Post on 02-Jan-2016
The Cold War
Teheran Conference
The Yalta Conference
Following the Teheran Conference the Big Three met again in Yalta on the Crimean peninsula.
By this time Germany is all but defeated and discussions turn to the post-war world.
The U.S. resisted Stalin’s demands but they believed the Soviet military would be needed to defeat the Japanese.
This was before the atom bomb was tested.
The Soviets agreed to allow democratically elected governments in Eastern Europe - they lied.
This left the USSR in control of a large sphere of influence at the end of the war.
The Potsdam Conference
Stalin was warned indirectly about the existence of the Atomic bomb.
The soviets felt slighted about being out the loop on the Manhattan Project.
Truman, knowing he has the bomb, takes a harder line with Stalin and again insists on free elections in Eastern Europe.
American - Soviet Relations
Decades of distrust and misunderstanding came to a head at the end of the war.
Washington abruptly ended lend-lease to the Soviets and refused to grant them loans.
The US and USSR resembled each other in many troublesome ways.
Both were large, expansionist, born in revolution and believed their way was the best way for the world.
Postwar Tensions
The Bretton Woods Agreement created the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The Soviets refused to participate in either.
Postwar Germany
The Nuremberg Trials -- 22 top nazi war criminals were put on trial for crimes against humanity.
Bormann Frank Goering Hess
Ribbentrop Jodl Kaltenbrunner
The Russians sought to make Germany pay reparations for its losses in the war.
Divided Germany Germany was
divided into four territories at the end of the war - British, French, American and Soviet.
The US realizes the need for a economically strong but militarily weak Germany.
The Western Allies began to call for a reunited Germany.
Poland turns Communist
Stalin arrests the London Polish government-in-exile and has the Lublin Communists put into power in Poland.
In the November 1945 Hungarian election, the Communist party wins only 17 percent of the vote.
Stalin moves to eradicate opposition and to consolidate the Soviet position in Hungary.
Tito in Yugoslavia
At the same time Yugoslavia becomes a federated republic under Marshal Tito.
Josip Broz
The Soviets in Iran
1945-1946 In Iran, America and Great Britain withdraw their troops from Iran; the Soviet Union does not.
The Iron Curtain The Soviets force
the Eastern European countries behind what Winston Churchill called the “Iron Curtain.”
Fulton, Missouri
“ From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.”
-- Winston Churchill
The Iron Curtain
Stalin’s Response
“Mr. Churchill is standing now in the position of a warmonger.”
The Baruch Plan
Bernard Baruch called for a UN agency to oversee nuclear power to halt weapons development - Stalin rejects the idea.
Czechoslovakia Falls
February 25, 1947: Czechoslovakia is taken over by a Communist Coup.
Brussels Treaty On March 17, 1947 the
Brussels Treaty was signed by Belgium, Britain, France, Holland, and Luxembourg created a Atlantic regional mutual-defense treaty, in part a response to the Czechoslovakian crisis.
Berlin Blockade
The Soviet Union blockades all highway, river, and rail traffic into Western-controlled West Berlin to force the Western powers out of Berlin.
The Berlin Airlift - 1947
The West responds to the Berlin blockade by airlifting supplies to West Berlin beginning June 21 and counter-blockading East Germany.
The Soviet blockade ends after 321 days.
Berlin Airlift
Iran Crisis Stalin seeks to test
the west's resolve in the Middle East and began fomenting revolution in Iran.
Truman’s protest caused Stalin to back down.
The Containment Policy George F. Kennan, writing
anonymously in Foreign Affairs, articulates America's policy to block peacefully the expansion of Soviet political and economic influence into vulnerable areas around the world.
Kennan suggests a policy of “containment”
The Truman Doctrine
Greece and Turkey were turning leftist - danger of Soviet involvement.
Truman issues his Doctrine describing the need to “contain” communism.
Containment in Action The Marshall Plan
- Secretary of State George Marshall develops the European Recovery Program to stop communism.
12.5 Billion dollars to be spent in Europe over four years.
The North Atlantic Pact - 1949
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization - defensive alliance of US and 12 W. European countries.
Greece and Turkey join in 1952 and West Germany in 1955.
West Germany
German Federal Republic established as Allied High Commission relinquishes control of the administration of the American, British, and French occupation zones.
The Federal Republic of Germany, founded on 23 May 1949, was declared "fully sovereign" on 5 May 1955.
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer, the new German president, will work closely with the allies to counter Soviet expansion.
East Asia
1949 - Communists in China under Mao Zedong defeat the Nationalists.
Nationalists under Chiang Kai Shek establish the Republic of China on Taiwan.
The H-Bomb
1952 - the first Hydrogen Bomb (fusion) was tested successfully by the U.S. in the South Pacific.
The Russians explode their H-bomb in 1953 - the arms race is on.
The Korean War (1950 - 1953)
June 25, 1950 - North Korea invades south - US and Korean forces retreat to Pusan perimeter.
The Cold War Wanes
1953 - Armistice in Korea - cease-fire declared short of victory.
Stalin dies in March, 1953 - Khrushchev gains power in USSR, denounces Stalin and seeks peaceful coexistence.
BrinkmanshipUS Secretary of State
John Foster Dulles vows to "roll back" Communism
follows policy of brinkmanship - vows massive retaliation.
Geneva Summit
Brinkmanship and West Germany in NATO were leading to increases in tension.
Eisenhower sought direct discussion with Soviets - Soviets agree to withdraw from Austria.
French lose Vietnam
1954 - French lose Battle of Diem Bien Phu in Vietnam to communists under Ho Chi Minh
Algerian Crisis
Charles De Gaulle
Geneva Conference
Geneva Conference divides country at 17th parallel - elections fall through and US backs Ngo Dinh Diem in the south - US forms SEATO treaty.
Warsaw PactMay 14, 1955 - The
Warsaw Pact signed, calling for the mutual defense of Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Rumania, and the Soviet Union.
The Bomber Gap
Fear of a "Bomber Gap" is created in the US after Soviets fly Bear and Bison long-range bombers multiple times past American visitors at an air show, causing an exaggerated assessment of Soviet inventories.
20th Congress Speech
• February 14 1956 -- Khrushchev denounces Stalin in speech to the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
New Crises add to tensions
Hungarian Revolt (1956)- demonstration in Hungary leads to open revolt - Soviets invade and crush rebellion.
The Red Tanks
Crisis in the Middle East
Suez Crisis (1956) - Israel, France and Britain invade Egypt to take back canal - US intervenes fearing US - Soviet conflict.
The Space RaceOct. 1957 -
Soviets launch Sputnik satellite - the US – Soviet “Space Race” begins.
The Berlin Crisis
Berlin Crisis 1958 - Soviets give 6 month deadline for western powers to leave Berlin.
Eisenhower refuses to budge and Khrushchev backs down.
Paris Summit• Paris “Summit
Conference” called for May 1960
American U2 spy plane shot down over Russia on the eve of Paris Summit.
What’s so funny?
Plausible Deniability?
Francis Gary Powers
• U-2 pilot Gary Powers sentenced by the U.S.S.R. to ten years in prison; he is exchanged for a Soviet spy in 1961.
Nixon goes to USSR
Nixon has his “Kitchen Debate” with Khrushchev over the merits communism versus capitalism.
Fidel Castro
1959 - Castro overthrows Bautista in Cuba - becomes Soviet satellite.
Yuri Gagarin
1960 - Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin is the first man to go into space.
Vienna Summit
• At the Vienna Summit in 1961, Khrushchev reissues his ultimatum to begin talks on Germany within 6 months or face a permanent division of Germany.
US Response• Kennedy
responds with call for military build-up, beginning of civil defense program.
The Berlin Wall
• August 13, 1961: East Germany closes the Brandenburg Gate, sealing the border between East and West Berlin in preparation for building the Berlin Wall.
The Berlin Wall
Jack is a Jelly Doughnut
• Kennedy visits Berlin in 1963 and declares "Ich bin ein Berliner."
The Cuban Missile Crisis
• October 23, 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis
• The United States establishes an air and sea blockade of Cuba in response to photographs of Soviet missile bases under construction in Cuba.
• United States threatens to invade Cuba if the bases are not dismantled and warns that a nuclear attack launched from Cuba would be considered a Soviet attack requiring full retaliation.
• October 28: Khrushchev agrees to remove offensive weapons from Cuba and the United States agrees to remove missiles from Turkey and end Cuban-exile incursions.
• November 21: United States ends Cuban blockade, satisfied that all bases are removed and Soviet jets will leave the island by December 20.
Cuban Fallout
• Kennedy signs Limited Test Ban Treaty Britain, Soviet Union, and United States agree to outlaw tests in the atmosphere, under water, and in outer space.
• The US and Soviet Union create the Hotline and Khrushchev becomes a non-person.
• He is replaced by Brezhnev and Kosygin
De Gaulle and the “Atlantic Community”
• Charles De Gaulle of France vetoed Britains entry in the European Community, refused to allow a NATO nuclear arm and started developing his own nuclear force.
The War in Vietnam
• 1964 - American gunships are helping patrol North Vietnam shores
• US accuses North Vietnam of firing on an American ship in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
• US Congress give war powers to president Johnson, who begins escalating the war in Vietnam.
Protests and Problems
• American allies in Europe began to denounce US aggression in Vietnam.
• De Gaulle ordered NATO troops out of France in 1966.
Tet Offensive• Jan 1968 - Tet
offensive launched by Vietcong and NVA on Vietnamese New Year -- American forces will win the battles but public opinion turns against the war.
The Prague Spring
• January 1968 : Prague Spring reforms led by Alexander Dubcek in Czechoslovakia to bring about "socialism with a human face."
Prague Spring• "Socialism with a Human
Face," as Dubchek ended censorship and instituted liberal economic reforms.
• Dubchek continued to proclaim loyalty to Moscow to avert a replay of 1956 in Hungary, but increasingly Soviet leaders became suspicious.
Students Revolt in Paris – May 1968
More Soviet Tanks• August 20, --
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia ends Dubcek’s experiment.
The Brezhnev Doctrine• Brezhnev Doctrine
(Pravda, 25 September 1968), justified the intervention.
• Soviets vow to use troops to protect socialism anywhere in the world.
The Nixon Doctrine• Nixon Doctrine and "
Vietnamization " begins. • Nixon reaffirms U.S.
commitment to defend its allies, but calls on Third World nations to assume primary responsibility for their security
• Nixon orders first troops out of Vietnam.
Willie Brandt
• German statesman and Nobel laureate, whose leadership was of major importance in the development of West Germany into a world power.
• His policy, known as Ostpolitik, led to the signing of non-aggression pacts between West Germany and both the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Poland in 1970.
• Willy Brandt will be forced to resign in 1974 after an East-German spy was uncovered on his personal staff.
SALT Agreement
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons between the United States and the Soviet Union, goes into effect, preventing transfer of nuclear weapons to non- nuclear nations or production of nuclear weapons in those nations.
• SALT I agreement signed restricting development of ABMs and freezing numbers of ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) in place for 5 years.
Detente
• Nixon and Brezhnev sign agreement on the "basic principles of detente" which produces a relaxation on the tensions, recognizes the Soviet Union as the military-political policeman of Eastern Europe, and opens economic markets between the two countries.
Paris Accords
• 1973 – The Paris Accords establish cease-fire and political settlement of Vietnam War.
Space Detente
• 1975 -- U.S.-Soviet astronauts in Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft link up in space.
The Helsinki Accords
• Helsinki Accords signed, pledging the United States and Soviet Union to accept European borders, protect human rights, and promote freer transnational trade and cultural exchanges.
SALT II• SALT II agreement
to limit long-range missiles and bombers signed by Carter and Brezhnev.
Soviets in Afghanistan
• Red Army enters Afghanistan and becomes embroiled in a prolonged anti-guerilla war.
• Russia’s “Vietnam?”
US Sanctions• U.S. sanctions against the
U.S.S.R., in reaction to its invasion of Afghanistan, include a grain embargo, decreased scientific and cultural exchanges, boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, and failure to ratify SALT II.
Dual-Track• December: NATO
announces "Dual-Track" deployment of intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF) in Europe to counter Warsaw Pact SS-20 missiles.
Protests over INF
• Protests break out in Western Europe over the deployment of INF missiles.
Solidarity
• Solidarity union formed in Poland in 1980 under the leadership of Lech Walesa.
•Walesa will lead Polish workers in an illegal strike for a 5-day workweek.
START Talks
• Reagan outlines U.S. Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) proposal, to reduce ICBMs and arrive at verifiable agreement to reduce risk of war and number of strategic nuclear weapons on both sides.
Star Wars
• Reagan proposes SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly known as Star Wars) to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles.
Soviet Reaction
• Soviet Union suspends START talks.
Mikhail Gorbachev
• Mikhail Gorbachev succeeds Chernenko as Soviet General Secretary
• Nuclear and Space Talks (NST) open in Geneva, based on START proposals of 1983.
Geneva Summit• Geneva Summit:
Reagan and Gorbachev issue joint statement on cooperation in arms reductions with goal of 50 percent reductions of nuclear arms.
Reykjavik Summit
• Gorbachev proposes eliminating all nuclear weapons over next 15 years, contingent on United States backing off SDI.
• Reagan applauds proposal, but won't change position on SDI and supports principle of 50 percent reduction as agreed to in 1985.
• Gorbachev-Reagan arms talks stall over Reagan's refusal to limit SDI research and testing to the laboratory although agreement is reached on other details.
Reagan Speaks to USSR
• Reagan addresses the Soviet people via Voice of America saying that the United States and Soviet Union are "closer now than ever before ... to agreement to reduce nuclear arsenals and have taken major steps toward permanent peace."
Gorbachev goes to Washington
• Washington Summit Meeting: Reagan and Gorbachev sign a treaty eliminating INF and agree to work toward completing START agreement, if possible for Moscow meeting in first half of 1988.
Reagan goes to Moscow
• Moscow Summit: Reagan and Gorbachev reiterate their commitment to concluding the START treaty.
Glasnost and Perestroika
• June 28 1988: Gorbachev tells Communist Party leaders that key elements of Communist doctrine are outdated; defends his proposals for change.
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• Gorbachev’s plan calls for Perestroika or governmental reform and Glasnost or “openess”.
•Party attempts to relax its grip on Soviet society in order to advance Gorbachev's Glasnost policies.
Solidarity wins in Poland
• Pro-Solidarity strikes take place in Poland.
• Demonstrators demand that government grant legal status to the union.
• Poland agrees to legalize Solidarity union.
• Lech Walesa will be elected President of Poland in 1990.
1989 – Communism begins to Crumble
•September-December 1989 : Eastern European nations leave Soviet Bloc, renounce ties to Moscow.
• November 9: Berlin Wall is opened as hundreds of thousands of East Germans stream into West Berlin to visit without restrictions.
• November 10: Bulgarian President Todor Zhikov resigns after 35 years of hard-line Communist power.
The Velvet Revolution
• The six-week period between November 17 and December 29, 1989, also known as the "Velvet Revolution" brought about the bloodless overthrow of the Czechoslovak communist regime.
• Alexander Dubcek - who had led the ill-fated Prague Spring movement in the 1960's - was elected Speaker of the Federal Assembly.
• One day later, the parliament elected the Civic Forum's leader, Vaclav Havel, President of Czechoslovakia.
Vaclav Havel• A prize-winning
playwright and former stagehand, brewery worker and convict, he became president after his crusade for human rights won him the respect of his countrymen and the world.
Violence in Rumania• Rumanian
President Ceausescu is overthrown by the army; three days later he and his wife are executed.
Reunification of Germany
•East German voters opt for German reunification and market-based economy.
Hardliners in the USSR
• Coup d'etat attempt against Gorbachev fails, but power shifts to Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
The End of the USSR
•The Soviets recognize the Ukraine, Baltic Republics, Byelorussia and Moldvia as independent republics.
Commonwealth of Independent States
• Commonwealth of Independent States created in the former Soviet Union.
Gorbachev Resigns
• December 25, 1991: Gorbachev resigns as Soviet President, transfers control of nuclear arsenal to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, as the United States recognizes six independent republics: Armenia, Belorussia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Russia, Ukraine.