Cold War Short Essays - Questions and Answers.

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Section 4 – How did the Cold War develop?

Describe one decision made by the Allies about the war against Germany at the Tehran Conference in 1943 (2 marks)

The allies agreed that in the aftermath of the war, the USSR could have a soviet sphere of influence amongst the other countries in Eastern Europe.

Describe one reason why there was tension between the superpowers at the Tehran Conference in 1943 (2 marks)

There was tension between USSR and USA and GBR because Stalin wanted to weaken Germany by forcing them to pay large sums of reparations - this would mean that they would be too weak to attempt another war. However, Churchill and Roosevelt wanted to rebuild Germany because they wanted to stop history from repeating itself, as it did with World War I.

Describe one reason why the Allies met at Yalta in February 1945 (2 marks)

The allies met to discuss what would happen to Germany know that they had full control over them. They wanted to equally share out the land and resources and thus they decided to divide Berlin into four sections, and Germany into four sections as well – one for each country.

Describe one reason why the Marshall Plan was drawn up in 1947 (2 marks)

The Marshall Plan was drawn up because the USA wanted to contain the spread of communism. The USA was committed to an economic recovery of the west and believed that poverty and hardship were the breeding ground for communism; thus the USA wanted to make the West prosperous.

Describe one reason why NATO was formed in 1949 (2 marks)

NATO was formed as a military alliance consisting entire of Western European countries. The main purpose of it was that if one country was attacked by the USSR and communism, the other members would help to defend it. This was strength in numbers.

Describe one effect of the Soviet occupation on the people of Hungary in the late 1940’s (2 marks)

The Hungarian people opposed the communist government within their country. This hatred fuelled their determination to overthrow the government in the Hungarian Uprising of 1956.

Describe one cause of the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 (2 marks)

Khrushchev made his “secret speech” which criticised Stalin’s rule over the satellite states. This idea of de-Stalinisation encouraged Hungary to take the opportunity to overthrow the communist government, as they thought that Khrushchev was weaker than Stalin and thus easier to overthrow.

Briefly explain the key features of the Tehran conference in 1943 (6 marks)

In 1943 the three superpowers - USA, USSR and GBR- met at Tehran to briefly decide what would happen to Germany and Europe after they win the war.

One key feature of the conference was that the three superpowers were at the height of good relations. Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin were very strong allies and were united against the overthrowing of Germany. During this time all three allies were very agreeable to each other terms.

Another key feature was that USA and GBR agreed that Stalin could have a soviet sphere of influence over Eastern Europe as he already claimed numerous territories amongst Eastern Europe. The western superpowers wanted Stalin to keep his communism expansion contained to only Eastern Europe and not Western Europe.

A further key feature was that there were slight disagreements between USA and GBR and USSR. USSR wanted to weaken and cripple Germany by making them pay huge reparation costs. However, USA and GBR wanted to rebuild Germany and help it to recover because they did not want history to repeat itself, as it did with the Treaty of Versailles.

Briefly explain the key features of soviet rule over Hungary in the years 1945-55 (6 marks)

In 1946 Stalin formed the Iron Curtain which gave him the opportunity to spread communism and enhance soviet security. He banned all other parties in Hungary which allowed the communist government to be implemented in Hungary.

In 1947, the Truman Doctrine was created. The USA was willing to spend $17 billion dollars to any countries who needed help to recover. However, Stalin forced Hungary to refuse the Marshall Aid and instead forced them to agree to Cominform and Comecon (an alternate version to Marshall Aid).

In 1949 NATO was formed. As retaliation to this threat, Stalin created the Warsaw Pact which stated that if one member was attacked all the other members would help to defend it. Hungary was forced to join the Pact and this enabled Stalin to tighten his hold over the satellite states.

Briefly explain what the Allies decided about Germany in the Potsdam conference in 1945 (6 marks)

The Allies came to various decisions about Germany in the Potsdam conference in July/ August 1945.

One decision was that USA, GBR, USSR and France would claim reparation costs from each of their zones in Germany. Because the USSR had a less profitable zone, it was agreed that they would receive industrial reparations from the Western zones in return for foodstuff.

Another decision was that the Nazi party would be banned. Surviving Nazi war criminals would be punished and tried. Fair elections would be held in all liberated countries including Germanys itself.

A further decision was that the allies decided to split Berlin into four sectors. The capital of Germany would be dominated by all four countries. Germany itself would be split into four zones. The USSR’s zone would be located in the Eastern half and the others would be located in the Western half.

Briefly explain the key features of the events of the Hungarian Uprising in 1956 (6 marks)

One of the key features was the introduction of Khrushchev as the new soviet leader of Eastern Europe (he replaced Stalin). In 1956 he made his “secret speech” where he criticised Stalin’s rule and implied that he would be willing to change areas of the communist rule upon the satellite states. This idea of de-Stalinisation encouraged Imre Nagy, prime minister of Hungary, to try to overthrow the communist rule placed upon Hungary.

Another feature was when Nagy decided to bring in the idea of reforms into Hungary. One of Nagy’s promises to the Hungarians was to leave the Warsaw Pact. Up till that point, Khrushchev had allowed the rebellion take place in Hungary. However, at the mention of leaving the Warsaw Pact Khrushchev realised that if one country left the Warsaw Pact others would soon follow as part of the domino effect which would lead to the collapse in soviet control over the satellite states.

A further key feature was when the Red Army moved into Budapest and began to capture and execute opposition leaders. Hungarians pleaded with the USA to support them but the USA was preoccupied with the war in Vietnam and did not want to risk angering the USSR in fear that they would align themselves with Vietnam. No help came from the USA and thus the Red Army easily overthrew the Hungarians. 30,000 Hungarians died and Nagy was executed. A communist government was re-established in Hungary and people lost hope in the USA.

Briefly explain the key features of the Berlin Blockade in the years 1958-49 (6 marks)

One key feature of the Berlin Blockade as that Stalin cut off access to all forms of transport and railways were also closed down. This meant that East Berliners were unable to reach their workplace in West Berlin. The Berlin Blockade succeeded in blocking off all form of contact between the East and West.

Another key feature was that Stalin wanted to move western troops out of Berlin. He felt it unfair that the Western zones get to have a part of what was supposed to be his territory. He thought that by forming a blockade around West Berlin, he could force the Western troops out of Berlin.

A further key feature was the airlift. The USA began to lift supplies into East Berlin via air ad any other decision would have resulted in a direct war. The airlifts lasted for 11 months when up to 200, 00 flights were made to Berlin. The airlift ended in May 1949 when Stalin realised that the USA would not give in.

Briefly explain the key features of Cominform in 1947 and Comecon in 1949 (6 marks)

One key feature of Cominform was that it was an alliance of all communist states. This was the USSR’s response to Marshall Aid and was set up to coordinate the communist governments across Eastern Europe. This enabled Stalin to tighten his hold over the Eastern European countries as contact with the West was limited.

Another key feature of Cominform was that it aimed to spread communism. Stalin wanted to gain influence over Western Europe and the only way he could do that was by encouraging minority communist parties in France and other Western European countries to gain more influence.

A key feature of Comecon was that it coordinated the production and trade of goods within Eastern Europe. It discouraged trade with the US; instead the Eastern European countries would share resources around. Stalin forced the Eastern European countries to boycott Marshall Aid for Comecon.

Briefly explain the key features of the Warsaw Pact in 1955 (6 marks)

The Warsaw Pact was Stalin’s response to NATO. It was exactly the same as NATO in that the main purpose was that if one communist state was under threat, the rest of the communist states would come to its aid. This way Stalin was able to secure more control over the Eastern European countries.

Another key feature was that Stalin forced members, mainly satellite states and East Germany, to join the Warsaw Pact. This was significant because it expressed Stalin’s total dominance and control over Eastern Europe. It contrasted with NATO whose members willingly joined.

A further key feature was that it worried the USA to the extent that they had to increase the numbers of NATO troops in Germany. This led to an increased tension over who would dominate Berlin - the USA was clearly signalling that they refused to move out of West Berlin.

Briefly explain the main decisions made about Germany at the Yalta conference in February 1945 (6 marks)

One decision made was that Germany would be divided into four sections and Berlin into four sectors – one for each superpower. This newfound territorial gain would enable the superpowers to maintain control over Germany and prevent retaliation occurring by the Germans.

Another decision was that Germany would pay reparation costs for all the damage done to the superpowers. Germany did not have much money left after spending on World War II thus it was agreed that the reparation costs would be paid back through various resources in each of their zones e.g. Coal, foodstuff.

A further decision was that the Nazi party would be banned from Germany. The superpowers would establish their own governments in their won sectors. Any surviving Nazi criminals/supporters would be put on trial and punished.

Briefly explain the key features of the NATO in 1949 (6 marks)

One key feature was that NATO was formed because the USA was worried about the threat of nuclear war with the USSR. The USSR had developed its first atomic bomb thus starting the Arms Race. This was a risk for Western European countries as none had created the atomic bomb yet, except the USA.

Another key feature was that it was a military alliance consisting of Western European countries. The main aim was that if one member was attacked the other members would help to defend it. Thus other Western European countries granted permission for the USA to build airbases with planes containing nuclear weapons, within their countries.

A further key feature of NATO was that although it was formed as a militarily defensive alliance, the USSR didn’t see it that way. Stalin assumed that it was a direct threat to the USSR and thus this worsened relations between the two superpowers.

Briefly explain the role of Nagy in the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 (6 marks)

Nagy became the new prime minister of Hungary and he promised to bring in reforms. He promised free elections to Hungarians which was very appealing as most of them opposed the communist dictatorship that Rakosi had upheld.

Another role he played was that he wanted to establish some capitalist aspects into Hungary. He wanted to introduce the idea of private farming. This went against the communist ideology as it would mean that the government would not be in control over distributing the money.

Nagy also promised Hungary to leave the Warsaw Pact. He did not want Hungary to be affected by other political situations; he wanted Hungary to remain neutral. Leaving the Warsaw Pact would symbolise leaving soviet rule upon Hungary.

Briefly explain the key features of the beginnings of the Arms Race in the years 1945-49 (6 marks)

One key feature of the Arms Race was that Truman announced the development of the atomic bomb in the Potsdam conference of July/August 1945. Although Stalin did not show visible interest in this mew development, he was highly worried about the threat the atomic bomb would pose to soviet control over Eastern European countries.

Another key feature was that Stalin began working on the USSR’s own atomic bomb which was made in 1949. This was the trigger of the Arms Race as both countries were equally militarily matched and posed an equal threat to each other’s safety.

A further key feature was that after Stalin had produced his own atomic bomb, the USA increased military spending on the development of more nuclear weapons. Likewise, the USSR also increased their spending on the Arms Race. Both countries used vast amounts of money from the economy to fund for the nuclear weapons.

Briefly explain the key features of the USA’s growing involvement in Europe during 1947 (6 marks)

One key feature was that Stalin demanded control of the Dardanelles- a strategic passage- in Turkey. However, the USA dispatched military aid to Turkey so that they would maintain chief control over the passageway. USA was unwilling to allow communism to spread to Western Europe.

Another key feature was the introduction of Marshall Aid and the Truman Doctrine. The main policy in the Truman Doctrine was to contain communism. Truman believed that poverty and hardship was the breeding ground for communism. Thus he introduced Marshall Aid which was committed to the economic recovery of the West by supplying and distributing $17 billion dollars to any countries under threat of communism. This was known as dollar imperialism/diplomacy.

A further key reason was the civil war in Greece. GBR intervened to help the Monarchists fight the Communists. However, when expenses increased GBR withdrew their troops. The USA stepped in and supplied arms and money to the Monarchists. This turned the US away from isolationism.

Explain why Stalin decided to blockade Berlin in 1948 (12 marks)

One reason why Stalin blockaded Berlin was because the allies joined their zones together to form Trizonia. Whilst the USSR’s zone was full of poverty, Trizonia was prospering and recovering. Stalin thought that the allies were building up Germany to attack him.

Stalin wanted Berlin to be dependent on the USSR. He wanted to blockade around West Germany so that he could control them. He did not want the western zones to be strong because this could be a threat to the USSR. Thus the blockade would make West Berlin dependant on the USSR.

A further reason is because Stalin did not want East Berliner’s to see the poverty they were living in. He wanted the western zones and West Berlin in to be poor so that the people in the East would not realise the poverty they were living in. This would keep Germany poor and prevent them from being strong enough to attack the USSR.
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It was a combination of all of these factors that made Stalin decided to blockade Berlin. However, the most significant reason was because Stalin did not want West Berlin to prosper because it threatened his control over his zones. He wanted to keep Germany weak so that they could not retaliate.

Why did the gulf between the Allies widen in the years 1943-46 (12 marks)

One reason why the gulf widened was because of the creation of the atomic bomb in 1945. Truman bragged about this new weapon at the Potsdam conference – he thought ...

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