The Cold War 1945-The Cold War 1945-19911991

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The Ideological StruggleThe Ideological StruggleSoviet &

Eastern Bloc Nations[“Iron

Curtain”]

US & the Western

Democracies

GOAL spread world-wide Communism

GOAL “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world.

What happened to the country What happened to the country of Germany when WWII was of Germany when WWII was

over? over?

They became a country They became a country divided by four….divided by four….

Iron CurtainIron Curtain – – A term used by A term used by Winston Winston

Churchill Churchill to describe the to describe the separating of separating of Those Those

communistcommunistlands of East lands of East Europe from Europe from

the the West. West.

How did the U.S.A. try to help the How did the U.S.A. try to help the countries of Europe? countries of Europe?

Marshall Plan [1948]Marshall Plan [1948]

1.1. (also known as) (also known as) “European “European Recovery Recovery Program.”Program.”

2.2. (named for) Secretary of (named for) Secretary of

State, George MarshallState, George Marshall

1.1. The U. S. should provide The U. S. should provide aid to aid to allall European nations European nations that need it. that need it.

2.2. $12.5 billion of US aid to Western $12.5 billion of US aid to Western Europe extended to Eastern Europe Europe extended to Eastern Europe & USSR, [but this was rejected].& USSR, [but this was rejected].

Berlin was also divided Berlin was also divided among the powers. among the powers.

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• The Russians took very high casualties to capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent the early occupation trying to take over all zones of the city but were stopped by German democrats such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the Russians had to admit the Americans, French and British to their respective zones.

Berlin

• West Berlin was like a capitalist island within communist East Germany

• The Berlin Blockade was an attempt to starve West Berlin into giving up to the communists

• The Allied western powers airlift signalled the West’s determination to use all resources to defend Berlin.

Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49)49)

The race to be the most powerful The race to be the most powerful country in the world had begun. country in the world had begun.

The Arms Race:The Arms Race:A “Missile Gap?”A “Missile Gap?”

} The Soviet The Soviet Union Union exploded its exploded its first A-bomb in first A-bomb in 1949.1949.

} Now there Now there were two were two nuclear nuclear superpowers!superpowers!

Countries of the world are Countries of the world are beginning to take sides again!!beginning to take sides again!!

NNorth orth AAtlantic tlantic TTreaty reaty OOrganization (1949)rganization (1949)

United StatesUnited States

BelgiumBelgium

BritainBritain

CanadaCanada

DenmarkDenmark

FranceFrance

IcelandIceland

ItalyItaly

LuxemburgLuxemburg

NetherlandsNetherlands

NorwayNorway

PortugalPortugal

1952: Greece & 1952: Greece & Turkey Turkey

1955: West 1955: West GermanyGermany

1983: Spain1983: Spain

Warsaw Pact (1955)Warsaw Pact (1955)

} U. S. S. R.U. S. S. R.

} AlbaniaAlbania

} BulgariaBulgaria

} CzechoslovakCzechoslovakiaia

} East East GermanyGermany

} HungaryHungary

} PolandPoland

} RumaniaRumania

The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961)The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961)

CheckpoinCheckpointt

CharlieCharlie

The communist government believed The communist government believed that if they separated Eastern that if they separated Eastern

(Communist) Berlin from Western (Communist) Berlin from Western (Capitalist) Berlin that they would (Capitalist) Berlin that they would

have better control over their have better control over their

Communist Region.Communist Region.

What changed because of the wall?What changed because of the wall?

• A city dividedA city divided

• Families SeparatedFamilies Separated

• Loss of lives Loss of lives

• Visible Military/ GuardsVisible Military/ Guards

The Berlin Wall Comes Down The Berlin Wall Comes Down (1989-1990)(1989-1990)

After almost 30 years of After almost 30 years of separation the wall was opened separation the wall was opened

up and eventually almost entirely up and eventually almost entirely torn down. torn down.