Cold War: From Wartime Alliances to Adversaries

Ideological Differences

United States: Capitalist democratic republic
- Aims to spread democratic ideals, self-determination, free market capitalism, and collective security
Soviet Union: Communist one-party state
- Seeks security through territorial acquisition, influenced by past invasions (e.g., Germany)
- Aims to spread global communism centered on Moscow

Grand Alliance: Formed in 1941 between Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union
- Created in response to German invasion of the Soviet Union and Japanese attack on the US
- Persistent suspicion among allies
  - Stalin demanded the opening of a second front in Europe (D-Day)
  - Exclusion from atomic bomb discussions

Tehran Conference (Nov 1943)
- Stalin demands opening of a western front
- Claims on Polish territory and Baltic states
- Soviets promise to join war against Japan post-Europe conflict
Yalta Conference (Feb 1945)
- Agreement on disarming and denazifying Germany
- Division of Germany among US, UK, Soviet Union, France, and China
- Stalin occupies much of Eastern Europe
Potsdam Conference
- Harry Truman (US) vs. Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)
- Tensions over Polish government and free elections
- US no longer needs Soviet help with Japan due to atomic bomb

Salami Tactics: Soviet strategy in Eastern Europe
- Accusations of right-wing parties as Nazis, leading to bans
- Establishment of communist dominance
Baggage Train: Return of Eastern European communist leaders
Soviet Troops in Iran
- Initially refused withdrawal; UN intervenes

George F. Kennan's Long Telegram (Feb 1946)
- Kennan: Soviet Union understands only force, desires ideological expansion
- Shapes US policy of containment
Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech
- Warns against appeasement of the Soviet Union
- Calls for strong Western response to Soviet actions
- Stalin reacts with anti-Western propaganda

We'll continue with further developments in the Cold War in the next session.