Why did the
tensions between
the Allies turn in
to a cold war?
Distrust between the USA and the USSR
was so great, leaders were talking about
the threat of war. Instead of decreasing in
the amount of weapons, the two sides
increased their stock of weapons.
Each side took opportunities to denounce the policies
or plans of the other. It was because of this that
people began to talk about a cold war. This Cold War
was going to last for 30 YEARS, and would dominate
relations between the countries for much of that time.
The tensions caused were because of the
differing beliefs of the USA and the USSR, but
there were some other important
differences...
In the 1930's Britain and France were seen
as just as important as the USA and the
USSR in International affairs but the war had
changed them, they now weren't rich
enough so went in to the 'second division'.
They weren't rich, big or strong enough.
Only the USA and the USSR were
superpowers.
1945 - America no longer kept out of European and world affairs. In the 1940's, they realised
that they didn't want to make the same mistakes they had made in the Second World War.
Roosevelt said to the American congress in 1945 'We shall have to take responsibility for world
collaborations or we shall have to bear the responsibilities for another world conflict. From
now on, every Communist action would meet an AMERICAN REACTION...
Greece and Czechoslovakia were the only Eastern European
countries not controlled by communist governments. Greece had
two rival groups, the monarchists and the communists. Britain
supported the monarchists who wanted the king to return to power.
So in 1945 Churchill sent British troops in the Greece to help support
and supervise free elections but what they really wanted was the
return of the king. In 1946, the USSR protested to the UN but they
didn't do anything. In response, the USSR took matters in to their
own hands. The British couldn't afford the cost of a war so America
gave the British money to keep their troops in Greece. By 1950's, the
royalists were in control of Greece although they were a very weak
government, always in crisis.
THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE
The USA was prepared to send money, equipment and advice to any
country (which was in American view) a threat to Communism.
Truman accepted that Eastern Europe was Communist but through
the policy of Containment, wanted to stop stop Communism from
spreading any further. Others thought that Communism should go
further by giving military force as a response of Soviet expansion.
THE MARSHALL PLAN
Truman figured out that Communism mainly succeeded when people
faced poverty and hardship. He sent the American General George
Marshall to assess the economic state of Europe. The countries of
Europe owed 11.5 billion to the USA. There were extreme shortages of
goods, most countries were still rationing bread. There was such coal
shortages that there were periods each day where electricity was
completely turned off. Marshall suggested that 17 billion dollars would
be needed to restore Europe's prosperity. The American congress
refused to grant this money and Americans were becoming suspicious
of Truman's interest in foreign affairs.
The American congress did give this money because of: Communism
took over Czechosolvakia. It had previously been ran by a coalition
government which had been trying to pursue policies independent of
Moscow. The Soviet made sure that anti - soviet leaders were gotten
rid of. One pro American minister, Jan Masaryk was found dead below
his window, the USSR said he had jumped but Americans believed he
was pushed. Immediately the American Congress accepted the
Marshall plan and made 17 billion dollars available over four years for
Europe.
Generous
Sel - interest
They wanted to create new markets for
American goods. Truman wanted to do all
he could do to prevent another
depression like the one in the 1930's.
Stalin's response
He forbade any Eastern Europe countries to apply for Marshall Aid. He thought that the USA was trying to make him have
less control of Eastern Europe and dominate as many states as possible by making them dominant on American dollars.