Were the peace treaties of 1919–23 fair?
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What were the motives
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Versailles?
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redid all the victors
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Why
Focus Points
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• What was the impact of the peace treaty on Germany up to
1923?
• Could the treaties be justified at the time?
Specified Content
• The peace treaties of 1919–23:
o the roles of individuals such as Wilson, Clemenceau and
Lloyd George in the peacemaking process
o the impact of the treaties on the defeated countries
o contemporary opinions about the treaties.
Zayn Khamisa
Who was to blame for the Cold War?
Focus Points
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• How had the USSR gained control
Europe by 1948?
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r to Soviet7 expansionism?
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• How did the USA
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• What
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• Who was the more to blame for starting the Cold War: the
• Why did the USA-USSR alliance begin to break down in 1945?
USA or the USSR?
Specified Content
• The origins of the Cold War:
o the 1945 summit conferences and the breakdown of the
USA-USSR alliance in 1945–6
o Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe to 1948, and
American reactions to it
o the occupation of Germany and the Berlin Blockade
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Section D
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Romania – Romanian king ordered to appoint pro-soviet PM to leader Popular Front
Coalition (since coal govt was dominated with comms). This got rid of anti-comm coalition.
Monarchy abolished 1947 – new PM Parhon
Bulgaria – Comm dominated coalition govt ‘Fatherland Front’ won after 1945 rigged elec.Got
rid of any anti-comms. Monarchy abolished 1946. New comm constitution in 1947 - new PM
Chervenkov
Hungary – 1945 – unrigged elec – non-comm win. New rigged elec Aug 1947 – exclusive
comm win. Rakosi new leader banned all non0comm partied Nov 1947
Czech – Enjoyed political freedom – no single party had overall freedom, coalition of
democratic parties always won but they were divided. Comm party was single largest. Feb
1948 – Comm interior minister replaces 8 senior officers in police force with 8 comms :o.
Radio, paper seized. Rival party HQ occupied – mass comm parade. Protestors fired upon. 10
March 1948 Foreign minister Jan Masaryk murdered
Response of West
Iron Curtain Speech – Churchill 1946
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Term to represent border between USSR controlled countries and the West
Showed separation of free democratic states (West) from the communist dominated ones
(soviets)
Denial of freedom and democracy
Purpose – to encourage Truman to have alliance against comms and to not go back to
isolation from EU.
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Marshall Plan – Why?
1. Prevent spread – uphold policy of containment. Believed Communist succeeded when
people faced hardship/poverty. Aftermath of war – EU countries still rationing bread.
Truman - rebuild prosperity in EU - prevent communism taking hold – suffering countries.
2. Encourage market for US goods in Europe. Experience of depression – weak economies
overseas – American had no-one to trade with. Also meant – countries owe US a favour –
reflect well on future relations. However, not only self-interest – widespread poverty in
Europe post-war – Need for charitable action i.e.Marshall Aid
Truman Doctrine - Significance
1. After WW1 – USA Isolationist. TD made clear not happen after WW2 – take ‘responsibility
for world collaboration’/ ‘no more appeasement of dictators’. From now – all comm actions
meet US reaction. [1945 – GB sent troops to Greece to support Monarchists – 1947
threatened to withdraw cos cost too much – USA offered funds.] Truman accepted EE was
communist but aimed to ‘contain’ it
2. Significant cos USA prepared to send money, equip or advise to any country threatened by
Comm take-over. BUT wouldn’t help any country already communist that was just fighting it
Zayn Khamisa
Section D
– seen in Hungary 1956. Had widespread consequences – was to lead to arms race & heavy
involvement of US troops not only in EU, but Asia too – Korea/Vietnam
Berlin
Berlin Blockade/Airlift (June 1948-May 1949 just over 10 months)
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Stalin closed all road,rail,canal links between West Berlin/West Germany – Saw prosperous
West Berlin as threat to Communism.
US/UK had to fly supplies – 2.5mill W.Berliners – kept fed/warm through winter
↑2 mil tons supplies airlifted
Flights every few mins
Nearly 200,000 flights over 10 months
Why?
1. Political/Territorial – 1947 – GB/USA merge zones into Bizonia. 1949 – USA, British and
French merged to form West Berlin. Stalin thought was against Yalta. This made West Berlin
a small island of capitalism and democracy surrounded by communism. Stalin feared allies
would re-unite Germany and wanted to force them to remove troops from West Berlin. USA
convinced world that Stalin was plotting to take over whole of Germany and then rest of EU
2. Economic – USA poured millions of dollars into West Berlin to rebuild it. Stalin convinced
that this was a plot to try and get East Berliners to become envious of what capitalism might
give them that communism would not. Stalin angry that Allies were planning to introduce a
new currency. Said this broke agreement as both superpowers had to agree on any decisions
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Consequences
1. Division of Germany confirmed – opposite views allies/soviets – division permanent. West
Germany strengthen ties with allies who made elections for new state = Federal Republic of
Germany – May 1949 (same month as blockade ends). August 1949 free elections result in
anti-comm govt led by Christian Democratic Party. Soviets respond by forming their state
called German Democratic Republic
2. Soviets fail to take all of Berlin by blockade. West Berlin to remain an island of capitalism in
Comm East Germany. ‘Window’ for prosperity and freedom of capitalism in soviet EE, route
for East Germans to west
3. Big step in CW as allies recognise Soviet expansionist threat. NATO formed
(USA,Canada,Belgium,Italy,France,Britain) defensive alliance (anti-soviet) in 1949. Soviet
respond with Warsaw Pact (see notes on sect F)
USA vs USSR – who to blame
1. USSR – removed non-comm leaders in Pol . No free elections → imposed communist rule
instead → ↑suspicions. Stalin refused to reduce size of Red Army. Intended to set up buffer
Zayn Khamisa
Section D
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Zayn Khamisa