Edexcel IGCSE History: Cold War Developments (1945-1949)

Overview

This section focuses on the critical early developments of the Cold War between 1945 and 1949, immediately following World War II. The notes below detail key events and their significant effects, providing context crucial for answering exam questions, particularly those requiring analysis of cause and effect (like question types B and C). Understanding the interplay between these events is vital for comprehending the escalating tensions and ideological divisions that characterized the early Cold War.

Key Events and Effects

The Iron Curtain Speech (March 1946)

Context: Delivered by Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister, in Fulton, Missouri. This speech marked a significant shift in post-war rhetoric, openly challenging Soviet actions in Eastern Europe.
Effect 1: Solidifying the Soviet Sphere of Influence: Churchill highlighted the violation of the Yalta Declaration (agreed upon at the Yalta Conference in 1945), where Stalin had promised free and fair elections in liberated Eastern European countries. Instead, Soviet-backed communist regimes were installed, suppressing democratic processes and eliminating political opposition. The speech exemplified this Soviet control, naming specific instances like the suppression of the “London Poles” (the Polish government-in-exile).
Effect 2: Highlighting the Ideological and Geographic Division of Europe: The speech explicitly drew a line between the communist East and the capitalist West, illustrating a growing ideological chasm. This division was not merely political; it manifested in stark economic disparities. Western Europe, with access to American aid, began to recover rapidly, while Eastern Europe remained impoverished and underdeveloped under Soviet control. Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” metaphor became a powerful symbol of this divide and the barriers to movement between the two blocs.

The Truman Doctrine (March 1947)

Context: President Truman’s response to the perceived threat of Soviet expansionism in Greece and Turkey. The Greek Civil War (1946-1949) highlighted this threat of communist influence destabilizing democratic governments.
Effect 1: U.S. Commitment to Global Anti-Communism: This doctrine marked a fundamental shift in American foreign policy. The $400 million aid package for Greece represented a commitment to directly counter communist expansion through financial and military assistance. This commitment would later extend to other regions (Korea, Vietnam, Cuba).
Effect 2: Formalization of the Containment Policy: The doctrine, influenced by the “Long Telegram” (a lengthy analysis from George Kennan, a U.S. diplomat in Moscow), articulated a policy of containing communism—preventing its spread without necessarily attempting to overthrow existing communist regimes. This policy would shape American foreign policy for decades.

The Marshall Plan (June 1947)

Context: A massive U.S. initiative to provide economic assistance to war-torn Europe. The plan recognized that economic recovery was crucial for preventing the spread of communism.
Effect 1: Rebuilding Western Europe: The $13 billion investment spurred significant economic growth in Western European countries. The plan not only provided resources for reconstruction but also fostered economic cooperation and integration among participating nations.
Effect 2: Widening the Rift Between East and West: Stalin perceived the Marshall Plan as an attempt at “dollar imperialism,” aiming to create economic dependence on the U.S. He forbade Eastern European countries from participating, further cementing the division and widening the economic gap between East and West. The plan’s success in the West directly contrasted with the stagnation and poverty experienced in the East.

Cominform (September 1947)

Context: The Communist Information Bureau (Cominform), established by Stalin, aimed to coordinate and control communist parties across Europe.
Effect 1: Strengthening Stalin’s Control over Eastern Europe: The Cominform ensured the loyalty of communist parties in government and exerted influence over those in opposition. This centralized control allowed Stalin to maintain a tight grip on Eastern European politics.
Effect 2: Counteracting the Marshall Plan Through Propaganda and Disruption: The Cominform engaged in a concerted effort to discredit the Marshall Plan, organizing strikes and protests against its implementation in Western European countries. Though largely unsuccessful in preventing aid acceptance, it highlighted the intensity of the ideological struggle.

Comecon (January 1949)

Context: The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon), a Soviet response to the Marshall Plan. It aimed to foster economic cooperation among the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellite states.
Effect 1: Economic Stagnation in Eastern Europe: Unlike the Marshall Plan, Comecon lacked the resources and effective mechanisms to stimulate economic growth. The Soviet Union often exploited Comecon’s resources for its own benefit, leaving Eastern European countries economically underdeveloped.
Effect 2: Maintaining Soviet Control and Limiting Western Influence: Comecon served to restrict trade between Eastern European nations and the West, reinforcing Soviet economic and political dominance. The contrast between the economic success of Western Europe and the stagnation of Eastern Europe underscored the effectiveness—or lack thereof—of each approach.

The Berlin Airlift Crisis (1948-1949)

Cause: Following the creation of Bizonia (the merging of the British and American occupation zones in Germany), Stalin, fearing Western German resurgence, blockaded land access to West Berlin, hoping to force the Allies out and gain control of the entire city.
Effect 1: Formal Partition of Germany: The Allied response—the Berlin Airlift—demonstrated Western resolve. Following the crisis, the Western zones formally became the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), and the Soviet zone became the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), solidifying the division of Germany and highlighting the failure of the Soviet blockade.
Effect 2: Formation of NATO: The airlift underscored the vulnerabilities of West Berlin and the need for a collective security agreement. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949, representing a formal military alliance between the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations, explicitly designed to counter Soviet expansionism. This also, later, led to the Warsaw Pact formation by the USSR in 1955.

Conclusion

These events represent the foundational elements of the early Cold War, setting the stage for decades of geopolitical tension and ideological conflict. Understanding their causes and effects is crucial for comprehending the broader context of superpower relations in the post-World War II era and for success in Edexcel IGCSE History exams.

Early Cold War Developments (1945-1949)