AN INTRODUCTION The Cold War. Background Before World War II, there were a number of countries which could have claimed to be superpowers – USA, USSR,

AN INTRODUCTION

The Cold War

Background

Before World War II, there were a number of countries which could have claimed to be superpowers – USA, USSR, Great Britain, France, Japan, and Germany

The damage caused by the war to some of these countries left only two countries with the military strength and resources to be called superpowers (USA and USSR)

Despite fighting fascism throughout the war, upon the demise of the common enemy, there was little need for co-operation between the two

Differences between the two became very apparent

Background

The USSR favoured communism while the United States continued to fight it

Thus, disagreements regarding how Europe should be divided emerged after the war

The Soviets sought to gain control and dominance over countries surrounding it Following the war, the USSR gained control over

Eastern Europe (The Eastern Bloc) Annexation of several countries (Latvia, Lithuania,

Estonia, Eastern Poland & Finland)

Strategic Planning

Two conferences were held in 1945 at Yalta and Potsdam

The aim was to discuss the future especially; What to do with Germany’s

leaders after the war What would happen to the

occupied countries after liberation, especially those of Eastern Europe

How to end the war with Japan

How to build a lasting peace

Germany

Allied-occupied Germany was divided into four sections

These sections were controlled by the US, the USSR, France and Great Britain

Berlin

Berlin was also divided into sectors, also controlled by the US, the Soviet Union, Britain and France

Despite its location in East Germany and Soviet territory, Berlin was not considered part of the Soviet zone because of its symbolic importance as the nation's capital

West Germany

In 1948, the three western controlled zones of Germany (U.S., France and Britain) were united and grew in prosperity due to Marshal Aid

The allies quickly moved to get West Germany back on it feet and restored much of its sovereignty through self-government

Citizens in West Germany could travel freely throughout Western Europe, however those in Eastern Europe under Soviet control could not

East Germany

Over time, eastern and western zones begin to drift apart economically Soviets were disassembling former German industry as a

form of reparations Military industries were confiscated

These industries amounted to approximately 60% of the total industrial production

Heavy industry was also claimed by the Soviet Union as reparations

Remaining industrial property was nationalized, leaving much of the total industrial production to private enterprise

Making Change

With tensions building, various initiatives were taken to bring about change in Europe

Both the Allies and the Soviet Union made changes to eastern and western Germany to prevent the other from furthering their influence

Task

In small groups, research and collect information on one of the topics listed below. Your group should work together to compile an information sheet for the rest of the class. You should also compile a list of a few controversial issues/ questions relating to the topic that you should be prepared to discuss

Once your group has completed their information sheet, you should go back to your original group where each person should inform the rest of the group about their findings Your groups should be sure to discuss the controversial questions as

well

Topics: the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall

The Truman Doctrine

In 1947, the British were helping the Greek government fight against communist guerrillas and they appealed to America for aid

America promised it would support free countries to help fight communism- known as the Truman Doctrine

Showed that America, the most powerful western country, was prepared to resist the spread of communism throughout the world

The Marshall Plan

In 1947, Europe was still devastated by the war and thus had nothing to sell for hard currency

The U.S. recognized that something needed to be done both for humanitarian reasons and also to help stop the spread of communism in the west

1947: U.S. Secretary of State, George Marshall announced the Marshall Plan Massive economic plan to aid Europe U.S. offered up to $20 billion for relief, but only

European nations would be allowed to collaborate in creating a rational plan for its use

Benefitted the American economy because the money would be used to buy goods from the United States, using American shipping vessels for transportation

1953: The U.S. put $13 billion into aiding Europe

The plan helped to re-integrate West Germany back into the rest of European community

Stalin- Tensions Rise

The west wanted to re-unite with the east, however Stalin feared the future of Soviet security

June 1948: Stalin decided to try and gain control over West Berlin (which was part of eastern territory)

Stalin cut road, rail and canal links with West Berlin, hoping to starve them into submission

Berlin Blockade

The Iron Curtain

Symbolized the boundaries dividing Europe into two separate areas in the post war world

“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. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in many cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow. Athens alone — Greece with its immortal glories — is free to decide its future at an election under British, American and French observation. The Russian-dominated Polish Government has been encouraged to make enormous and wrongful inroads upon Germany, and mass expulsions of millions of Germans on a scale grievous and undreamed-of are now taking place. The Communist parties, which were very small in all these Eastern States of Europe, have been raised to pre-eminence and power far beyond their numbers and are seeking everywhere to obtain totalitarian control. Police governments are prevailing in nearly every case, and so far, except in Czechoslovakia, there is no true democracy” (Winston Churchill, 1946)

The Berlin Airlift

June 25th, General Lucius D. Clay, commander of the American Occupation Zone gave the order to launch a massive airlift using both civil and military aircraft

Western response to Stalin’s action The lift lasted 462 days Civilian and military aircraft flew

supplies into the Western-held sectors of Berlin over the blockade during 1948-1949

The first American plane flew on June 26th and the first British plan on the 28th

This aerial supplying of West Berlin became known as the Berlin Airlift

The Berlin Airlift Continued

Military confrontation loomed while Truman embarked on a highly visible move which would publicly humiliate the Soviets.

The American Operation became known as Operation Vittles

Hundreds of aircraft, nicknamed Rosinenbomber ("raisin bombers") by the local population, were used to fly in a wide variety of cargo, ranging from large containers to small packets of candy with tiny individual parachutes intended for the children of Berlin

Sick children were evacuated on return flights. The aircraft were supplied and flown by the United States, United Kingdom and France, but pilots and crew also came from Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand in order to assist the supply of Berlin.

The Berlin Airlift Continued

Ultimately 278,228 flights were made and 2,326,406 tons of food and supplies, including more than 1.5 million tons of coal, were delivered to Berlin

At the height of the operation, on April 16, 1949, an allied aircraft landed in Berlin every minute

There were 1,398 flights in 24 hours carrying 12,940 tons of goods, coal and machinery, beating the record of 8,246 set only days earlier

The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was the iconic symbol of the Cold War

It was initially constructed starting on August 13, 1961 and dismantled in the weeks following November 9, 1989.

The Berlin Wall was the most prominent part of the GDR border system.

The wall was a long separation barrier between West Berlin and East Germany (the German Democratic Republic), which closed the border between East and West Berlin for a period of 28 years.

The Reasons for a Wall

West Germany prospered through assistance from the west

East Germany was hindered by reparations paid to the Soviet Union

The Soviet Union also liquidated many of their industries further hindering their progress

Why?

The wall was built in an effort to stop the drain of labour and economic output associated with the daily migration of huge numbers of professionals and skilled workers from East to West Berlin

There were also many defections, which had political and economic consequences for the Communist bloc.

The Wall itself effectively decreased emigration from 2.5 million between 1949 and 1962 to 5,000 between 1962 and 1989.

The Wall

The creation of the Wall was a propaganda disaster for East Germany and for the communist bloc

It became a key symbol of what Western powers regarded as Communist tyranny, particularly after the high-profile shootings of would-be defectors.

Many died trying to escape East Germany and many more went to prison if they were caught

The Wall Continued

The Wall was over 155 km (96 miles) long.

In June 1962, work started on a second parallel fence up to 91 meters (100 yards) further in, with houses in between the fences torn down and their inhabitants relocated.

A no man's land was created between the two barriers, which became widely known as the "death strip". It was paved with raked gravel, making it easy to spot footprints left by escapees; it offered no cover; it was mined and booby-trapped with tripwires; and, most importantly, it offered a clear field of fire to the watching guards.

Over the years, the Wall went through four distinct phases:- Basic wire fence (1961) - Improved wire fence (1962-1965) - Concrete wall (1965-1975) - Grenzmauer 75 (Border Wall 75) (1975-1989)

Life Behind the Wall

Life changed dramatically for the people of Berlin

Entire families were cut off from one another

Many died trying to escape to the westTravel between the two side was very

difficultAdditional Resource: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nch5MbnvTqY

Images: Past and Present

Checkpoint Charlie

Guard Posts

The Berlin Wall: 20 Years Later

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/09/world/europe/20091109-berlinwallthennow.html?ref=global-home

Questions to Consider

What are the main causes of the Cold War?

Who was responsible for starting it?