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POST WWII SUPERPOWERS

POST WWII SUPERPOWERS. 1945-1960 THE COLD WAR HEATS UP. At Yalta (1945) the “Big 3” partitioned Germany. It was divided into a West Germany and East Germany. Berlin was a divided city despite being squarely in the Soviet occupation zone.

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POST WWII SUPERPOWERS

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  1. POST WWII SUPERPOWERS 1945-1960 THE COLD WAR HEATS UP

  2. At Yalta (1945) the “Big 3” partitioned Germany. It was divided into a West Germany and East Germany. Berlin was a divided city despite being squarely in the Soviet occupation zone. Poland regained its land in the west (1/4 of Germany) and forced out all Germans Czechoslovakia expelled all Germans from the Sudetenland A reeling Germany had refugees to care for now in a weakened state Partitioned Germany

  3. OBSTACLES TO EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY OTHER • Russia was not seeking to make life easy for Germany • Upset over Hitler’s deception (Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact violation), Stalin sought to put distance between himself and Germany • The free elections promised at Yalta were replaced by puppet regimes and dictators loyal to the Soviets • This created a bullet-proof vest of sorts between the Soviets and Germany (friendly neighbors)

  4. The Cold War Begins • Soviets refused free elections in E. Europe, violating the spirit of self-determination • Soviets want friendly neighbors (Communist)

  5. Satellite Countries - dependent upon or dominated by the Soviet Union • Czechoslovakia • Hungary • Romania • Poland • Albania • Bulgaria • Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia)

  6. THE UN • Created in San Francisco, CA in 1945 (51 nations in attendance) • Purpose • Maintain international peace and security • Foster international cooperation in… • Cultural, economic and social problems around the world • Many then, and now in the US regard the UN as a rogues gallery of nations that use the UN as a platform for self-aggrandizement. • In truth the US is the UN military and infrastructure, yet gets little cooperation

  7. 194 member nations • 15 member Security Council • 5 permanent members • US, China, USSR (Russia), England, and France • Permanent members have veto power to stop UN action United Nations (June 1945)

  8. ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR Democracy, capitalistic, free trade Communist, socialistic, government control

  9. US / SOVIET FLARES-UPS • 1945-1960 • ALLIED CONSOLIDATION OF THE WESTERN GERMANY – BERLIN AIRLIFT • NATO V. WARSAW PACT • FAILURE OF CONTAINMENT – CHINA • SUEZ CRISIS • HUNGARIAN UPRISING • FAILURE OF CONTAINMENT - KOREA • KOREAN WAR (PROXY) • ARMS RACE – CREATION OF H-BOMB • SPACE RACE • U2 SPY PLANE – POWERS • 1961-1991 • BERLIN WALL • BAY OF PIGS INVASION – CUBA • CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS • VIETNAM WAR (PROXY) • SOVIET INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN (PROXY – MUJAHADEN) • CARTER DOCTRINE – CONSTITUTION FOR THE WORLD – EXTENSION OF MISSIONARY DIPLOMACY – END OF DETENTE • BOYCOTT OF OLYMPICS (US – 1980 & SOVIETS – 1984) • IRAN – IRAQ WAR (PROXY) • REAGAN ARMS BUILDUP

  10. The Cold War • US and Soviets enter a Cold War • instigation short of armed military conflict. • The Truman Doctrine • US should support free peoples from “armed minorities” and “outside pressures.” • Marshall Plan • Economic aid to western Europe to stave off hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos. • Helps halt the spread of Communism

  11. containment • Keep Communism in original boundaries • Winston Churchill - “iron curtain,” • The invisible wall created between east and west Europe; communist and democratic

  12. The Berlin Airlift • 1948 - the US, France, and GB consolidate German zones • Soviets cut off supplies to West • The US and Brits airlifted supplies • Eventually Soviets lift blockade

  13. NATO In 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created If one member was attacked, this was an act of war on all members.

  14. Warsaw Pact(1955) Soviet counterpart to NATO. U.S.S.R and her 7 “satellite nations” Intervened in East Europe 1953 - 1967 to end any movement toward democracy.

  15. Containment Fails • China goes Communist- 1949 • Civil war between pro-U.S Chiang Kai-shek [Nationalist] and U.S.S.R. supported Mao Zedong [Communist]. • Nationalist fled to Formosa [Taiwan]

  16. The Korean War • S. Korea was occupied by the US • Communists & the Soviet Union occupied N. Korea • Both Koreas claimed full ownership of the country • ’50 - North invaded South • UN sent troops (90% American)

  17. Chinese warned they would not allow invaders near the Chinese / North Korean border. • 1950, 300,000 Chinese poured over the border to attack the UN / Southern forces.

  18. Gen. Douglas MacArthur wanted to extend the war • blockade China and use atomic bombs (on Soviets too) • Truman said no • MacArthur became vocal about the bomb • Talked to the press • Truman relieved the General of his command (civilian v. military control)

  19. Stalemate in the Meat-Grinder • Soviet Union unexpectedly called for a ceasefire in ‘53. • Demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 38th parallel • War was a stalemate, but containment had succeeded • 54,000 Americans died • 1952 - Dwight D. Eisenhower elected President

  20. A New Weapon • ‘52 - hydrogen bomb tested • Equivalent of 10.4 million tons of TNT, 670% more powerful than a-bomb • 1953 – 1st Soviet Test Castle Bravo - Largest US Thermonuclear Device Detonated

  21. Brinksmanship • Policy pioneered by Sec. of State John Foster Dulles • go to the edge of war to accomplish the task at hand. • This starts the arms race • policy stressed a reduction in conventional military forces while increasing air defenses, the nuclear options, and the deliver vehicles for the nuclear weapons • Mutual Assured Destruction (Massive Retaliation)

  22. Domino Theory President Eisenhower announced that after the French fiasco at Diem Bien Phu in 1954 that the U.S. had to help South Vietnam. Geneva Accords (1954) Divided Vietnam into two nations ( 17th parallel Domino Theory in SE Asia

  23. Eisenhower Doctrine President Eisenhower extended the Truman Doctrine to cover the Middle East. The U.S. would defend the Middle East against any attack by a communist country Middle East

  24. Problem: A new pro-Soviet government in Egypt nationalized or took control of the Suez Canal. Great Britain, France, and Israel invaded and took over the canal. The U.S. and U.S.S.R. averted a crisis by getting their puppets (friends) to back off. Eisenhower DoctrineSuez Crisis (1956)

  25. The Thaw? In 1953, Soviet leader Josef Stalin died. Nikita Khrushchev became Soviet premier. Eisenhower & Khrushchev- “Spirit of Geneva” Khrushchev did the unthinkable when he stated that Stalin was a murder This marked a period of destalinization in the Soviet Union the government loosened the reigns on the public (not totally)

  26. Hungary, 1956 In 1956, Hungarians revolted against Soviet rule. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and the Warsaw Pact nations invaded Hungary. Eisenhower did not help the pro-democracy movement in fear of war with the U.S.S.R (Truman Doc.?) Dwight D. Eisenhower Nikita Khrushchev

  27. Space Race The U.S. created a new agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to win the space race. Rocket technology, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and satellites were quickly developed.

  28. The Space Race • In 1957 the Soviets became the 1st nation to launch a satellite - Sputnik • US falling behind the Soviets in technology. • US boosts sciences and mathematics. • The US failed to launch their own • “Flopnik” and “Stayputnik.” • ‘58, the US successfully launched its first satellite • The NDEA was initiated in the US to “catch” the Soviets

  29. Race to the Moon • Soviets first in space (Yuri Gagarin) 1961 • NASA’s Florida Cape Canaveral (now Kennedy Space Center) and Houston control center created • ’69 – first man on the moon (Neil Armstrong) • The US would never have won the space race without computers and miniaturized electronics

  30. The U2 Incident • US – ongoing spy missions over Soviet airspace • U2’s designed to fly above radar and anti-aircraft fire. • ’60 - Gary Powers entered Soviet airspace. Shot down & captured • This raised the tensions. (especially after the US denied his existence)

  31. Short-Term Results of Containment 1) It blocked German reunification- U.S. supported the pro-U.S. West Germany while a pro-Soviet East Germany formed by 1950. 2) Military alliances or collective security emerged: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) U.S. and allies Warsaw Pact (1955) Soviet Union and “satellite nations” United Nations (1945) 3) Cold War spread from Eastern Europe to the Middle East, East Asia (China), and Southeast Asia (Korea, Vietnam) 4) 45 year Cold War between the two superpowers

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