The Cold War

In this module you will learn:

1. FOUR causes of the Cold War [BARE].

2. NINE events which caused the Cold War.
3. FOUR decisions made at the Yalta Conference.
4. TWO decisions and THREE disagreements at the Potsdam conference.
5. The ‘salami tactics’ that brought Communists to power in Eastern Europe
6. FIVE causes [CABAN] and FOUR results [CENA] of the Berlin crisis, 1948–9.
7. FIVE ‘Berlin Airlift Facts’.
8. FOUR causes of the Korean War [CJD-Kim].
9. FIVE phases of the Korean War, 1950–53.
10. FOUR ways Khrushchev brought a ‘thaw’ in the Cold War.
11. THREE ways ‘peaceful co-existence’ worsened the Cold War.
12. EIGHT countries in the Warsaw Pact.
13. FIVE crises after 1955.
14. FIVE causes, the events and FOUR results of the Hungarian uprising
15. THREE reasons tension grew after 1957.
16. The events and FOUR results of the U2 crisis.
17. THREE causes, the events and FOUR results of the Berlin Wall
18. THREE causes, the events and FOUR results of the Cuban Missiles Crisis.

You might do the following written work:

 A paragraph on ‘What was the Cold War?’
 An essay: ‘Were the Yalta and Potsdam conferences different?’
 A spidergram of the factors bringing Communists to power in eastern Europe, 1945–48.
 An essay: ‘Why had the superpowers become suspicious of each other by March 1946,
when Churchill made his Fulton speech?’
 Notes on events: ‘Truman Doctrine – Marshall Plan’.
 Written notes on the causes of the Berlin Blockade.
 A written description of the Berlin Crisis, Jan 1948–12 May 1949.
 A spidergram of why the Berlin blockade failed.
 Written notes on the causes of the Korean War.
 An essay on the events of the Korean War.
 Notes on how Khrushchev brought a thaw in the Cold War, and how he made it worse.
 An essay: ‘Did superpower relations improve after 1953?’
 Notes on the Polish Riots of 1956.
 A mini-essay: ‘Why was there a revolution in Hungary in 1956?’
 Notes on the events and results of the Hungarian Revolution.
 A mini-essay: ‘The events which led to the Berlin Wall 1958–61.’
 Notes on the results of the Berlin Wall.
 A mini-essay: ‘Why was there a Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.’
 Notes on the events and results of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Have you read:

 N deMarco and R Radway, The Twentieth Century, pages 184–191.
 T Rea and J Wright, International Relations, chapter 7.
 Christopher Culpin, Making History, pages 185–192.
 JF Aylett, The Cold War and After, pages 2–17.
 James Mason, Modern World History to GCSE, pages 56–77.
 Tony Howarth, Twentieth Century History, pages 235–244.
 New Words From Hot War to Cold War
During the Second World War, Britain and the USA
Allies: countries were allies of the Soviet Union, fighting together
working together. against Germany. After the war, they became
enemies.
Communists: believe
that industry should be
state-owned.

Soviet Union: the

Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics –
the USSR –– i.e.
communist Russia.

Dictator: a ruler who

has total power.

Stalin

Capitalists: believe
that property and
industry should be
privately owned.

Democracy: where After Hiroshima, and particularly after 1949 when

the people can elect Russia developed the atomic bomb, politicians realised
their own government. that another ‘hot war’ would kill all humankind – war
would be MAD (mutually assured destruction).
Truman

Churchill So they stopped short of war – the ‘cold war’.

They didn’t declare war. But they did everything to
oppose each other short of war.

It was called the ‘cold war’. It lasted until 1989.

Tasks
1. Write a paragraph to
explain the meaning of
the term ‘Cold War’.

2
Causes of the Cold War Source B:
1 Beliefs Events which
 The Soviet Union was a Communist country, ruled caused the Cold
by a dictator, who cared little about human rights. War
 The USA was a capitalist democracy which
valued freedom. Yalta Conference (Feb 1945)
Potsdam Conference (Jul 1945)
2 Aims
Salami tactics (1945–48)
 Stalin wanted huge reparations from Germany, and a
‘buffer’ of friendly states to protect the USSR from Fulton Speech (Mar 1946)
being invaded again. Greece (Feb 1947)
 Britain and the USA wanted to protect democracy, Truman Doctrine (Mar 1947)
and help Germany to recover. They were worried
Marshall Plan (Jun 1947)
that large areas of eastern Europe were falling under
Soviet control. Cominform (Oct 1947)
Czechoslovakia (Feb 1948)
3 Resentment about History
 The Soviet Union could not forget that in 1918
Britain and the USA had tried to destroy the Russian
Revolution. Stalin also thought that they had not
given him enough help in the Second World War.
 Britain and the USA could not forget that Stalin had
signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact with Germany in 1939.

4 Events
 Neither side trusted each other. Every action they
took (see Source B) made them hate each other more. Tasks
2. Write a paragraph to
explain the meaning of
the term ‘Cold War’.
3. Copy, then learn the
Who Caused the Cold War? five causes and nine
events which caused
Russian historians blamed Churchill (the British Prime the Cold War, so that
Minister) and Truman (the American president, 1945– you know them ‘off by
1953). They said Truman and Churchill wanted to heart’.
destroy the USSR, which was just defending itself. 4. For each of the five
At first, western writers blamed the Soviet Union. causes, explain how it
might have caused
They said Stalin was trying to build up a Soviet empire. relations between the
Later, however, some western historians blamed the USA and the USSR to
USA. They said Truman had not understood how much become tense.
Russia had suffered in the Second World War. 5. Working in twos, one
Nowadays, historians think BOTH sides were to pupil plays the part of a
Russian historian, the
blame – that there were hatreds on both sides. other a western writer of
the 1950s.
Source A Talk about causes 1–4,
the ‘Russian historian’
It is useless to try to discover who made the arguing that the Cold
first move to break the alliance. It is War was America’s
fault, and the ‘western
impossible to trace the first ‘broken promise’. writer’ saying that it was
Written by the historian Isaac Deutscher, Stalin (1969). Russia’s.

3
 Did you know?
Churchill was so worried about
Soviet domination of eastern
Europe that he tried to get the
British armies to advance
faster. In 1944, he dropped
British paratroopers behind
enemy lines at Arnhem – but
they were cut off and defeated
by the Germans.
This story was told in the
film, A Bridge Too Far.

 Source A
The arrows show the Allied
armies advancing into
Germany in 1945 – the British
and Americans from the west,
The Big Three during the War the Russians from the east.
During the War, Britain and the USA were allies of Notice the large areas of
the Soviet Union, but the only thing that united them eastern Europe which fell
under the control of Russia.
was their hatred of Germany.
In 1945, the Big Three held two conferences – at
Yalta (February) and Potsdam (July) – to try to sort
out how they would organise the world after the war.
It was at these conferences that the tensions between
the two sides became obvious.

Yalta (Feb 1945)

On the surface, the Yalta conference seemed successful.
The Allies agreed:
1. Russia would join the United Nations.
2. divide Germany into four ‘zones’, which Britain, France,
the USA and the USSR would occupy after the war.
3. bring Nazi war-criminals to trial.
4. set up a Polish Provisional Government of National Unity  Source B
'pledged to the holding of free and unfettered elections as
soon as possible'. A British cartoon of 1945.
5. help the freed peoples of Europe set up democratic and Churchill, Roosevelt (USA) and
self-governing countries by helping them to (a) maintain Stalin are shown as doctors,
law and order; (b) carry out emergency relief measures; working together to heal the
(c) set up governments; and (d) hold elections (this was world. Look at the faces of the
called the 'Declaration of Liberated Europe'). ‘Big Three’; what do you notice?
6. set up a commission to look into reparations.

But, behind the scenes, tension was growing. After the

Tasks
1. Describe the events
conference, Churchill wrote to Roosevelt that ‘The and decisions of the
Soviet union has become a danger to the free world.’ Yalta and Potsdam
Conferences. Were
they different?
Tasks 2. Using page 5,
1. Source B shows the ‘Big Three’ smiling. Does this prove especially Sources D
that Britain, Russia and America were friends? and E, explain why
2. Write two reports of the Yalta Conference: one for the Potsdam was less
British newspapers, the other for the British government. successful than Yalta.

4
Source D  Source C
The Russians only The thief labelled ‘Russia’ is caught
stealing a bag labelled ‘territorial
understand one grabs’.
language - ‘how ‘It’s alright – he’s with me’, Stalin
many armies have assures Roosevelt, who meekly
you got?’ I’m tired answers: ‘Oh, OK’.
of babying the
Soviets.
President Truman, writing in
January 1946 Potsdam (July 1945)
At Potsdam, the Allies decided the post-war peace –
Source E Potsdam was the Versailles of World War II

What is surprising America had a new president, Truman, who was

about the fact that determined to ‘get tough’ with the Russians. Also,
the Soviet Union, when he went to the Conference, Truman had just
worried about its learned that America had tested the first atomic bomb.
future safety, It gave the Americans a huge military advantage over
wants everyone else. Moreover, in March 1945, Stalin had
governments invited the non-Communist Polish leaders to meet him,
friendly to it in and arrested them.
Finland, Poland So, at Potsdam, the arguments came out into the open.
and Romania?
Stalin, writing in March 1946 The Conference agreed the following Protocols:
1. to set up the four ‘zones of occupation’ in Germany.
The government and laws and education ‘shall be
controlled to eliminate Nazi and militarist doctrines and
to make possible the development of democratic ideas.
2. to bring Nazi war-criminals to trial.
3. to recognize the Polish Provisional Government of
National Unity and hold 'free and unfettered elections as
soon as possible'.
4. Russia was allowed to take reparations from the Soviet
Zone, and also 10% of the industrial equipment of the
western zones as reparations. America and Britain
could take reparations from their zones if they wished.
But in fact the Allies had disagreed openly about:
1. the details of how to divide Germany.
2. the size of reparations Germany ought to pay.
3. Russian policy in eastern Europe.
A map of how Germany was
divided into zones. Source D
In this ‘marriage of convenience’, the thought
that a divorce was inevitable had been in the
mind of each partner from the beginning.
Written by the historian Isaac Deutscher, Stalin (1969).

Tasks
3. Looking at the information on this spread, when do YOU
A map of how Berlin was think the Cold War started? Read Source F; when did
divided into zones. Deutscher think it started?

5
Salami tactics: The Soviet take-over of eastern Europe
New Words Source A
Hungary was invaded by the
sinister: frightening, in an evil way.
Russians, and in 1945 the allies
totalitarian: where the government agreed that Russian troops
has total power over the people. should stay there. Stalin
allowed elections, and the non-
imperialistic: wanting to build an communists won a big majority.
empire. Communists used it as an However, some communists
abuse-word to describe the western were elected, led by a pro-
powers. Russian called Rakosi.
Rakosi now started
During 1946–47, Stalin made sure that demanding that groups which
Communist governments came to opposed him should be banned.
power in all the countries of eastern If not, he hinted, the Russians
Europe (the countries which the Soviet would take over the country.
Union had conquered in 1945). Then he got control of the
The Communist description of this police, and started to arrest his
process was ‘slicing salami’ – opponents. He set up a sinister
gradually getting rid of all opposition, and brutal secret police unit,
bit-by-bit (see Source A). In this way, the AVH. Soon Rakosi had
Russia gained control of: complete control over Hungary.
Rakosi’s work was typical of
a. Albania (1945) – the Communists took power
after the war without opposition what was happening all over
b. Bulgaria (1945) – a left-wing coalition gained eastern Europe.
power in 1945; the Communists then executed The historian Jon Nichol, writing in 1990
the leaders of all the other parties.
c. Poland (1947) – a coalition government took 
power in 1945, but the Communists forced the 
non-Communist leaders into exile.
d.
e.
Hungary (1947) – see Source A.
Romania (1945–1947) – a left-wing coalition
 Source B
was elected in 1945; the Communists Russia saw it as protecting herself from future attack.
gradually took over control. The West saw it as empire-building.
f. Czechoslovakia (1945–48) – a left-wing
coalition was elected in 1945. In 1948, the
Communists banned all other parties and killed
their leaders.
g. East Germany (1949) – the Russian turned
their zone of Germany into the German
Democratic republic in 1949.

Tasks
1. Read Source A, and make a spidergram
showing all the factors that helped
Communists take power in the countries of
eastern Europe.
2. Explain how the case of Hungary on Source
A illustrates ‘salami tactics’.

6
Churchill’s Fulton Source C
Speech Mr Churchill has called for a
war on the USSR.
On 5 March 1946, Winston Churchill Stalin, writing in the Russian newspaper Pravda on
13 March 1946.
gave a speech at Fulton in America.
He said ‘a shadow’ had fallen on
eastern Europe, which was now cut off
from the free world by ‘an iron Source D
curtain’. Behind that line, he said, the . . . the Cold War set in. Churchill
people of eastern Europe were ‘subject had given his famous speech in
to Soviet influence . . . totalitarian Fulton urging the imperialistic
control [and] police governments’. forces of the world to fight the
Soviet Union. Our relations with
England, France and the USA were
ruined.
Nikita Khrushchev, writing in 1971. In 1946 he
was a member of the Soviet government.

 Source E
A British cartoon of 1946. In fact, the ‘iron curtain’
was a 2,000-kilometre line of barbed wire, look-out
posts and road blocks.

Tasks
1. Read Sources C and D. Explain why
Churchill’s speech was a turning point in the
history of the Cold War.
2. Did Churchill cause the Cold War?

Essay!
[use this essay frame to write the following essay, using pages 2–6]
Why had the Superpowers become suspicious of each other by
March 1946, when Churchill made his important speech at Fulton?
They became suspicious of each other because they had different beliefs. The USA. . . . . . . . . .
The USSR . . . . . . . . . . This caused suspicion because . . . . . . . . . .
History made the USA and the USSR suspicious of each other. The Soviet Union . . . . . . . . . .
The USA . . . . . . . . . . This caused suspicion because . . . . . . . . . .
Both the USA and the USSR had very different aims. The USA . . . . . . . . . . The USSR,
however, . . . . . . . . . . This caused suspicion because . . . . . . . . . .
Finally, because neither side trusted each other, events made them hate each other more.
 The Yalta Conference (Feb 1945) caused problems because . . . . . . . . . .
 The Potsdam Conference (Jul 1945) . . . . . . . . . .
 Also, salami tactics (1945–48) caused suspicion because . . . . . . . . . .

7
New Words Opinion:
Churchill’s speech did not start the Cold War, but he
was the first person to stop pretending to be friends
doctrine: a belief. with Russia. Thus, his Fulton speech was the start
of the Cold War; after it, America and Russia got
Congress: the American ‘parliament’. into a number of conflicts.

Czechoslovakia
Greece
aggressor: someone who starts a By 1946, Greece and Czechoslovakia
quarrel. were the only countries in eastern
Europe that weren’t Communist. Even
Containment: holding something in – in Greece, the government, which was
stopping the USSR growing. being supported by British soldiers, was
having to fight a civil war against the
Communists.
In February 1947, the British told
Source A Truman they could no longer afford to
Every nation must choose keep their soldiers in Greece. President
between different ways of life . . Truman stepped in. The USA paid for
. We must help free peoples to the British soldiers in Greece.
work out their own destiny in
their own way. The Truman Doctrine
President Truman, speaking in March 1947. In the 1930s, Americans had kept out of
Europe’s business.
Now, in March 1947, Truman told
Americans that it was America’s
Source B DUTY to interfere (Source A). His
This ‘American duty’ is just a policy towards the Soviet Union was
smokescreen for a plan of one of ‘containment’ – he did not try to
expansion . . . They try to take destroy the USSR, but he wanted to
control of Greece by shouting stop it growing any more. This was
about ‘totalitarianism’ called the ‘Truman Doctrine’.
The Russian newspaper Izvestia, March 1947.

Source C

This Russian cartoon
shows the Greek
government being
‘helped’ by America.

8
The Marshall Plan Source D
In June 1947, the American general
The ruling gang of American
George Marshall went to Europe. He
imperialists has taken the path
said every country in Europe was so
of open expansion, of enslaving
poor that it was in danger of turning
weakened capitalist countries. It
Communist! Europe was ‘a breeding
ground of hate’. He said that America has hatched new war plans
should give $17 billion of aid to get against the Soviet Union.
Europe’s economy going. Imitating Hitler, the new
aggressors are using blackmail.
GM Malenkov, a Soviet politician, speaking in 1947.
Cominform
The Soviet Union hated Marshall aid
(see Sources D and E). Stalin forbade
Communist countries to ask for money.
Instead, in October 1947, he set up
Cominform. Every Communist party in
Europe joined. It allowed Stalin control
of the Communists in Europe.

Czechoslovakia
At first, the American Congress did
not want to give the money for
Marshall Aid. But then, in February
1948, the Communists took power in
Czechoslovakia.
Congress was scared, and voted  Source E
for Marshall Aid on 31 March 1948. Communists in Germany oppose Marshall Aid.

Tasks
1. Using the dates in bold, make notes,
in chronological order, on the events
from February 1947 to 31 March 1948.
2. Read Source A. Talk about the events
in your list – as though you were an
American.
3. Now read Sources B–E. Describe the
same events – as though you were a
Russian Communist
4. Did the Truman Doctrine cause the
Cold War?
5. What was the first event of the Cold
War?
6. Work out an argument that the creation  Source F
of Cominform was the first event of the A British cartoon shows Truman and Stalin as two
Cold War. taxi-drivers trying to get customers.

9
The Berlin Blockade, 1948–49 New Words
The USSR had already disagreed with Britain and the
USA at Potsdam (July 1945, see page 5) about what Blockade: a siege.
should be done with Germany. Germany had been split
into four zones. Berlin, in Russia’s zone, was also split Bizonia
into four zones.
Currency: money.
What caused it?
1. Cold War
was just getting started (e.g. Czechoslovakia,
March 1948)

2. Aims
Stalin wanted to destroy Germany – Britain and the
USA wanted to rebuild Germany.

3. Bizonia
The Russians were taking German machinery back
to the USSR. In January 1948, Britain and the USA
joined their two zones together to try to get German
industry going. They called the new zone Bi-zonia
(‘two zones’).

4. American Aid
Congress voted for Marshall Aid on 31 March
1948. Immediately, the Russians started stopping
and searching all road and rail traffic into Berlin.

5. New Currency
On 1 June, America and France announced that
they wanted to create the new country of West
Germany; and on 23 June they introduced a new
currency into ‘Bizonia’ and western Berlin. The
next day the Russians stopped all road and rail
traffic into Berlin – Stalin was trying to force the
USA out of Berlin.

Source A
[The Americans had introduced a new currency into Berlin.]
Old money flooded into the Soviet Zone. Some
restrictions were placed on links between
Berlin and western zones, but the Soviet side
was ready to supply food to all Berlin.
Yet every day 380 American planes flew
into Berlin. It was simply a propaganda move
intended to make the cold war worse.
From a Russian history book.

10
Source B: What happened?
The American Army wanted to fight its way into Berlin
Airlift Facts – that would have caused a war. Instead, Truman decided
1. The blockade lasted 318 to supply Berlin by air (see Source B)
days (11 months). The situation was bad at first, but things got better as
2. In the winter of 1948–49 the blockade went on. On 12 May 1949, Stalin re-opened
Berliners lived on dried the borders.
potatoes, powdered eggs and
cans of meat. They had 4
hours of electricity a day.
3. 275,000 flights carried in
1½ million tons of supplies. A
What were the Results?
plane landed every 3 mins. 1. Cold War got worse
4. On 16 April 1949, 1400 It almost started an all-out war.
flights brought in 13,000 tons
of supplies in one day – Berlin 2. East and West Germany
only needed 6,000 tons a day
to survive. Germany split up. In May 1949, America, Britain
5. The USA stationed B-29 and France united their zones into the Federal
bombers (which could carry Republic of Germany (West Germany). In October
an atomic bomb) in Britain. 1949, Stalin set up the German Democratic Republic
(East Germany) .

3. NATO and the Warsaw Pact

In 1949, the western Allies set up NATO (North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation) as a defensive alliance
against Russia. NATO countries surrounded Russia;
in 1955, the Soviet Union set up the Warsaw Pact –
an alliance of Communist states.

4. Arms Race
After Berlin, the USA and the USSR realised that
they were in a competition for world domination.
They began to build up their armies and weapons.

Tasks
3. Copy the five causes of the Berlin Crisis.
4. The Berlin blockade and airlift was one of the first
episodes of the Cold War. Write an essay to describe
what happened.
Start the story in Jan 1948, and finish it on 12 May 1949.
5. Working as a whole class, draw a spidergram to show all
the reasons why the Berlin blockade failed.

11
The Korean War, 1950–53 Did you know?
The Korean War was the time when the Cold War
became a global conflict. In 1945, Korea was freed
from the Japanese. The
country was split in half at the
38th parallel.
What caused it?
President Truman was interested in the Far East: North Korea
 (led by Kim II Sung) was
 Cold War: Truman realised the USA was in a Communist.
competition for world domination with the USSR. South Korea
Europe was not the only place where Communists  (led by Syngman Rhee)
were coming to power. In the Far East, too, they were was capitalist.
getting powerful – China turned Communist in 1949.
The two countries hated each
 Japan: Truman was worried that, in the end, the other.
Communists would capture Japan.
 Domino theory: Truman believed that, if one country
fell to Communism, then other would follow, like a
line of dominoes.
Source B
Stalin, also, was involved in the Far East: Asia is where the
 Kim II Sung visited Stalin. In 1949, he persuaded communist
Stalin that he could conquer South Korea. Stalin conspirators have
was worried that America would get involved, but decided to make
he gave his agreement. Kim II Sung also went to their play for
see Mao Tse Tung, the leader of China, to get his global conquest. If
agreement. we lose this war,
the fall of Europe
is inevitable.
In 1950, Syngman Rhee boasted that he was going to There is no choice
attack North Korea. It was a good enough excuse – the but victory.
North Koreans invaded South Korea. The US General MacArthur,
speaking in 1950.
This started the Korean War.
The war had FIVE phases.

New Words
global: whole world

38th parallel: a line of

latitude on the map.

Kim II Sung

Syngman Rhee

Mao Tse Tung

12
The Events of the War, 1950–53
June 1950
The North Koreans attacked.
They were very successful.
I They captured most of South Korea.

July 1950
The Americans were alarmed (see Source B).
They persuaded the United Nations to support South Korea.
II The American Army, led by General MacArthur, went to
Korea, drove back the North Koreans and recaptured
South Korea. It invaded North Korea.
It advanced as far as the Chinese border.
October 1950
Now the Chinese were alarmed.
They attacked MacArthur, and drove the Americans back.
IIII They recaptured North Korea, and advanced into South
Korea.

February 1951
The Americans landed more troops.
They drove the Chinese back (the Chinese lost 200,000 men).
IV

March 1951 – 1953

MacArthur reached the 38th parallel in March 1951.
Truman told MacArthur to stop.
V MacArthur was sacked when he publicly criticised Truman’s
order.
In 1953, Eisenhower became American president. He made
peace.

Tasks
1. Look at Source B. Why was Korea so important for the
Americans?
2. Write notes on the causes of the Korean War.
3. Write an essay to describe the main events of the Korean
War, 1950–53.

13
Revision Questions
1. Who was Prime Minister of Britain in 1945?
2. Who was president of the USA in February 1945?
3. Who became president of the USA in 1945?
4. Who was leader of Russia in 1945?
5. What is a ‘cold war’?
6. List FOUR causes of the Cold War?
7. What do Communists believe?
8. The USA is a ‘capitalist democracy’. What do these words mean?
9. Name TWO historical complaints that Stalin had against Britain and the USA.
10. What could Britain and the USA not forgive Stalin for (from 1939)?
11. Give TWO things that Stalin wanted from the peace.
12. What worried Britain and the USA about Stalin’s plans?
13. When did Russia develop the atomic bomb?
14. List NINE events leading up to the Cold War, Feb 1945 to Mar 1948.
15. Give FOUR things agreed at Yalta.
16. Explain TWO reasons why the Potsdam Conference was less successful than Yalta.
17. Name THREE things that the ‘Big Three’ disagreed about at Potsdam.
18. What were ‘salami tactics’?
19. Was is ‘totalitarianism’?
20. Was does the word ‘imperialistic’ mean?
21. What was Churchill’s Fulton speech (5 March 1946) about?
22. Why did Britain keep soldiers in Greece after the Second World War had finished?
23. What happened when the British could no longer afford to keep soldiers in Greece?
24. What did the Truman Doctrine say?
25. Why did Marshall propose the Marshall Plan?
26. How much aid did the Marshall Plan want to send to Europe?
27. Which country turned Communist in March 1948?
28. What rival to Marshall Aid did Stalin set up in 1947?
29. Give FIVE causes of the Berlin blockade.
30. How long did the blockade last?
31. How did the US and Britain supply the Berliners?
32. List FOUR results of the blockade.
33. What rival alliance to NATO did the USSR set up in 1955?
34. Why was the Korean War important in the history of the Cold War?
35. Name the ruler of North Korea in 1950.
36. Name the ruler of South Korea in 1950.
37. List THREE reasons why Truman was interested in the Far East.
38. When did China turn Communist?
39. Whose agreement to invade South Korea did Kim II Sung seek?
40. What excuse did Kim II Sung have for attacking South Korea?
41. Who was winning the war at its start in June 1950?
42. Who led the UN forced which landed in July 1950?
43. Why did the Chinese enter the war?
44. How many Chinese soldiers died in the war?
45. Why was MacArthur sacked?

/75

14
1. Churchill.
2. Roosevelt
3. Truman
4. Stalin
5. ‘Cold war’ is intense economic, political, military and ideological rivalry
between nations, short of military conflict (i.e. they do not declare war against
each other).
6. Differenct ideologies/ beliefs (Communist dictatorship/ Capitalist democracy)
Different aims (Stalin wanted reparations from Germany, and wanted to spread
Communism; USA wanted to help rebuild Germany and protect democracy)
The past – Russia was resentful of the role played by USA and Britain during the
Civil War trying to crush Communism; Britain and USA could not forget that Russia
had signed a Nazi Soviet pact with Germany in 1939.
Suspicions - both sides were suspicious of each other and every action they took
made them hate each other more.
7. Communists believe that all industry should be controlled by the state
8. Capitalist – believe that industry should be privately owned, with little interference
from the government. Democracy – the people elect their own government.
9. Britain and USA had fought against Communism in 1918, and tried to destroy the
Russian Revolution.
Stalin felt that the West had not given enough support to Russia during WW2.
10. Stalin had signed a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany.
11. Stalin wanted reparations worth $20 million.
Stalin wanted control of Eastern Europe.
12. USA and Britain feared that Communism would spread into Eastern Europe.
13. First USSR Atomic bomb tested August 1949
14. Yalta Conference
Potsdam Conference
Salami Tactics
Fulton speech
Truman Doctrine
Marshall Plan
Cominform
Czechoslovakia
(also atomic bomb)
15. Germany divided into 4 zones
Stamp out Nazism/ catch Nazi war-criminals
Help Eastern Europe set up as self-governing countries
Russia would join UN
16. Churchill was replaced as PM of British by Clement Atlee
Roosevelt had died, been replaced by Truman
Therefore Stalin only consistent leader in Peace talks - all had different aims
17. How to divide Germany
Size of reparations Germany ought ot pay
Russian policy in Eastern Europe
18. Piecemeal takeover of governments in Eastern Europe (removing opposition to
Communism step by step).
19. When a government has absolute control over people/coutnry
20. Wanting to build a empire.
21. About the spilt between east and west.
22. To prevent a Communist takeover
23. America intervened and paid for the British soldiers to remain there.
24. That America would aid Eastern Europe in ‘containing’ Communism, i.e. preventing it
from spreading.
25. Proposed spending US$17 billion to aid Europe in rebuilding its economy.
26. US$17 billion
15
 27. Czechoslovakia
28. Cominform.
29. The start of the Cold War
Different aims for Germany
Marshall Aid
Bizonia – American attempt to get Germany industry going again
America introducing new currency into Berlin
30. 11 months (318 days)
31. Using planes
32. Cold war worsened
Split between East/West Germany
Nato and Warsaw pact
Arms Race
33. Warsaw Pact
34. If the Communists succeeded in turning Korea into a Communist country,
Communism spreading into Eastern Europe would be inevitable.
35. Kim II Sung
36. Syngman Rhee
37. Truman realised that USA was in competition for world dominance with USSR
Truman was worried that the Communists would capture Japan
Domino theory – Truman believed if one country fell to Communism, others would
follow, like dominoes.

16
Q New Words
Imagine a class with a really tough and nasty teacher.
After a while, that teacher leaves, and a more gentle, summit: meeting of
reasonable teacher takes over. Will behaviour in the the major world
class get better, or worse? powers.
destalinisation:
dismantling Stalin’s
Stalin died in 1953. He was hated all over eastern tyranny.
Europe. When they heard he was dead, people in Co-existence: living
East Berlin rioted. together.
After a short struggle for power, Khrushchev capitalism: western
became the new ruler in Russia. system of a free
economy.
economic aid: money
Khrushchev given to a country to
At first, the western powers hoped that Khrushchev help build up its
would be the start of a ‘thaw’ in the Cold War. economy.

1. Khrushchev often met western leaders at ‘summit’

meetings. Did you know?
2.. Stalin had made all Communist countries do what
he wanted – and he had fallen out with President Even though he was a poorly-
Tito of Yugoslavia. But in 1955 Khrushchev went educated peasant,
Khrushchev had insight and a
to Yugoslavia, telling Tito that ‘there are different
good turn of phrase. He once
roads to communism’. Western leaders thought he said that Communism and
would no longer insist that all communist countries capitalism would only agree
take orders from Russia. ‘when shrimps learned to
3. In a speech in 1956, Khrushchev attacked Stalin, whistle’.
saying that Stalin was a murderer and a tyrant.
Khrushchev began to ‘de-stalinise’ Russia. Source C
Political prisoners were set free and Beria (Stalin’s
Chief of Secret Police) was executed.
4. Khrushchev said that he wanted ‘peaceful
co-existence’ with the West. Western leaders
hoped this meant the end of the Cold War.

Source A
You do not like Communism. We do not like
capitalism. There is only one way out –
peaceful co-existence.
This Russian cartoon shows
Khrushchev speaking on a visit to Britain in 1956. Khrushchev destroying the
Cold War.

Source B Task
We may argue. The main thing is to argue Make notes on the ways
without using weapons. Khrushchev seemed to
Khrushchev speaking in 1959. improve the Cold War.

17
Peaceful Co-existence Source D
EIGHT Countries in the
If the rulers of the West hoped that there would be an Warsaw Pact:
end to the Cold War, they were disappointed.  USSR
 Albania
1. ‘De-stalinisation’ did not mean a change back to  Bulgaria
capitalism, or freedom from Russia. When  Czechoslovakia
 East Germany
communist countries went too far in their reforms,
 Hungary
Khrushchev sent in the Red Army to stop them.  Poland
 Romania.
2. By ‘peaceful co-existence’, Khrushchev really
meant ‘peaceful competition’. He started to
build up Russian power: Source E
a) He visited countries like Afghanistan and Burma Crises after 1955:
and gave them economic aid if they would 1956 Poland
support Russia. 1956 Hungary
1960 U2 crisis
b) Russia began the ‘space race’ with the America. In 1961 The Berlin Wall
1957 Russia launched Sputnik the first satellite. 1962 Cuban Missile
In 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first astronaut Crisis
to orbit the earth.
c) Russia began an ‘arms race’ with America. In
1953, Russia got the hydrogen bomb.
d) Khrushchev set up the Warsaw Pact – a military Did you know?
alliance of Communist countries – to rival NATO. Khrushchev was NOT a
gentle easy-going man; he
3. Faced by this, America became just as aggressive: had been Stalin’s right-hand
a) In America, Senator McCarty led a ‘witch-hunt’ for man –
‘Communists’ in America (e.g. Charlie Chaplin Stalin had used him to run the
terror purges after World War
was accused of being a Communist.) II. Khrushchev loved to
b) America had an ‘arms race’ with Russia. In argue. This often caused
1955, NATO agreed to a West German Army tension between leaders.
of ½ million men (this led to the formation of
the Warsaw Pact).
c) The Americans used U2 planes to spy on Russia. Task
Make notes on the ways
As a result, the period 1955–1963 was the time of Khrushchev made the
GREATEST tension in the Cold War. Cold War worse.

18
In 1956, Khrushchev faced crises in two countries
which were destalinising.
New Words
patriotic: loving your
country.
censorship: where
Poland the government
In Poland, a number of political prisoners were set controls what the
free. At the same time, a bad harvest led to unrest. newspapers/ radio
etc. say.
Railway workers led a protest of people calling for telex: an early form of
‘Cheap Bread’ and ‘Higher Wages’. When the police fax, connecting
shot some of the marchers, there was a riot. typewriters down a
telephone line.
Government officials were killed. Mr Gomulka,
(who had been in prison) took power.

Khrushchev sent Russian troops into Poland to put

down the rebels. But he left Gomulka in power –
Gomulka continued the process of destalinisation, but Task
he kept Poland loyal to Russia and the Warsaw Pact. Make notes on the ‘The
Polish riots of 1956’.

Hungary – Causes
The basic cause of the Hungarian revolution was that the
Hungarians hated Russian communism:

1. Poverty
Hungarians were poor, yet much of the food and
industrial goods they produced was sent to Russia.
2. Russian Control
The Hungarians were very patriotic, and they hated
Russian control – which included censorship, the
vicious secret police (AVH) and Russian control of
what the schools taught.
3. Catholic Church
The Hungarians were religious, but the Communist
Party had banned religion, and put the leader of the
Catholic Church in prison.
4. Help from the West
Hungarians thought that the United Nations or the
new US president, Eisenhower, would help them.
5. Destalinisation Task
When the Communist Party tried to destalinise Prepare a 15-minute
Hungary, things got out of control. The Hungarian essay: ‘Why was there a
leader Rakosi asked for permission to arrest 400 revolution in Hungary in
trouble-makers, but Khrushchev would not let him. 1956’.

19
Hungary – Events Source A
On 23 October, there were riots of students, workers and There were FIVE reasons
soldiers. They smashed up the statue of Stalin, and why Khrushchev acted
attacked the AVH and Russian soldiers. harshly in Hungary:
 Nagy’s decision to leave
On 24 October, Imre Nagy took over as Prime Minister. the Warsaw Pact was the
last straw – Russia was
He asked Khrushchev to take out the Russian troops. determined to keep its
‘buffer’ of states.
On 28 October, Khrushchev agreed, and the Russian  China asked Russia to
army pulled out of Budapest. act to stop Communism
being damaged.
29 October – 3 November: The new Hungarian  Nagy had obviously lost
control; Hungary was not
government introduced democracy, freedom of speech, destalinising – it was
and freedom of religion (the leader of the Catholic turning capitalist.
Church was freed from prison). He also announced that  Hard-liners in Russia
Hungary was going to leave the Warsaw Pact. forced Khrushchev to act.
 Khrushchev though,
correctly, that the West
4 November: At dawn, 1000 Russian tanks rolled into would not help Hungary.
Budapest. By 8.10 am they had destroyed the
Hungarian army and captured Hungarian Radio – its last
words broadcast were ‘Help! Help! Help”!’
Hungarian people – even children – fought them with Source B
machine guns. 27,000 people were killed. TWO reasons why the West
Khrushchev put in Janos Kadar, a supporter of did not help Hungary:
Russia, as Prime Minister.  Britain and France were
involved in the Suez crisis
in Egypt.
 Eisenhower did not think
Source C Hungary worth a world
war.
We are quiet, not afraid. Send the news to  When the UN suggested
the world and say it should condemn the an investigation, Russia
Russians. The fighting is very close now and used its veto to stop it.
we haven’t enough guns. What is the United
Nations doing? Give us a little help. We will
hold out to our last drop of blood. The tanks Did you know?
are firing now. . .
What made the Hungarian
The last message – a telex from a newspaper journalist – from Hungary. revolution so heart-rending
was the desperate bravery of
the rebels. One journalist
found a little girl of 12, dead,
Hungary – Results armed with a machine gun.
1. 200,000 Hungarian refugees fled into Austria.
2. Russia stayed in control behind the Iron Curtain – no
other country tried to get rid of Russia troops until Tasks
Czechoslovakia in 1968. 1. Copy out sources A
3. People in the West were horrified – many British and B and the section:
Communists left the Communist Party. Hungary – Results.
2. Prepare a 15-minute
4. The West realised it could do nothing about the Iron essay: ‘The events of
Curtain countries – but this made Western leaders the Hungarian
more determined to ‘contain’ communism. Revolution’.

20
After 1957, tension grew between Russia and America: Did you know?
1. Russia’s Sputnik satellite (1957) and space orbit
(1961) gave them a psychological advantage. When Khrushchev visited
Many Americans believed America was in danger. America in 1959, he was
2. In 1959, the Communist Fidel Castro took power taken round an Ideal Home
exhibition. At the kitchen
in Cuba, right next to America. In 1960, he display, he had a very public
made a trade agreement with Russia. row with American Vice-
3. China was very aggressive. When Khrushchev President Nixon about which
made a visit to America in 1959, they accused him was better: Communism or
of going soft; this made Khrushchev demand that capitalism.
America withdraw from West Berlin
A summit was planned for May 1960 to discuss
Berlin and nuclear weapons.

The U2 crisis
On 5 May 1960 – just 9 days before the summit – Russia
shot down an American U2 spy-plane.
At first, the Americans tried to claim that it was a
weather-plane that had gone off-course. However, the
Russians put the pilot Gary Powers on trial for spying,
and the Americans admitted it was a spy-plane.

The summit met at Paris on 14 May 1960.

Khrushchev refused to take part in the talks unless
the Americans apologise and cancel all future spy-flights.
President Eisenhower agreed to cancel the spy-flights,
but would not apologise – so Khrushchev went home.

The results were:

1. Paris summit ruined; Cold War continues.
2. Eisenhower’s planned visit to Russia cancelled. Tasks
3. Khrushcev and the Russians grew in confidence. 1. Discuss with a friend
4. Americans became angry with Eisenhower, who why the U2 incident came
they said was losing the Cold War. After the U2 at a very bad time for the
incident, America became more aggressive. Americans.
2. Make notes on: ‘The
They elected John F Kennedy, who promised to story of the U2 crisis’.
be much tougher on communism.

Source A New Words

Let every nation know that we shall pay any psychological: in the
mind.
price, bear and burden, meet any hardship,
Nuclear weapons:
support any friend, oppose any foe, for the atomic and
survival and success of freedom. Now the hydrogen bombs
trumpet calls again . . . against the enemies and ICBMs – inter-
of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war. continental ballistic
Ask not what your country can do for you: missiles.
ask what you can do for your country. Sabotage: causing
damage
Inaugural speech of President Kennedy, 1961.

Source B
21
The Berlin Wall – Causes The Americans
use West Berlin as
a base for
1. Growing tension
Kennedy tried to get tough on Communism. recruiting spies,
He financed the forces fighting the Communists sabotage and
in Vietnam and Laos, and in 1961 he helped an starting riots.
invasion of Cuba (see page 8). The wall will keep
East Germany
2. Refugees safe.
East Germany was poor and under strict rule. The Russian explanation of
West Berlin was wealthy and free. Many East the Wall, 1961
Germans worked in West Berlin, and saw this.
By 1961, 3 million had fled to the west through
Berlin. As the Cold War tension grew, more left, Source C
fearing that the border would be closed – by August There were FOUR results of
1961, the flow was 1,800 a day. the Berlin Wall:
a) This was an embarrassment to Russia, which  Berlin was split in two.
Hundreds of East
claimed that Communism was better. Berliners died trying to
b) Also, many who left were skilled workers. cross it.
 America complained, but
3. Sabotage did not try to take it down
The Russians claimed that the Americans used West – it was not worth a war.
Berlin for spying and sabotage (see Source B).  Tension grew: both sides
started nuclear testing.
 The West became more
anti-communist (Source D)
The Berlin Wall
At the Vienna summit of June 1961, Khrushchev again
demanded that the Americans leave West Berlin. Source D
Kennedy’s refused – and on 25 July increased America’s Some people say
spending on weapons. we can work with
the Communists.
On 13 August, Khrushchev closed the border between Let them come to
east and west Berlin – and built a wall. Berlin.
President Kennedy, 1961.

 The Berlin Wall, 1961

Tasks
1. Prepare a 15-minute
essay: ‘Describe the
events 1958–1961 which
led to the Berlin Wall’.
2. Copy Source C.

22
23
The Cuban Missiles Crisis – Causes New Words
nationalise: where
1. Superpower Tension the government
All the tensions that had grown up between takes over a
Russia’s assertive ‘peaceful competition’ and business/ industry.
Kennedy’s promise to be tough on Russia – naval blockade: to
including the space race, the arms race and nuclear not allow ships to
testing, American funding of anti-Communists in come or go from
Vietnam and Laos, the failed Vienna summit Cuba.
(1961) and the Berlin Wall.
2. Fidel Castro’s Cuba
In 1959, the Communist Fidel Castro took power
in Cuba. This was very threatening to the USA
because it was right next to America. In 1960,
Castro made a trade agreement with Russia,
whereby Cuba sent sugar to Russia, in return for Source A
oil, machines and money. This frightened the
We will not
Americans more, and in 1960 they stopped
needlessly risk
trading with Cuba. In retaliation, Cuba
world-wide
nationalised all American-owned companies
nuclear war in
3. The Bay of Pigs.
which even victory
In April 1961 the CIA encouraged, funded and
would be ashes in
transported an attempt by anti-Castro Cuban exiles
to invade Cuba. It failed miserably, greatly our mouths – but
embarrassing Kennedy. In September 1961, neither will we
therefore, Castro asked for – and Russia publicly shrink from that
promised – weapons to defend Cuba against risk when it must
America. be faced . . . I call
upon Chairman
On 14 October an American U2 spy-plane took Khrushchev to
pictures of a nuclear missile base being built on Cuba. stop and
Kennedy’s advisers told him he had 10 days before dismantle this
Cuba could fire the missiles at targets in America. secret, reckless
and provocative
Kennedy decided he had to act (see Source A). threat to world
peace.
Speech by President Kennedy
on American TV, 1962.

 The danger of the missile

bases.

Task
Prepare a 15-minute
essay: ‘Why was there a
crisis about Cuba in
1962?

24
 Source B
The Cuban Missiles Crisis Kennedy’s Options:
1. Nuclear Strike? It
would cause a nuclear war.
16 Oct: Kennedy set up a Committee of the National 2. Conventional attack?
Security Council to advise him. There were Russian troops
22 Oct: Kennedy announced that he was mounting a in Cuba, and it would
naval blockade of Cuba. probably lead to a war with
23 Oct: Khrushchev accused America of piracy. He Russia.
3. Use the UN? Too slow.
warned that Russia would get ready ‘a fitting 4. Do nothing? The
reply to the aggressor’. 20 Russian ships missile bases were too
were heading for Cuba. dangerous.
24 Oct: The first Russian ship reached the naval 5. Blockade? This would
blockade. It was an oil ship and was stop the missiles getting to
the missile bases, but it
allowed through. The other Russian ships was not a direct act of war.
(carrying missiles) turned back. However,
Russia was still building the missile bases.
26 Oct: Khrushchev sent a letter to Kennedy, offering
to dismantle the sites if Kennedy would lift
the blockade and agree not to invade Cuba.
27 Oct: Before Kennedy could reply, Khrushchev
sent another letter, demanding that Kennedy
also dismantle American missile bases in
Turkey. On the same day, a U2 plane was Did you know?
shot down over Cuba.
It looked as if war was about to happen. Kennedy did not publicly
Kennedy ignored the plane incident. He agree to dismantle missile
bases in Turkey. But in a
also ignored Khrushchev’s second letter – he
secret telephone call, he told
wrote simply that would lift the blockade and Khrushchev that – while he
agree not to invade Cuba if Khrushchev couldn’t agree to dismantle
would dismantle the missile bases. Turkish bases in a ‘tit-for-tat’
28 Oct: Khrushchev agreed. The crisis finished. agreement – the USA did not
see any need for them and
20 Nov: Russian bombers left Cuba, and Kennedy
that they would be dismantled
lifted the naval blockade. soon.

The results were:

1. Khrushchev lost prestige – he had failed.
Particularly, China broke from Russia.
2. Kennedy gained prestige. He was seen as the men
who faced down the Russians. Tasks
3. Both sides had had a fright. They were more 1. Prepare a 15-minute
essay: ‘Describe the
careful in future. The two leaders set up a
events of the Cuba Crisis
telephone ‘hotline’ to talk directly in a crisis. of 1962.
In 1963, they agreed a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. 2. Copy ‘The Results of
Cuba was the start of the end of the Cold War. the Cuba Crisis’.
4. Cuba remained a Communist dictatorship, but
America left it alone.

25
Revision Questions
1. When did Stalin die? Who became the new leader of Russia
2. What were the meetings between the superpower leaders called?
3. What did Khrushchev tell Tito in 1955?
4. What did Khrushchev say about Stalin in 1956?
5. What was Khrushchev’s policy called? What did he really mean by it?
6. What was de-stalinisation? Why was it dangerous for world peace?
7. How did Khrushchev build up support in countries like Afghanistan and Burma?
8. What was the first satellite and when was it launched?
9. Who was the first astronaut to orbit the earth, and when did he do it?
10. When did Russia get the hydrogen bomb?
11. What was the military alliance set up by Khrushchev, and what countries were in it?
12. Which American senator led a ‘witch-hunt’ for communists in America?
13. What did NATO agree to in 1955 in West Germany?
14. How did America spy on Russia?
15. Name the FIVE crises after 1955.
16. Who led the Polish riots of 1956?
17. Which Polish Communist kept control of Poland?
18. List the FIVE reasons for the Hungarian uprising.
19. Who rioted in Hungary on 23 October 1956, and what did they do?
20. Who became the Prime Minister of Hungary?
21. What FOUR reforms did the rebels order?
22. What FIVE reasons led Russia to send in the tanks? Of these, which was most
important?
23. How many tanks invaded Budapest.
24. Why did Britain and France not help Hungary?
25. Who was the President of America in 1956? Why did he not help Hungary?
26. Why did the UN not help Hungary?
27. Who did Khrushchev put in charge of Hungary?
28. How many Hungarians fled to Austria?
29. What did Khrushchev demand from America in 1959?
30. With whom did Khrushchev argue about kitchens in 1959?
31. What crisis began on 5 May 1960.
32. Which summit meeting was ruined because of the crisis?
33. Who did the Americans elect as their President in 1961?
34. Which two places in the Far East did Kennedy finance anti-communist fighters?
35. How many refugees had fled to West Berlin by 1961? Why was this bad for Russia?
36. What did Khrushchev demand at the Vienna summit of June 1961?
37. What date did Khrushchev begin to build the Berlin Wall?
38. Why did Khrushchev say he built the wall?
39. When did Fidel Castro come to power in Cuba?
40. What did his 1960 trade agreement with Russia say?
41. What did Castro do to America companies in 1961 which angered America?
42. What was the name for the failed invasion of Cuba in 1961. Why was it an
embarrassment for Kennedy?
43. What did a U2 spy-plane discover on Cuba in October 1962?
44. What were Kennedy’s FIVE options, and which did he choose?
45. What did Khrushchev accuse America of?
46. What deal was done between Kennedy and Khrushchev?
47. What event during the crisis (27 Oct) almost caused a nuclear war?

26
48. What did the two leaders set up after the Missiles Crisis to prevent another such crisis?
49. What agreement began the thaw in 1963?

27