The Cold War

The Union of Soviet Socialist The Union of Soviet Socialist RepublicsRepublics

Was the official name of the Soviet Union or USSRWas the official name of the Soviet Union or USSR

Was a formed after the Russian Revolution of 1917 when Was a formed after the Russian Revolution of 1917 when the czar’s government was toppled and a the czar’s government was toppled and a Communist Communist government set up.government set up.

Included 15 republics (countries) of which Russia was the Included 15 republics (countries) of which Russia was the largestlargest

Entered WWII on the side of the Allies when Germany Entered WWII on the side of the Allies when Germany invaded its bordersinvaded its borders

You may remember the GermansYou may remember the Germans occupied St. Petersburg and stayedoccupied St. Petersburg and stayed in Catherine’s Palace, but did not destroy in Catherine’s Palace, but did not destroy the Bronze Horseman Statue.the Bronze Horseman Statue.

Map of USSRMap of USSR

CommunismCommunism

Communists believe in a strong central government that owns Communists believe in a strong central government that owns everything – all businesses, schools, hospitals, factories, stores, everything – all businesses, schools, hospitals, factories, stores, farms, etc. Private ownership is discouraged. It is a command farms, etc. Private ownership is discouraged. It is a command economy with the government in complete control.economy with the government in complete control.Everyone in a Communist country works for the government and Everyone in a Communist country works for the government and the government is supposed to work for them. In theory, the government is supposed to work for them. In theory, everyone is equal and no one is rich and no one is poor since all everyone is equal and no one is rich and no one is poor since all work for the state.work for the state.Citizens in a Communists country are not free to make all of Citizens in a Communists country are not free to make all of their own decisions. The government decides where they will go their own decisions. The government decides where they will go to school, where they will work and where they will live. They are to school, where they will work and where they will live. They are not allowed to leave the country. Individuals have little freedom.not allowed to leave the country. Individuals have little freedom.Communists government think that citizens should depend on Communists government think that citizens should depend on the state for all their needs and therefore have no need of the state for all their needs and therefore have no need of religion. For years, Christianity and Judaism were banned in the religion. For years, Christianity and Judaism were banned in the Soviet Union. Anyone caught reading a Bible, praying or Soviet Union. Anyone caught reading a Bible, praying or worshiping could be imprisoned. Churches and synagogues worshiping could be imprisoned. Churches and synagogues were closed or torn down.were closed or torn down.

Government of the USSR

During WWII, Germany During WWII, Germany invaded the USSR killing invaded the USSR killing millions of people and millions of people and destroying many cities. But destroying many cities. But the Soviets were eventually the Soviets were eventually able to repel the Nazi troops able to repel the Nazi troops and take back control of their and take back control of their country. During this time, the country. During this time, the Soviet Union was a member Soviet Union was a member of the Allied Forces and of the Allied Forces and played an important role in played an important role in defeating Germany and the defeating Germany and the Axes Power.Axes Power.

Soviet soldiersattack retreating German soldiers.

World War II

After the WarAfter the War Once again Europe lay in Once again Europe lay in ruins. No war had ever been so ruins. No war had ever been so destructive to so many people destructive to so many people and nations. Germany was and nations. Germany was shattered and occupied by the shattered and occupied by the Allies. Virtually every economy Allies. Virtually every economy in Europe was at a standstill. in Europe was at a standstill. Most of the industries had been Most of the industries had been destroyed together with destroyed together with transportation and transportation and communication routes.communication routes. Governments and societies Governments and societies would have to be reconstructed would have to be reconstructed from scratchfrom scratch. .

London neighborhood bombed during the Blitz

The Cold War BeginsThe Cold War BeginsThe big questions now facing the victorious Allies were:The big questions now facing the victorious Allies were:

1. Who would rebuild Europe?1. Who would rebuild Europe?

2. How would they do it?2. How would they do it?

3. What sort of governments3. What sort of governmentsand economies would these and economies would these war torn nations now have?war torn nations now have?

Finding the answers to Finding the answers to these questions would these questions would soon become a sourcesoon become a sourceof great tension between of great tension between the Allies.the Allies.

It wasn’t just a matter of It wasn’t just a matter of constructing new buildingsconstructing new buildings

The governments and The governments and economic systems would economic systems would

have to be rebuilt too. have to be rebuilt too. Britain and the United Britain and the United

States wanted European States wanted European countries to have countries to have

democratic governments democratic governments and free or mixed-market and free or mixed-market

economies.economies.

But the Soviet Union . . .But the Soviet Union . . .

. . . wanted the countries to . . . wanted the countries to adopt communism instead of adopt communism instead of democracies. They wanted democracies. They wanted the emerging nations to have the emerging nations to have command economies with command economies with the governments in total the governments in total control. The USSR was control. The USSR was looking to spread its own looking to spread its own type of government to all its type of government to all its neighbors which they wanted neighbors which they wanted to be pro-Soviet Union to be pro-Soviet Union supporters and allies.supporters and allies.

The Hammer & Sickle was the official symbol of the USSR. The hammer represented the workers and the sickle represented the peasants. Together on the flag, they represented the unity of the Soviet citizens.

Soviet troops proudly hoisting their flag over Berlin, Germany near the end of WWII when the Allies defeated Hitler’s capital city.

But the Soviet Union wanted But the Soviet Union wanted more than just communist more than just communist neighbors. They wanted to neighbors. They wanted to control control those neighbors. They those neighbors. They were looking to set up puppet were looking to set up puppet governments all over Eastern governments all over Eastern Europe.Europe.

A A puppet governmentpuppet government is one is one that does what it is told by an that does what it is told by an outside force or country. In this outside force or country. In this case, the Eastern European case, the Eastern European countries would follow orders countries would follow orders from the Soviet leaders in from the Soviet leaders in Moscow. Moscow.

Pro-Soviet Union Propaganda

Soviet Take Over of Eastern Soviet Take Over of Eastern EuropeEurope

Because there were already Because there were already so many Soviet troops still so many Soviet troops still located in the Eastern located in the Eastern European countries at the European countries at the end of WWII, it was not end of WWII, it was not difficult for the USSR to set difficult for the USSR to set up communist governments up communist governments there. In less than 2 years, there. In less than 2 years, the Soviets helped the Soviets helped communists take power in communists take power in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. These and Romania. These countries were now under the countries were now under the control of the Soviet Union. control of the Soviet Union.

Citizens of these Eastern European countries were allowed little, if any, participation in their new communistgovernments. They were allowed tovote, but only communists ran for office. (One Party System) Citizens, often referred to as “Comrades” were not allowed to complain about the government, and might even be jailed for expressing ANY opinion Soviet leaders did not like. Immediately following the war, theU.S. set up a plan to help struggling European countries rebuild their countries and to send them money and assistance. But the Soviet Union would not allow the Eastern countries to accept any help but theirs, thus strengthening Soviet control in Eastern Europe.

Propaganda poster showing theSoviet’s refusal of help from the USA

Life in the Soviet Controlled CountriesLife in the Soviet Controlled Countries

Daily life for citizens of the USSR and Eastern European Daily life for citizens of the USSR and Eastern European countries was difficult at bestcountries was difficult at best

Most people were poor and had little say in their Most people were poor and had little say in their government. They could only vote for Communists.government. They could only vote for Communists.

To prevent countries from identifying with their old ways of To prevent countries from identifying with their old ways of life, the USSR outlawed many cultural celebrations. life, the USSR outlawed many cultural celebrations.

Ex: Polish citizens were not allowed to speak Polish, but must speak Ex: Polish citizens were not allowed to speak Polish, but must speak Russian and were not allowed to celebrate any of their own holidays, Russian and were not allowed to celebrate any of their own holidays, only Russian holidaysonly Russian holidays

The Soviets controlled all the media – TV, radios, The Soviets controlled all the media – TV, radios, newspaper, magazines, books, etc. Only items approved newspaper, magazines, books, etc. Only items approved by the USSR could be published or broadcasted, so most by the USSR could be published or broadcasted, so most people remained ignorant of world-wide events & news.people remained ignorant of world-wide events & news.

The works of many writers, poets, and other artist were The works of many writers, poets, and other artist were banned during this time. Artists and writers were told by banned during this time. Artists and writers were told by the government what to write or what kind of art to the government what to write or what kind of art to produce. Artists and writers who disobeyed could be produce. Artists and writers who disobeyed could be imprisoned or even killed.imprisoned or even killed.

The countries of Eastern European had The countries of Eastern European had command command economieseconomies: The Soviet government decided what would : The Soviet government decided what would be produced, how it would be produces and who would be produced, how it would be produces and who would get it. get it.

Citizens were not allowed to travel without permission Citizens were not allowed to travel without permission and few were ever allowed to leave their own countryand few were ever allowed to leave their own country

Churches were closed, Bibles were outlawed and people Churches were closed, Bibles were outlawed and people were not free to worship together. Religion was banned.were not free to worship together. Religion was banned.

Life in the Soviet Controlled Life in the Soviet Controlled CountriesCountries

The iron CurtainThe iron Curtain

The differences between The differences between the democratic Westernthe democratic Western

countries of Europe and countries of Europe and the communist Eastern the communist Eastern countries were so great, countries were so great, that it was as though there that it was as though there was a big curtain dividing was a big curtain dividing Europe in two. This divide Europe in two. This divide came to be known as the came to be known as the Iron Curtain. Of course Iron Curtain. Of course there was no REAL there was no REAL curtain.curtain.

After WWII, Germany was divided in two.The Soviets ruled the Eastern part and madeIt into a Communist country while the westernpart was democratic.

Western Europe vs. Eastern Western Europe vs. Eastern EuropeEurope

United Kingdom & United States Soviet Union

As you might imagine, people living in democratic countries in Western Europe lived very differently from those living in communist Eastern European countries. There was very little trust between the West & East. It wasn’t long before these two parts of Europe began to fear that the other part might make military advances or start a war! American Cold War Propaganda

NATO vs. WarsawNATO vs. Warsaw Afraid that the Soviet Union might become even more Afraid that the Soviet Union might become even more aggressive, the countries of Western Europe along with the US and aggressive, the countries of Western Europe along with the US and Canada formed an alliance called NATO. The members of this Canada formed an alliance called NATO. The members of this alliance, which stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, agreed alliance, which stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, agreed to defend each other if they were attacked by the Soviet Union or to defend each other if they were attacked by the Soviet Union or any other communist country.any other communist country.

Flags of NATOcountries with officialblue flag of NATO in

the center.

Of course since the Western Of course since the Western countries had formed a military countries had formed a military alliance, the Eastern countries felt alliance, the Eastern countries felt they had to form one too. Naturally they had to form one too. Naturally the Soviet Union took the lead, and the Soviet Union took the lead, and along with all their puppet along with all their puppet governments formed the Warsaw governments formed the Warsaw Pact which agreed to help each Pact which agreed to help each other in case any democratic other in case any democratic country attacked them. country attacked them.

Does this sound familiar?!? Have Does this sound familiar?!? Have we heard of other alliances in we heard of other alliances in Europe before this time??Europe before this time??

Warsaw Pact Countries with USSR in the lead.

Warsaw Pact propaganda posterused to scare citizens.

MapMap

Blue Countries = NATO Red Countries = Warsaw Pact

And so . . .And so . . . . . . for the next 40+ years the member of NATO and the members . . . for the next 40+ years the member of NATO and the members of the Warsaw Pact viewed each other with extreme distrust. They of the Warsaw Pact viewed each other with extreme distrust. They refused to trade or cooperate with each other. Both were afraid the refused to trade or cooperate with each other. Both were afraid the other might start a war, so both stock-piled large amounts of nuclear other might start a war, so both stock-piled large amounts of nuclear weapons. But neither side was truly willing to start a war using weapons. But neither side was truly willing to start a war using these weapons that could cause destruction on a global scale.these weapons that could cause destruction on a global scale.

Countries on both sides of the Iron Curtain viewed each other as Countries on both sides of the Iron Curtain viewed each other as serious threats and so caused a tense international situation that serious threats and so caused a tense international situation that came to be known as the Cold War since neither side ever actually came to be known as the Cold War since neither side ever actually went to war with the other. The Cold War would impact the lives of went to war with the other. The Cold War would impact the lives of all Europeans who lived through this scary time and would all Europeans who lived through this scary time and would eventually even spill over and threaten the lives of people living in eventually even spill over and threaten the lives of people living in the United States. the United States.