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Aftermath of War: Europe and Japan. Chapter 32, Section 5. Yalta Conference. February, 1945: Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt Decided to split Germany and Berlin into zones of influence between the major Allied nations Stalin agreed that Eastern European nations would have free elections
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Aftermath of War: Europe and Japan Chapter 32, Section 5
Yalta Conference • February, 1945: Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt • Decided to split Germany and Berlin into zones of influence between the major Allied nations • Stalin agreed that Eastern European nations would have free elections • As war ended the U.S. and S.U. moved in different directions in terms of their political goals: the U.S. wanted to stop the spread of Communism and encourage the growth of Democracy while the S.U. wanted the opposite
Creation of the United Nations • Creation of a group of nations (50 originally) to help protect each other against aggression. • Members voted on issues in General Assembly • Group of five nations made up the P-5 Security Council: U.S., S.U., France, China, Great Britain • Security Council investigated and made major decisions • Any P-5 member could veto action
Devastation in Europe • London, Warsaw, and Berlin lay in ruins • As many as 42 million Europeans died during World War II • Civilians faced devastated homes and cities, food and clothing shortages • Some people left their homes and wandered around Europe, searching for family members or shelter
Postwar Governments and Politics • Some governments (Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway) went back to their previous governments • Others (France, Germany, Italy) could not or would not return to their war-time leadership styles • This led to major growth within the Communist Party because it promised massive change • Favor for the Communist Party quickly diminished as they resorted to violent tactics to try to gain power • Potsdam Conference: July 1945, Truman, Stalin, Churchill. Stalin had secured communist govt. in much of E. Europe, violating terms of Yalta.
Containment • 1946-1947: The U.S. continues to try to stop the growth of communism and Soviet expansion, a policy known as containment • U.S. tried to help nations vulnerable to communist influence through alliances and financial aid • Truman Doctrine: Congress authorized 400 million dollars in aid to Turkey and Greece to help them resist communism • Marshall Plan: 12.5 Billion in U.S. aid given to help secure the economies and infrastructures of non-communist European nations
Berlin Airlift • 1948: France, Britain and U.S. wanted to withdraw from Germany and allow nation to reunite • Stalin refused and retaliated by holding West Berlin hostage: cut off traffic, causing lack of food and supplies • U.S. and British forces flew in goods to West Berlin from June 1948 until May 1949 to keep from giving in to Stalin • Tensions between the U.S. and S.U. led to the Cold War, which officially began in 1949