Lecture Summary: Cold War History and Merch Promotion

Introduction and Merch Promotion

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Historical Context: World War I and Lenin's Role

• 1917 Eastern Front: Germany and Russia on the brink of collapse.
• Lenin's Return to Russia:
  • Germans facilitated Lenin's return from Switzerland to Russia.
  • Objective: Create internal crisis in Russia.
• Outcomes:
  • Overthrow of the government, Lenin in power.
  • Withdrawal from WWI, establishment of communism, civil war, economic turmoil, famine.
  • Lenin warned against Stalin's rise before dying.

Stalin's Ascendancy and Rule

• Rise to Power: Stalin arrested or eliminated opponents.
• Five-Year Plans: Transition from agriculture to industry but ruled with terror.
• World War II Allies: Initially allies with the West; later tensions rose.
• Nuclear Threats: Introduction of the atomic bomb.

Post-WWII and Cold War Beginnings

• Yalta Conference and Eastern Europe:
  • Stalin promised free elections but established puppet governments.
  • Churchill's Iron Curtain speech highlighted divisions.
• Interventions and Conflicts:
  • Greek Civil War and Turkey's strategic importance.
  • Iran occupation issue and NATO establishment.
• Truman Doctrine: U.S. commitment to contain communism.
• Marshall Plan vs. COMECON: Economic aid competition between U.S. and USSR.

Berlin Blockade and Airlift

• Berlin Blockade: Stalin's attempt to force Western powers out of Berlin.
• Airlift: Successful Western response to maintain West Berlin's supply.

Nuclear Arms Race and Espionage

• Soviet Atomic Bomb: USSR's development ended U.S. monopoly.
• U-2 Incident: Espionage tensions with U.S. spy planes.
• KGB and Espionage: Extensive Soviet spying efforts.

Communist China and Korean War

• Chinese Civil War: Communist victory under Mao Zedong.
• Korean War:
  • Division along the 38th parallel.
  • North Korean invasion of the South.
  • Involvement of China and UN troops.
  • Stalemate and eventual ceasefire.

Khrushchev's Leadership and De-Stalinization

• Stalin's Death: Cerebral hemorrhage due to lack of medical care.
• Khrushchev's Policies:
  • De-Stalinization campaign.
  • Limited reforms and cultural freedom.
• Eastern European Uprisings: Brutally suppressed revolutions.

Space Race and Berlin Wall

• U.S.-Soviet Technological Competition:
  • Soviet advancements in space.
  • Missile gap concerns.
• Berlin Wall Construction:
  • Separation of East and West Berlin.
  • Display of communist system failures.
• Checkpoint Charlie Standoff:
  • U.S. and Soviet tank standoff.
  • Diplomatic resolution to avoid nuclear conflict.

Conclusion

• Cold War Tensions: Continued geopolitical tension between East and West.
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