Detailed Notes on The Cold War 1945-1991

Resource Description

The origins of the Cold War:
 Disputes between the US and the USSR centred around two major issues – Eastern
Europe (US planned for free elections but Stalin was determined to create a secure
zone of friendly communist governments – Stalin prevailed) and Germany
(disagreed over the treatment of the defeated Germany – US favoured lenient
treatment, USSR favoured harsh settlement)
 Divisions were acknowledged by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in a
speech in March 1946 when he used the phrase “the iron curtain”

Between: Polish democrats excluded from Lublin Committee, communist governments
installed in other eastern European countries, new US president Harry Truman (knew little
about foreign policy, little appreciation of Soviet needs to guarantee their security in Eastern
Europe, tougher, more confrontational), Truman suddenly cut Lend Lease aid to Soviet Union
– convinced Stalin that the US were prepared to use economic blackmail