The beginning of the Cold War could be debated to have begun during the Russian Revolution, as Western countries (e.g. USA, UK) had sent troops to support the White Russians. This began distrust between Russia and the West, as even after the Red Russians took control of the country the West still did not recognise the Communist government. Lenin was also extremely expansionist after the revolution, causing the Western countries to not trust Russia, as they did not realise Russia did this mainly due for security. Russia making peace separately with Germany at the end of WWI also caused distrust between Russia and the West.
Main events during the start of the Cold War
Main events during the start of the Cold War
- 1917: The beginning of the Russian Revolution, which ended with a Communist government and the formation of the USSR
- The newly formed USSR separately makes peace with Germany
- 1939: USSR joins the Allies in the war against Nazi Germany
- 1942-1943: Battle of Stalingrad. The first major Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
- 1943: Tehran Conference. The first meeting during WWII where all the "Big Three" are present. USSR gives many demands, Truman struggles to appease Stalin
- 1945: Yalta Conference. USSR urges for the opening of a second front. US hints at the production of a super-weapon (atomic bomb). Distrust between USSR due to USSR believing West wanted USSR to suffer the greatest material and personnel losses. USSR urges Security Council members of UN to have veto powers. USSR agrees to join war against Japan in exchange for Manchurian railroad and some Japanese islands.
- July-August 1945: Potsdam Conference. Held over future of Germany and Axis countries. Unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany and other Axis powers. US hints at WMD (atomic bomb).
- February 1946: Kennan's Long Telegram written arguing the USSR was fanatically hostile to the West and was aggressively expansionist
Breakdown of the Grand Alliance
The Grand Alliance was the USSR, UK and the US working together during WWII to defeat Germany. This was difficult, as Winston Churchill and Stalin had distrusted each other throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Even though the US and the UK sent significant aid to the USSR, Stalin believed it was not enough, as without a second front from the West, German forces focused their full strength on the USSR. The US and the UK actually deliberately delayed opening the second front, as they wanted the USSR to be weakened by the Germans. During the Tehran Conference, tensions between the "Big Three" lessened. The date of the Normandy invasion was set and Stalin promised to declare war on Japan once Germany was defeated.
The Tehran Conference (Nov 1943)
This was the first conference with all the Big Three present. This was during a period when the Allies were beginning to win the war. The USSR began pushing back the Germans, the UK and the US had pushed back Germans from North Africa and invaded Italy. However, the second front had still not been launched, so Stalin pushed heavily for its launch throughout the conference. How Germany would be treated after the war was also debated, but the USSR had a different view from the UK and the US. It was agreed that the Big Three should aim for an unconditional surrender. The USSR also wanted post-war security. Stalin demanded a pro-Soviet government in Poland and some land in Poland given to the USSR. The UK and the US also agreed to giving the USSR all the land seized from 1939 to 1940. During the Conference, groundwork was also laid for the formation of the UN.
Yalta Conference (Feb 1945)
When the Yalta Conference took place, the war was nearing an end. UK and US forces were ready to invade Germany and the US had control of the air and sea in the Pacific against the Japanese. It was agreed that Germany would be disarmed, demilitarized, de-Nazified and divided (4 Ds). Post-War Germany would also be divided into four zones between the USSR, UK, France and the US. Even though Germany was divided, it was to be run as a single country. A new border for Poland was also drawn. The new border with the USSR would be on the Curzon line, and a new border with Germany on the Oder-Neisse Line. The USSR used the Warsaw uprising as a way to ensure that London Poles (those more likely to seek a free independent Poland) would be destroyed. This allowed the USSR to implement the Lublin Committee, a pro-Soviet group. During discussions over the future of East Europe, Stalin agreed to free elections to decide how they would be governed (Communist or non-Communist). Stalin also entered the war against Japan, demanding the South Sakhalin and Kurile Islands. The USSR also proposed that members of the Security Council would be allowed veto powers.
The Truman Doctrine (Mar 1947)
The Truman Doctrine is a speech Truman made to the US congress declaring that the US had obligations to "support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures". This was a radical change in US foreign policy, bringing an end to the US' isolationist foreign policy. The Truman Doctrine was prompted by instability in Turkey and Greece. Greece was under threat by Communist guerillas in the countryside and the British could no longer provide aid to the Greek government. This led to the US sending aid and military advisers to replace the British. Truman's decision was influenced by Churchill's Iron Curtain speech but also by George Kennan's Long Telegram.
The Tehran Conference (Nov 1943)
This was the first conference with all the Big Three present. This was during a period when the Allies were beginning to win the war. The USSR began pushing back the Germans, the UK and the US had pushed back Germans from North Africa and invaded Italy. However, the second front had still not been launched, so Stalin pushed heavily for its launch throughout the conference. How Germany would be treated after the war was also debated, but the USSR had a different view from the UK and the US. It was agreed that the Big Three should aim for an unconditional surrender. The USSR also wanted post-war security. Stalin demanded a pro-Soviet government in Poland and some land in Poland given to the USSR. The UK and the US also agreed to giving the USSR all the land seized from 1939 to 1940. During the Conference, groundwork was also laid for the formation of the UN.
Yalta Conference (Feb 1945)
When the Yalta Conference took place, the war was nearing an end. UK and US forces were ready to invade Germany and the US had control of the air and sea in the Pacific against the Japanese. It was agreed that Germany would be disarmed, demilitarized, de-Nazified and divided (4 Ds). Post-War Germany would also be divided into four zones between the USSR, UK, France and the US. Even though Germany was divided, it was to be run as a single country. A new border for Poland was also drawn. The new border with the USSR would be on the Curzon line, and a new border with Germany on the Oder-Neisse Line. The USSR used the Warsaw uprising as a way to ensure that London Poles (those more likely to seek a free independent Poland) would be destroyed. This allowed the USSR to implement the Lublin Committee, a pro-Soviet group. During discussions over the future of East Europe, Stalin agreed to free elections to decide how they would be governed (Communist or non-Communist). Stalin also entered the war against Japan, demanding the South Sakhalin and Kurile Islands. The USSR also proposed that members of the Security Council would be allowed veto powers.
The Truman Doctrine (Mar 1947)
The Truman Doctrine is a speech Truman made to the US congress declaring that the US had obligations to "support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures". This was a radical change in US foreign policy, bringing an end to the US' isolationist foreign policy. The Truman Doctrine was prompted by instability in Turkey and Greece. Greece was under threat by Communist guerillas in the countryside and the British could no longer provide aid to the Greek government. This led to the US sending aid and military advisers to replace the British. Truman's decision was influenced by Churchill's Iron Curtain speech but also by George Kennan's Long Telegram.