Key Events and Developments in the Cold War (1946-1956)

Greek Civil War (1946-1949)

• Causes:
  • Mussolini's invasion; German support; eventual German withdrawal due to strong resistance.
  • British involvement supporting Greek government against communist EAM-ELAS fighters.
  • Stalin's refusal to assist Greek communists, adhering to the ‘Percentages Agreement’ with the UK.
• US Involvement:
  • Initially, British aid until FEB 1947, then US support via the Truman Doctrine to contain communism.
• Consequences:
  • Greek communists defeated, largely due to lack of Soviet support.
  • Contributed to Tito-Stalin split as Tito supported Greek communists against Stalin's policy.

Tito-Stalin Split (1948)

• Causes:
  • Yugoslavia's deviation from Stalinist communism and support for Greek communists.
  • Stalin's suppression of Balkan Federation idea by Tito and Dimitrov.
• Key Events:
  • Expulsion of Yugoslavia from Cominform; Titoism denounced.
  • Failed Soviet attempts to overthrow Tito, resulting in Yugoslavia receiving Western aid.
• Consequences:
  • Strengthened Tito's position and Western support for Yugoslavia.
  • Increased control over Eastern Bloc by Stalin.

Prague Coup (1948)

• Context:
  • Communist party had strong support post-WWII.
  • Soviet pressure after interest in Marshall Plan discussions.
• Coup Details:
  • Communist purge of non-communists from government positions.
  • Threat of a general strike led to a communist-dominated government.
• Impact:
  • Death of Jan Masaryk accelerated US Congressional support for the Marshall Plan.

Berlin Blockade (1948-1949)

• Causes:
  • Creation of Bizonia and Trizonia by Western powers.
  • Introduction of the Deutschmark in West Germany.
• USSR's Concerns:
  • Fear of a strong, Western-aligned Germany.
• Key Events:
  • Stalin's blockade of Berlin; Western airlift response.
• Consequences:
  • Formation of NATO.
  • Division of Germany into FDR (West) and GDR (East).

Japan Post-War Developments

• US Occupation:
  • Initial punishment shifted to rebuilding after 1947.
  • New constitution and economic aid to counter communism.
• US Strategy:
  • Japan as a bulwark against communism in Asia, especially after China's fall to communism.

NSC-68 and Domino Theory

• NSC-68 (1950):
  • Response to Soviet atomic bomb, Chinese communism.
  • Called for massive US military build-up.
• Domino Theory:
  • Basis for US intervention in Asia and elsewhere to prevent spread of communism.

Korean War (1950-1953)

• Context and Causes:
  • North vs. South Korea with superpower involvement (USSR backing North, US backing South).
• Key Phases:
  • Initial North Korean success, US/UN counterattack, Chinese intervention, ultimately a stalemate.
• Consequences:
  • Division and devastation in Korea.
  • Increased US military spending and global commitment against communism.

Impact of McCarthyism

• Domestic:
  • Anti-communist hysteria; affected US politics and policy.
• International:
  • Shift towards Asia-focused US foreign policy; British concerns.

Formation of NATO and Warsaw Pact

• FRG (West Germany) Joins NATO (1955):
  • Strengthened Western alliance.
• Warsaw Pact:
  • Soviet response to West Germany's NATO membership.

Summary

These events reflect the intense geopolitical, ideological, and military struggles of the early Cold War period, illustrating the global impact of superpower rivalry and the spread of communism and anti-communism across Europe and Asia.