Discuss the reasons why Germany was central to Cold War rivalry between 1945 and 1949.
Discuss the reasons why Germany was central to Cold War rivalry between 1945 and 1949 Germany surrendered to the allied forces in May 1945, this signalled the end of WW2 in Europe. The expected calm after the war, which may have been expected, was not to be. Trouble had already surfaced at the conferences of Tehran and Yalta conferences. The Potsdam conference in July and August of 1945 was to prove that relations between the USA and Russia were not going to run smoothly especially on decisions concerning Germany. Both camps wanted different things to come out of the post war Germany but this evidently caused problems. Not only was there a lack of decision concerning Germany but in the years that followed the implication of the Marshall Plan and other American economic initiatives in Germany proved to cause friction with Russia. The Berlin Blockade in June 1948, which lasted until May 1949, was a further reason why Germany was central to Cold War rivalry during the years in question. Other reasons such as the Czech coup in 1948 were key to Cold War rivalry but Germany was the key reason why rivalry emerged. This was because it was geographically in the centre of Europe, its economy was seen as the lynchpin of the European economy as a whole especially in the USA and it controlled the Ruhr, which was seen by George Kennan as one of the 5 key economic areas of the world.
"The only reason the USSR went in o afghanistan was to crush islamic fundamentalism."
"The only reason the USSR went in o afghanistan was to crush islamic fundamentalism." "The only reason they failed was the strength of islamic fundamentalism" How valid are these statements? There were numerous reasons why USSR went in to Afghanistan and why they failed. Thus these two statements are both true only to a certain extent. USSR went in to Afghanistan to crush islamic fundamentalism because it was a threat to the Soviet's communist regime which included decrees abolishing usury, banning forced marriages, state recognition of women's rights to vote, replacing religious and traditional laws with secular and Marxist ones, banning tribal courts, and land reform. Men were obliged to cut their beards, women couldn't wear a burqa, and mosque visiting was forbidden. Which were all indeed the main principles of islamic fundamentalism. USSR was scared that Islamic fundamentalism would spread to the muslim population in the USSR and cause revolts which would then weaken the cohesion of the Soviet Union. In opposition to that USSR went in to Afghanistan because of a friendship treaty signed in 1920 which committed Soviets to help the afghan government. At the time the afghan socialist government was under attack by the islamic fundamentalists which allowed the USSR to interfere and help to crush the fundamentalists. The USSR claimed that they were invited to the country
THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD 1958-62
THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD, 1958-62. . Communes. What was a commune? They were groups of villages in large areas with an average of 5000 families and had everything from eating halls to a local government. It was a unit of work organisation with teams of dozens of families. How was it organized? It was organised so that nothing could distract people from their work and families. Industrial development could be achieved through the individual efforts of the rural Chinese peasants. How was a commune an instrument of?: a) political It had a government and had to follow the CCP's rules and decisions. Where the party could control the people. Committees were a unit of the CCP, ensuring obedience. Urban workers had no right to choose where they worked and were assigned jobs by state labour offices. The worker would keep the same job for the whole of his/her working life. b) social It put families near each other and they did everything together from eating, working and learning. The people were not allowed to talk badly about the party. People weren't allowed to think differently and were very restricted. An eight-hour, six-day working week was introduced, workers received one week's paid holiday a year and up to three week's family visiting holiday. c) economic control? They were expected to contribute to the Great Leap Forward in small and big projects. The Backyard
South Africa - Turning points in Mandella's life and the effects of external pressure on the collapse of apartheid.
Question 1: Select and explain the most important events in Nelson Mandela's life. Joining the ANC and founding the Youth League was one of the most important events in Nelson Mandela's life. This was important because it introduced him to politics, and it allowed him to make a difference. This also allowed him to share his views with a wider audience, and influence more people. This was the first step in his political career, which led him to the other important events of his life; to lead boycotts and strikes, then create the MK and become imprisoned, resulting, finally, in the end of apartheid. Another important event in Nelson Mandela's life was on the 21st March 1960, when 69 people were killed at Sharpeville. This was such an important turning point because it led to Nelson Mandela realizing that people would die in non-violent protest. Before Sharpeville his protests were totally non-violent, avoiding injury and loss of life, but if the government were going to be violent in return for peace the ANC would have to change how they protested. This led to the formation of the MK (the Umkhonto we Sizwe), leading to Mandela's imprisonment and eventually the end of apartheid. Being imprisoned in the Rivonia Trial in 1963 was a further important event in Nelson Mandela's life. This was so important because it gave him much more publicity around the world, giving
Were contemporaries correct in regarding Kennedy as the saviour of the western world after the Cuban missile crises?
Were contemporaries correct in regarding Kennedy as the saviour of the western world after the Cuban missile crises? In 1959, Fidel Castro and Cuban rebels, overpowered the Cuban president Fulgencio Batista. Russians thought Batista was a corrupt and violent dictator. They thought that America exploited the Cubans, by owning the best land, and the biggest industries. America did not involve Cuba in their decision-making. Castro then took over, and wanted to end America's exploitation of Cuba. He wanted a fair society, which, meant that he had communist ideas. When the Cuban people, found out that Castro had taken over, they stormed into the street to celebrate. However, in some places violence broke out. America was shocked and confused, as it happened so suddenly, and they were not expecting it. Castro and his rebel remained cautious until they could be sure that Batista's own men accepted the change of leadership. Batista had been supported by America for many years, before Castro took over. America did not like Castro, because he was a Marxist. Because of this, America would not give Castro any money or buy any sugar from Cuba. Russia then came to Cuba's aid and said they would buy the sugar from them. Castro was very grateful for this and they soon became friends. Castro did not plan to become communist. He made a speech, to the American Society of
How did the Village of Deir Yassin come to be Fought Over in 1948 and Why do Sources A and B Differ on who was to Blame for the Arab Flight from the Village and Other Parts of Palestine at that time?
How did the Village of Deir Yassin come to be Fought Over in 1948 and Why do Sources A and B Differ on who was to Blame for the Arab Flight from the Village and Other Parts of Palestine at that time? Since Biblical times, the Jews had been moved from place to place with them only holding their only 'promised' state for a very small amount of time. The only wish the Jews had was to be in their holy city of Jerusalem but, after being banned from the city by the Romans, they dispersed around the world. In the late 5th century, the Romans abandoned Jerusalem and in the 8th century the Arabs began to live in the Palestine area. By the start of the 20th century, the Jews believed that God had promised that land to them and so it should belong to them. However, the Arabs, having lived there for 1100 years, did not want to become part of a newly-created state as they enjoyed Palestine as it was. The Arabs also believed Jerusalem to be a holy city. In 1516, The Ottoman Empire invaded Palestine, and for over 400 years, the Arabs did not have control over their land either. Both the Arabs and the Jews got their chance to have a homeland during the First World War. As the Ottoman Empire was supporting the Central Powers, the British decided that they would support an independent state to try and hinder the Turks. This intention was promised in the MacMahon Letter in 1915, which said
Truman & Cold War
Using the sources and your own knowledge, assess to the extent to which the policies and attitudes of President Truman helped cause the Cold War. The impact of the Second World War can be seen as the earliest cause of the Cold War. Germany and Japan had been defeated and had suffered considerable economic damage. France and Italy had also suffered economically and The British empire was in rapid decline as a world power. This left two superpowers; The US and The USSR, both with ideological differences. What occurred in Eastern Europe certainly contributed to the causes of the Cold War. The Soviets had agreed to have free and fair elections run in East Europe, however they rigged the elections so they could set up friendly communist states on their border. This became known as the buffer zone, as Stalin wanted to protect the USSR from invasion. Truman was not at all pleased by this as Stalin had broken his promise. Source B is a speech by Winston Churchill and he describes the split between the East and West as the 'Iron Curtain'. Source B goes on to explain that the Soviets are unpredictable and gives the impression that the USSR want world domination. The atomic bomb is another reason for the cause of the cold war. The USSR were meant to be an ally of the US, however the USSR felt that they could not trust the US anymore as Truman did not want to share the new technology
Why did England win the falklands war?
2, Describe the measures taken by Britain following the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina in April 1982. As soon as Britain learned that the Falklands had been invaded Margaret Thatcher immediately raised an uproar against Argentina. She believed that any people who were British and wanted to stay so deserved that to be so and immediately called for Britain to meet Argentina in war. This reinforced her reputation as Britain's 'Iron Lady'. With her determination and the British media behind her it wasn't long before the whole country was baying for war. The British public were keen on a war in Argentina possibly because Argentina were a dictatorship and that Britain believed strongly in Democracy in free speech. They did not want British citizens exposed to that culture and this hardened our resolve to go and fight. The British felt it heir duty to challenge anyone who dared to invade any land of theirs. Margaret Thatcher had soon formed the British task force, containing not only warships but merchant ships and cruise liners as well. This bulked up the size of the dwindling British fleet to well over 100. A total exclusion zone was set up around the Falklands stretching 200 miles all around and to the neighbouring islands of South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands. Any unknown vessels were warned that if they ventured inside that
What were the stages of Eastern Europe's takeover by Communism?
What were the stages of Eastern Europe's takeover by Communism? STAGE 1 : POLAND Stalin's first priority was control of Poland. The country was one of the largets in Eastern Europe and, if conquered, it provided a corridor to Germany. As the red Army pushed back the German one, Soviet soldiers remained in Easter European countries. This happened also with Poland. The Soviets set up anti-fascist governments and at the end of June 1945 a few London poles were included in the Polish government. However, as Stalin gave leading positions to Communists, the Lublin group remained largely dominant. The Western Allies 'recognized' the largely Communist government in Poland on 5th of July 1945. This meant that the USA and Britain accepted that the Communists were in charge in Warsaw. Communist power was strengthened even further when in January 1947 rigged elections were introduced in Poland. Any opposition was destroyed and the leader of the London poles, Mikolaczyk thought his life in danger and fled the country. This was the final step in securing the Soviet control over Poland. STAGE 2: ROMANIA AND BULGARIA After Poland Stalin's first priorities were the control of Romania and Bulgaria. These two countries had ice-free port and across the Black Sea there was the USSR, so transport for the Soviets would be very easy. As the Red Army pushed back the German Army they set up
Why did the relationship between the USA and USSR change between 1975 and 1990
Why did the relationship between the USA and USSR change between 1975 and 1990? From 1975 to 1990 US Russian relations got better and worse as different leaders led the two nations. The relations changed due to events and stances brought on by the leaders of the Superpowers. From the early 1970's relations between the USA and Russia continued to get better and better. In 1970 the two superpowers began Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT 1) to try and bring an end to the nuclear arms race; by 1972 the countries had signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the Interim Agreement which limited their production of certain nuclear arms. This was seen as a great step to towards the end of the cold war and proved that that USSR and USA were capable of working together. Following SALT 1 a new round of negotiations was needed as SALT 1 only covered a five year period; these talks were to be SALT 2. In early 1975 American astronauts and Soviet Cosmonauts met up and shook hands in Space. This was quite literally the high point in detente, showing the world that the two nations were working together. In August 1975, 35 countries met in Helsinki and agreed that the frontiers of post 1945 Europe should be permanent. The leaders also agreed to a declaration of human rights, all countries concerned would allow freedom of speech, religion, movement and freedom from unfair arrest. The