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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was held on February 4, 1945 between the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. The purpose was to talk about post war recovery in Europe, because an Allied victory in Europe was bound to happen. Although, in the Pacific, they agreed a victory would be harder. Roosevelt and Chruchill talked to Stalin about his part in the Pacific Theater. If Stalin helped with Japan's surrender, he would be given a 'sphere of influence' in Manchuria, which means (cont) -
Yalta Conference (cont)
(cont) that the USSR will have power to affect development even though it has no real authority. The future of Germany, Europe and the UN were also talked about, and the 3 world powers decided that Germany should take some, but not all, responsiblity for the war. -
World War 2 ends in Europe
On 6 May, Nazi leader and Hitler's second-in-command, Hermann Göring, surrendered to the commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe. General Hermann Niehoff, the commandant of Breslau, city surrounded for months, also surrendered. On May 8th, the islanders were told by German authorities that the war was over. Winston Churchill made a radio broadcast where he announced: "Hostilities will end officially at one minute after midnight...freed today" -
World War 2ends in Europe (cont)
General Alfred Jodl arrived in Reims and surrendered all forces fighting the Western Allies. News broke out of the end of the war on 8 May, and Europe broke into celebration. In the US, Americans declared 8 May Victory Day. Since the Soviet Union was east of Germany, they declared May 9th, Victory Day. -
Potsdam Conference
Joseph Stalin,Winston Churchill and President Truman met in Potsdam, Germany, from July 17 to August 2, 1945, to talk about the terms for the end of World War II. They decided the status of a demilitarized Germany under four zones of Allied occupation. Also, there would be a "complete disarmament of Germany" meaning that all parts of German industry used for military was to be eliminated, all German military forces were to be eliminated and no production of military hardware. -
Potsdam Conference (cont)
German society was also to be remade in terms of "democratic lines". The educational systems had democratic political parties participating in the administration of Germany. The reconstitution of the German government was postponed.The Potsdam also told Japan to "surrender indefinetly or face utter destruction" -
United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan
Since 1940, the United States had been working on making an atomic weapon, after Albert Einstein warmed them that Germany was already researching into nuclear weapons. With the war in the Pacific theather raging on, President Truman wanted a quick way to immediatly end it, due to the number of American lives already lost in battle. On August 6, 1945, the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton bomb over Hiroshima, killing over 80,000 people. -
Communism in Poland
Stalin had said at the Yalta Conference that free elections would be held in Poland. But the Polish communists, saw the lack of support for their side, and made the "3 times YES" was held first, before elections. It had 3 questions about the Senate, western borders, and national industries, and was meant to promote Communism in Poland. In reality, Communist's only won 16% but with the fraud and 3 YES, they claimed 68% and won.
controlled poll, -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman doctrine established that the US would provide
mlitary and economic aid to all democratic nations who are in danger of falling under Communsim. The Doctrine changed the US foregin policy from not getting involved at all to being directly there. -
Berlin Airlift
After World War 2, Germany was divided;An American occupied zone, a British-occupied zone, a Soviet occupied zone and a French ccupied zone. Berlin was deep in the Soviet zone, but it was divided between the four nations. The Soviets closed all roads, canals, and high ways from the Western occupied Germany into western-occupied Berlin. The Soviets thought this would block off food and anything else, and would drive the other 3 nations out of Germany. -
NATO (Cont)
Alliance to boost the security of Europe. Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg signed the Brussels Treaty that said if one nation was attacked, the others were to help defend it. The US felt it would better to include the North Atlantic countries in the treaty, including Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, and Portugal. The NATO was signed, and countries involved would step up for another country when under attack. -
NATO
After WW2, Europe had problems to rebuild their economy and their safety. They neededid from other countries to rebuild their industries and provide food for their people. The US wanted Europe to be economically strong and prepared to stop the spread of Communism. George Marshall made the Marshall Plan to provide aid to Europe. It promoted the idea of other ideas and cooperation b/w the US and Europe, while the USSR refused to join. Due to the Berlin Airlift, Truman wanted to form a US-European -
Berlin Airlift Ends
The U.S and its Allies decided to supply their parts of Berlin airwise. More than 2.3 million tons of cargo went into Soviet occupied Berlin, and the airlift ended May 19. -
Chinese Civil War
Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This started a Civil war between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Party, which has been ongoing sicne the end of WW2. When China fell to Communism, the US suspended all diplomatic ties with the PRC. -
The Korean War
75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People’s Army crossed the 38th parallel, which is the boundary between North Korea and South Korea. This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War. In July, American troops had entered to help South Korea. UN forces managed to push some North forces out of South Korea, which caused the Chinese to get involved, pushing the UN forces back out of South Korea. -
Formation of SEATO
SEATO maintained no military forces of its own, but the hosted joint military exercises for member states .
SEATO wanted to strenghten economic and living standards of the Southeast Asian States. -
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) formed
The United States, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan formed the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, formed to prevent Communism from spreading in that area. Burma and Indonesia preferred to stay nuetral rather than join the organization. Malaya found it politically difficult to join. Australia and New Zealand were interested because of their geographic position. Great Britain and France had colonies and wanted further development. -
Warsaw Pact
Included the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. Formed to make sure member states come to the help any member attacked by an outside force; unified military command under Marshal Ivan S. Konev of the Soviet Union. A response to NATO. -
Hungary Revolution
Hungary revolted against it's government and it's Soviet policies.
The first major threat to Soviet control since the end of World War 2. Paved the way for many other revolutions. -
Berlin Wall
W
With the USSR controlling East Germany and the Berlin Airlift, many people hated living in the East, while the West was known as 'economic miracle' suceeding econmically and politically. After 2.5 million people fled the East, the USSR threatened the West with nuclear weapons, but they didn't budge. East Germany decided to build a wall to block people from the border. Soldiers came to build the bridge in the middle of the night;dug holes to put up concrete posts, and cut off connection w/ WG. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
President John Kennedy told Americans about the known knowledge missiles in Cuba, and decided on naval blockade around Cuba and and said the US was prepared to use military force if necessary to stop this threat to national security.Many people feared the world was on the brink of nuclear war. Later, the U.S. agreed to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s offer to remove the Cuban missiles if the US didn't invade Cuba, and Kenneddy removed missles from Turkey. -
Sino Soviet Conflict
China and USSR were the 2 major Communitst countries during the Cold War, but many different views. China deannoucned the USSR as a variety of Communism. The USSR had a bunch of Communist parties it supported, and China created it's rival network. -
Nixon goes to China
Nixon visited China to discuss matters and it marked the first time a U.S. president had visited the PRC, which at that time the visit ended 25 years of separation. Nixon preached about maintaing diplomatic relations with China, and regarded them as a real government, opening their ties with China, and hopefully steering them away from Communism. -
South Vietnam falls to Communism
The North Vietnamese launched the first phase of it's offensive to secure South Vietnam. The South’s government and army collapsed in less than two months. South Vietnman troops retreated and Gerald R. Ford, who had succeeded Nixon, begged for additional military aid Congres wanted to forget about the war. The South Vietnamese government surrendered unconditionally, and NVA amry and tanks occupied Saigon.
