Cold War

Lesson 2

Truman Doctrine• The Anglo-American alliance feared that the

Soviet Union would be in better position for world domination than even Germany itself

• Policy of containment was created to contain Soviet expansion to Eastern Europe

• Stalin’s effort to establish a security zone in Eastern Europe was seen as a drive for continental hegemony and world domination

• America would now officially oppose/contain communism around the globe

When does the Cold War Escalate?• Turkey• Greece• Germany – Berlin

• GDR – EAST• FRG – WEST

• China• End of US Nuclear Monopoly• NATO

• Situations that from WWII that will still be an issue later– Korea divisions– Vietnam given back to the French

Turkey

• March 1945, Soviet Union renounces its friendship treaty with Turkey

• Stalin demands territory in the Caucasus, naval bases and access to its waterways

• When Turkey refuses, Stalin mobilizes the Soviet Army on Turkey’s border

• In response, President Truman sends a American naval task force

Turkey (continued)

• The United States begins arming the Turkish armed forces and agrees to permanently station military forces in the country

• The United States agrees to send Turkey $100 million in aid

• In the face of this large American force, Stalin backs down and withdraws his demands

• Turkey now becomes part of the western orbit and is seen as a success for Truman’s containment policy

Greece• At the end of World War II, Greece was facing

domestic unrest• After the Germans withdrew, communist forces

began battling with the Royalist forces for control of the country

• Britain sent military forces to police the country, and train the Royalist forces in 1945

• 1947 – Britain begins to withdraw due to financial pressures at home

• America enters and begins to send military aid ($400 million)

Greece (continued)

• Reasons for western success?

• Unlike many eastern European nations, Greece was geographically close to the western Allied forces

• During the war, Stalin had excluded Greece from the Soviet sphere of influence

• Without direct Soviet aid, the Greek communist forces were defeated

Division of Germany

• By 1947, the divisions in Europe now spread to Germany

• In all three zones of western occupation (USA, UK and France), Marshall Plan aid was used to revive the German economy

• A common West German currency was established

• The Soviets viewed this with suspicion, and talks of a “reunification” were put on hold “indefinitely”

Berlin Airlift• June 1948• In response to the Western policies of

uniting Western Germany, the Soviets attempt to close off Western Berlin

• Stalin orders an end to all surface traffic (roads and rail) are closed off into East Berlin

• This is done in order to starve out the Western forces, and force them to withdraw

Berlin Airlift• In response to this, the British and

American forces launch the largest airlift in history (up to that time)

• Over the next year, food, fuel and other basic commodities were flown in to prevent the civilian population from collapsing to starvation

• By May 1949, Stalin orders the blockade to end

North Atlantic Treaty• April 1949• 12 nations (led by USA) sign North Atlantic

Treaty• Due to fears of Soviet aggression, the

nations of Western Europe decided to merge together in defence issues

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is formed

• US gives $1.5 billion in aid to new members to rebuild armed forces

Origins of Chinese Civil War• Began in 1927 between Chinese

Nationalist and Communist forces• That year, a urban revolt was attempted

by the Communist forces• While the Communist uprising failed, Mao

Zedong now took his message to the peasantry (in the farming areas)

• At this time in China, less than 1% of the workforce were in factories or industry

• Most people were subsistence farmers

Mao Zedong

• Mao Zedong now decides that the key to victory is in mobilizing the peasantry

• Peasants in China are among the poorest in society, and Mao now wants them to turn on their landlords and the elites

• While Mao held similar positions as Stalin on international affairs, he did have many views that were divergent from the Soviet Union

• Stalin did not like that Mao was not dependent on the Soviet Union like other communist nations

World War II

• During the Second World War (1937-45), the Nationalist and Communist forces agreed to a truce in order to fight off the Japanese invaders

• The Soviet Union provided military assistance to both sides in order to keep the Japanese army fighting in China

• Stalin armed both the nationalist and communist forces against the Japanese

Chinese Civil War• 1945 – Red Army (USSR) invades

northern China until Japanese surrender• In northern China, the Soviets turn over

captured Japanese weapons to Mao’s communist forces

• In central and southern China, the Soviets occupy the country until Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist forces take control

• Soviet government was weary of provoking a confrontation with the West since China was important for trade

1945-1949• While the nationalists hold the cities in

central and southern China, their corruption and warlord practices turn the Chinese peasants against them

• Unfair taxes, corruption, and small landholdings are major complaints

• Since most of Chinese people were peasants, Mao has many recruits at his disposal

Establishment of People’s Republic• While the Nationalist forces controlled

more cities and had more forces, their armies had suffered heavily during the war

• By 1949, the Nationalist forces under Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan with the rest of their forces

• Mao now had the task to rebuild China after a 22 year long war with Japan and civil war that followed

US Reaction

• US devastated – caught off guard• allies with China before• Escalation of the Cold War in Asia - proof

of the spread of Communism was an international conspiracy– Linked to the Korean War

• US military buildup of Taiwan Government• Signs a defense treaty• Nuclear threats

When you need money…..

• Who would you turn to?

• What do you have to pay back?

• What do you have to give in return?

Mao Goes to Moscow!• February 1950 • Soviet Union and China sign a 30 year

Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance

• This was directed against Japan and the United States (that supported the Nationalists in the civil war)

• China had to recognize Mongolia’s independence (in Soviet sphere of influence)

What did Mao have to give?

• China had to recognize Mongolia’s independence (in Soviet sphere of influence)

• Soviet Union received ports for their Naval vessels

• A joint stock company with Soviet participation over the Manchurian railroads and mineral resources was formed (coal, iron)

What did Mao get from Moscow?

• A friendly neighbour to the north

• $300 million in U.S. dollars

• While this seems like a large amount of money, it only amounted to 50cents for every Chinese citizen (600 million people)

• As well, there was to be no military assistance from Moscow

Difference between Russian and Chinese Revolution? **

• This revolution will be different from the 1917 revolution in the Soviet Union, since it will be a peasant based revolution

• This is strikingly different from the working class revolution that Karl Marx had called for in Europe

• These peasant based agrarian revolutions will become a major factor for the future of the Cold War

• (Ex. Vietnam, Cuba, Nicaragua, Angola)

Results from Dealings

• China would be presumed by the United States to be in the Soviet sphere of influence

• In reality, China was more independent from Moscow due to the lack of military ties and the small amount of economic assistance

• China would begin to chart its own course, and the West would not notice until 1972