Communist Control of China

Forces led by Mao Zedong won a civil war and formed the Peoples Republic of ChinaCommunists gained the support of peasant populationGained support of women “Women hold up half the sky”Educated Chinese hoped that the communists would build a new China & end foreign domination

Mao Zedong

Changes made in ChinaWith Soviet help, the Chinese built hydroelectric plants, railroads and canalsMao built a one party totalitarian state with the Communist party in controlEducation and healthcare were improvedMao’s programs crippled China’s economy

China & the Cold War

By 1960 China & the USSR were in disagreement1971 China joins the UN, 1979 US repairs relations Mao died in 1976 and Deng took over.

Deng’s economic reforms brought a surge of growth and a better standard of living

The Two Koreas

South Korea emerged during the Cold WarAfter WWII Japanese control of Korea endedUS & Soviet Union divided the two Koreas along the 38th line of latitudeNorth Korea became a communist Soviet allySouth Korea was backed by the US

The Korean WarJune 1950 to July 1953Began when the communist North invaded the South, the goal was reunificationWas a byproduct of the Cold War – US paranoia about communismJune 25th 1950 – North Koreans equipped by Soviets and aided by ChinaUS led UN forces in defense of South Korea – General Macarthur led the forces

More Korean War Information

First ever aggression by UN forcesControl of the 38th parallel shifted sides throughout the war – ended in a stalemateAir power played a key role in the warJuly 1953 truce agreement was signed – countries remain separate today along the 38th parallel

Korean War statistics

3 years of conflict36,516 US deaths – 140,000 total injured or killedSouth Korea – 415,000 deadCommunists – suffered 2 million casualties (killed or injured)US forces remained in South Korea until 1990s to keep peace

Vietnam after WWIIWas controlled by the French before the war and Japan during the war1946 France set out to regain control of VietnamVietnam guerillas resisted led by Ho Chi MinhGuerilla warfare - fighting carried out through hit and run tacticsVietnam wore down the French and forced them to surrender in 1954 (Dien Bien Phu, 55 day battle)

Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam Divided

Agreement was reached to temporarily divide the country along the 17th parallelElections were supposed to be held in 1956 for reunification – never occurredCommunist North (led by Ho Chi Minh) and non-communist SouthUS feared domino effect – if North took South it would trigger the further spread of communism

Vietnam WarHo Chi Minh and Vietcong (communist rebels) wanted to unite Vietnam under communist rule.

North Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) with the North Vietnamese Army + Vietcong – aided by USSR & China

South Vietnam + US military (Non- Communist)

Important Events of the War in Vietnam

1968 – Tet Offensive – North guerillas launch massive surprise attackUnexpected b/c it took place on Vietnamese New YearAnti war sentiment grew in the US / the realization that the North would fight at any costNixon arranged a cease fire – began withdrawing in 19732 Years later the North captured the South

Vietnam War Stats

Turning point in history of modern war b/c of new battle tactics (guerilla)2 million Vietnamese killed, 3 million woundedUS casualties – 57,685 killed & 153,303 wounded587 POW were released from POW camps and 2500 personnel are still unaccounted for

Cold War in the1950s: USSRNikita Khrushchev takes over after Stalin’s death in 1953.

He repudiates Stalin’s use of the vast Gulag (or labor camp complex) and attempts to separate Stalin’s “crimes” from true communism.

Cold War in the1950s: USSR (cont.)

Repression and DissentPolish and Hungarian intellectuals and students held demonstrations calling for free elections, withdrawal of Soviet troops, etc.1956 – Soviet Crackdown in Hungary• Soviet tanks were sent in to crush dissent.

Eastern Europe remained under Soviet control.

Cold War in the1950s: USSR (cont.)

October 4, 1957 – USSR launched the first satellite, Sputnik, into orbit.

The Sputnik launch confirmed the Soviet Union’s superpower status.

Two months earlier they had tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).Khrushchev – “We will bury you”

The Cold War in the 1950s: U.S.

Dwight Eisenhower takes over from Truman in 1953.

Democrats charged Republicans for “missile gap”Eisenhower responded.

The Cold War in the 1950s: U.S

Eisenhower enlarged defense spending; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)By 1963, the U.S. had more missiles and bombers capable of striking the Soviet Union, compared to what could reach the U.S by the Soviet Union.

The Third WorldIn the 1950s, French intellectuals coined the term “Third World”.

This describes the efforts of countries seeking a “third way” that was neither Western capitalism or Soviet communism.By the early 1960s, the term had come to identify a large bloc of countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

By the middle of the 1960s many Third World Nations found themselves in debt and dependency, many nations fell into dictatorship and authoritarian rule.

The Cold War in the 1960s

Khrushchev: “peaceful coexistence” American U-2 spy plane shot down by Soviets in 1960.In 1961, the Soviet begun construction of the Berlin Wall, which cut off movement between East and West Berlin and became a symbol of the eroding relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Berlin Wall

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis (October of 1962)

The Soviet Union formed an alliance with Fidel Castro-led Cuba after the Cuban Revolution in 1959.In 1962 JFK responded to the installation of nuclear missiles in Cuba with a naval blockade.Brought world closer to nuclear war the ever before.

DétenteA lessening of tensions in the Cold WarAfter the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1963, many countries pulled back from confrontation to reduce the chances of nuclear war

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963) –• Prohibited testing in outer space, in the

atmosphere, and underwater

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1964) –• Nations agreed not to develop nuclear weapons

Nations such as France, China, India, Pakistan, and other nations refused to sign

Better U.S./Soviet Relations1963 a “hot line” was installed so that the U.S. president and Soviet premier could defuse a potential crisisIn 1963, the U.S. agreed to sell large quantities of wheat to the Soviet Union.

This new trade relation would expand to include other goods.

Tourism was encouraged.Culture exchanges.

(Ex. Bolshoi Ballet & Louis Armstrong)

Soviet Union: The Brezhnev EraKhrushchev was ousted from power in 1964 and replaced by Leonid BrezhnevThe Brezhnev Era, 1964-82

Military spending remained top priorityPut an end to Khrushchev’s “de-Stalinization” campaignHad a stroke in 1976Economic and political decline; corruption, favoritism, and alcoholism increase

Between 1982-85, Yuri Andropov and Konstantin Chernenko both die in office

Eastern Europe

Many Eastern European countries attempted to gain some level of autonomy during the 1960s

Czechoslovakia tried to adopt liberal reformsThe “Prague Spring” of 1968 hoped to produce a more humane socialism

CzechoslovakiaThe Soviet Union invaded and Alexander Dubček resigned.

Involved about 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops

• Only a handful of soldiers died.

More than 80 Czechoslovak citizens were killed.

• Several hundred wounded

Germany and Détente Willy Brandt

Chancellor of West Germany (1969-74) Proposed Ostpolitik (A hand offered to the East)

In 1972, East and West Germany recognized each other and were both admitted to the U.N.

Détente AgreementsNixon and Brezhnev signed a series of agreementsStrategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)ABM TreatyHelsinki Agreements (1975)

Collapse of Détente

By the late 1970s, the optimism that the Cold War had virtually ended had faded.The continued Soviet military buildup and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 soured relations with the U.S.

Collapse of Détente (cont.)

As a result the U.S.Failed to ratify the 1979 SALT II Treaty.Boycotted the Olympics in Moscow in 1980.Placed an embargo on U.S. grain shipments to the Soviet Union.

Regan Takes An Anti-Communist Stance Ronald Regan takes

office in 1981Continued to move away from détente.Increased US defense spending

• Put economic and military pressure on Soviets.

Announces the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

A program to protect against enemy missiles.Never put into effect.

Gorbachev Moves Towards Democracy

By time Mikhail Gorbachev became party’s new General Secretary in 1985 of the Soviet economy became stagnant.Looked into measures to revive the ailing state.An ineffectual start led to deeper structural changes becoming necessary.

Gorbachev Reforms

In June 1987 Gobachev announced an agenda of economic reform called perestroika, or restructuring.

Relaxed production quota system.Allowed private ownership of business.

Simultaneously introduced glasnost, or openness, which increased freedom of the press and the transparency of state institutions.

Gorbachev Reforms (cont.)

Glasnot was intended to reduce the corruption at the top of the Communist Party and moderate the abuse of power in the Central Committee.This also enabled contact between Soviet citizens and the western world.

Thaw in Relations

Third Reykjavik Summit led to a breakthrough.

Signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF)

Eliminated all nuclear armed, ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

East-West Tension subsideFirst summit in Moscow in 1989Gorbachev and George H. W. Bush signed START I arms control treatySoviets declared that they would no longer intervene in the affairs of Eastern Europe.In 1989, Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan.By 1990 Gorbachev consented to the reunification of Germany.

Berlin Wall1989 Berlin Wall comes downNovember 9 is considered the date the Wall fell, but the Wall in its entirety was not torn down immediately. December 3, 1989 Gorbachev and Reagan declared the Cold War over at the Malta Summit.

The Soviet Union Faces Turmoil

Powerful forces for democracy were building and Gorbachev decided not to oppose reform.Various nationalities in the Soviet Union called for their freedom.As reforms loosened central control Nationalist groups demanded self-rule.

Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldavia.

Muslim peoples of Soviet Central Asia called for religious freedom.

Lithuania Defies GorbachevIn March 1990, Lithuania declared its independence.To force it back into the Soviet Union, Gorbachev ordered an economic blockade on the republic.In January 1991, Soviet troops attacked unarmed civilians in Lithuania’s capital.

14 killedHundreds wounded.

Yeltsin Denounces GorbachevLack of economic progress is and the assault in Lithuania damage Gorbachev’s popularity.People looked for leadership.

Boris Yeltsin - Criticized crackdown on Lithuania and slow pace of reforms.In June 1991, voters chose Yeltsin to become the Russian Federation’s first directly elected President.

Opposition to Reform

In spite of rivalry Yeltsin and Gorbachev faced a common enemy in the old guard of Communist officials.

Hardliners and ConservativesOpposed reforms.These officials vowed to overthrow Gorbachev

The August CoupOn August 18th, 1991 Gorbachev was detained at his vacation home on the Black Sea by the Hardliners.They demanded his resignation as Soviet PresidentEarly next day hundred of tanks and armored vehicles rolled into Moscow.

The August Coup (cont.)Protesters gathered at the Russian parliament building.Around mid-day Yeltsin emerged and stood atop one of the tanks.

Said the decisions of the committee was illegal

On August 20, the hardliners ordered troops to attack the parliament building.

The troops refused.Their refusal turned the tide.

End of the Soviet Union

Coup attempt sparked anger against Communist Party.Gorbachev resigned as general secretary of the party.The Soviet parliament voted to stop all party activities.Having seized power by a coup in 1917 the communist party collapsed now due to failed one.

End of the Soviet Union (cont.)

Coup played decisive role in accelerating the break up of the Soviet Union.Estonia and Latvia quickly declared independence.Other republics soon followed.Gorbachev pleaded for unity, but not one was listening.By early December, all 15 republics had declared independence.

CIS and the End of the Soviet Union

Yeltsin met with the leaders of the other republics to chart a new course.They agreed to form the Commonwealth for Independent States (CIS), a loose federation of former Soviet territories.

Only Baltic republics and Georgia declined to join.

The formation of the CIS meant the death of the Soviet Union.On Christmas Day 1991, Gorbachev announced his resignation as president of the Soviet Union, a country that ceased to exist.