1. HISTORY
REVISION PACK:
ORIGINS OF THE
COLD WAR.
PAPER 1
(Distributed March 2012)

2. Origins of the Cold War Flashcards: Yalta and Potsdam
Which leaders met at Yalta Roosevelt (USA), Churchill (GB), and Stalin (USSR)
Conference, Feb 1945?
What was agreed at Yalta? Germany and Berlin would be divided into
zones of occupation under control of USA,
USSR, GB and FR
USSR would join the war against JAP
United Nations to be set up after WWII
Eastern European countries could hold free
elections after the end of the war
What did the Allied leaders Stalin wanted to move the border of Poland westwards
disagree on at Yalta? into German territory – Roosevelt was unhappy but
agreed since Stalin promised not to help Communist
rebels in Greece
How many USSR civilian Over 21 million, including over 13 million soldiers (the
and military deaths were USA lost only 0.5million soldiers)
there in WWII?
Which leaders met at Truman (USA), Churchill (GB), and Stalin (USSR) – but
Potsdam Conference, July Churchill was replaced by Atlee
1945?
What was agreed at Germany and Berlin would be divided as
Potsdam? agreed at Yalta
Poland’s eastern border moved west – this
would give the USSR more territory
Nazi leaders to be tried as war criminals
What were the Truman blocked Stalin’s demands for crippling
disagreements at Potsdam? reparations (fines) to be placed on GMY
Truman refused to allow the USSR to occupy
JAP once it was defeated
Truman and Atlee opposed Stalin’s demand
that he set up pro-Soviet governments in
Eastern Europe?
Why was Potsdam less Stalin’s troops remained in Eastern Europe –
successful? hopes of free elections seemed very distant
now
Truman informed Stalin that the USA now
possessed the atom bomb – Stalin feared that
the USA might use this weapon in the future
against the USSR
Truman adopted a far more hardline approach
to Stalin than Roosevelt had
GB and USA were suspicious of Stalin who had
now set up a pro-Communist government in
Poland
Stalin was suspicious as to why USA wanted
GMY to ‘recover’ economically

3. Origins of the Cold War Flashcards: Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe
Why did Stalin ensure that Stalin wanted to create a buffer zone between east
every government in Eastern and west. The USSR had suffered two invasions in
Europe was pro-communist? the last thirty years – if Eastern Europe was under
his control, this would make any future invasion
less likely
How did the USA interpret this The USA believed that this was part of Stalin’s aim
move by Stalin? to spread communism throughout the world – in
particular they thought countries in Western Europe
were under threat
What was the Iron Curtain In March 1946 Churchill visited the USA where he
speech? made a speech in which he declared that Europe
was being divided by Soviet policy. In the West
were free and democratic states, but in the East
countries were living under the domination of
communism and the USSR – an ‘iron curtain’
separated the two
How did Stalin set up pro- Although Stalin did hold elections, these were
Communist governments? rigged to ensure Communists won. Politicians from
other parties were beaten, intimidated or even
murdered (e.g. Jan Masaryk). Even after the war,
six million Soviet troops remained in Eastern Europe
to stamp out opposition
How did Stalin ensure these He set up COMINFORM in 1947, an alliance of
states relied on the USSR? Communist countries, which restricted their contact
with the West. This was done in response to the
Marshall Plan. Later on he set up COMECON to
coordinate trade between these countries
Origins of the Cold War Flashcards: The USA’s reaction to Soviet expansion
Why did events in Greece Truman was informed in 1947 that GB could no
change US policy? longer afford to keep troops in Greece & Turkey. If
GB withdrew these countries could well come under
the influence of Stalin. Truman therefore paid for
the troops to be kept there and gave financial
backing to the two countries. This was the
beginning of the US policy of CONTAINMENT
What was the Truman Truman announced this change of policy to the
Doctrine? world in a speech in March 1947 – he made it clear
that the USA was prepared to assist any country
under the threat of communism. The Cold War had
begun!

4. What was Marshall Aid? Truman believed poverty and hardship were the
breeding grounds for communism, and he therefore
provided billions of dollars for the wrecked
economies of Europe. He also wanted these
economies to recover so that they could provide a
market for US produced goods. This aid was
accepted by Western European governments, but
those in eastern Europe were banned from
accepting it on the strict orders of Stalin
Origins of the Cold War Flashcards: The Berlin Blockade 1948-1949
How did the USA’s actions West Germany (and West Berlin) were
help to cause this crisis? benefitting from Marshall Aid
GB and USA had combined their parts of
West Germany to form BIZONIA
They introduced a new currency called the
Deutschmark
These
How did Stalin interpret these The USSR believed that this was part of the USA’s
actions? to rebuild Germany into a strong nation once more
– this could result in the USSR being invaded once
more
Why did Stalin decide to By blockading road and rail links from West
impose a blockade on Berlin? Germany into West Berlin, Stalin hoped to test the
strength of the USA and to force them into
surrendering West Berlin where two million people
lived free from Soviet rule
Why did the USA and GB They could not break the road and rail blockade
decide to fly in supplies to with force as this might be seen as an act of war;
West Berlin? nonstop flights (a total of 275,000!) ensured that
5000 tons of food and other necessities came to
West Berlin each day
Why did Stalin not shoot down This would be seen as an aggressive act of war –
the planes? furthermore the US had also stationed B29 bombers
in GB, capable of dropping the atom bomb n the
Soviets
What were the consequences The USA, GB and FR combined their zones
of the Blockade? to form WEST GERMANY
NATO, a military alliance of western nations,
was set up to ensure that any future attack
by Stalin would be met with force
Stalin set up the WARSAW PACT – a similar
alliance of Eastern European countries; by
1949 Soviet scientists had also developed
the atom bomb

5. Pupil Activities:
Working with a partner, try to determine who was responsible for the Cold War by
highlighting the events below: e.g. the Berlin Blockade of 1948 should be highlighted
to indicate that the USSR was responsible
Key: USA was responsible
USSR was responsible
1945 Yalta Conference
Truman becomes president
Potsdam Conference
Dropping of atom bombs on Japan
Communist-dominated Polish government set up by Stalin
1946 Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech
1947 Bizonia formed in western Germany
Truman Doctrine / Greek Civil War
Marshall Plan / Communist governments imposed in E. Europe
1948 New currency introduced in western Germany
Berlin Blockade begins
1949 Formation of NATO
USSR lifts Berlin Blockade
FRG (West Germany) & GDR (East Germany) established
USSR develops atom bomb
Which side gained the most from Yalta and Potsdam?
Evidence for USA: Evidence for USSR:

6. Cold War Exam Practice: Cartoon Based Questions
January 2011
(a) Study source A: what is the message of this cartoon? Use
details of the cartoon and your own knowledge to explain
your answer (7)
(b) Explain why the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin in
1948? (8)
TOP TIP!
For these style of cartoon
questions you can earn 6/7 for a
well explained answer that refers
to only the cartoon or your own
knowledge; the final mark is
gained by doing both!
TOP TIP!
For the (b) type questions you
must explain TWO reasons to
earn your full 8 marks; if you
explain just one reason you will
earn 5-6 marks. Look at the
answers below – what marks
would they be awarded?
‘The message the cartoonist wanted to give is that Marshall can see Europe’s need for
American aid but America does not seem too interested. Marshall had been to assess
the economic state of Europe in late 1947. Here he found a ruined economy. Marshall
suggested that about $17 billion would be needed to rebuild Europe’s prosperity. At first
the American Congress refused to grant this money. They were concerned about
Truman’s involvement in Europe. They changed their attitude when the Communists
took over Czechoslovakia.’
‘The Soviet Union wanted to force the Western Allies to pull out of Berlin by starving
them into surrender by making Berlin dependent on the USSR. The Soviet Union did
this because they were afraid of Germany recovering to be strong again and therefore
becoming a threat to them. The USSR believed the Western Allies had no right to be in
Berlin. They saw them as a threat as they were able to show off their capitalist way of
life. The Allies had combined their zones into Bizonia and introduced a new currency,
called the Deutschmark.’

7. Cold War Exam Practice: Cartoon Based Questions
June 2010
(a) Study source A: what is the message of this cartoon? Use
details of the cartoon and your own knowledge to explain
your answer (7)
(b) Explain why the USA was hostile towards the Soviet Union
in the years 1945 to 1949? (8)
TOP TIP!
For these style of cartoon
questions you can earn 6/7 for a
well explained answer that refers
to only the cartoon or your own
knowledge; the final mark is
gained by doing both!
TOP TIP!
For the (b) type questions you
must explain TWO reasons to
earn your full 8 marks; if you
explain just one reason you will
earn 5-6 marks. Look at the
answers below – what marks
would they be awarded?
‘The message the cartoonist wanted to give is that Stalin has cut off eastern Europe
from the West. The cartoon shows this by a large barrier on which are written the words
‘No Admittance – By Order Joe’. This is a clear reference to Josef Stalin, the leader of
the USSR at this time. His control of Eastern Europe is further shown by the Soviet flag
flying behind the barrier, referred to by Churchill as the Iron Curtain. It is Churchill
peering under this curtain in the cartoon.
‘Truman was far more suspicious of Stalin than FDR had been. In particular he did not
trust Stalin who had kept over 6 million soldiers in Eastern Europe, even though the war
was over, and used them to intimidate his political opponents in this area. Despite an
agreement made at Yalta, Stalin had refused to allow free elections in these countries
which effectively became satellite states of the Soviet Union. Stalin used intimidation,
threats, and even murder to ensure his supporters won political power. Furthermore
Truman did not trust Stalin due to his actions over Berlin. The Soviet leader blockaded
western access to West Berlin in response to western attempts to support Germany’s
ailing economy.’

8. Cartoons for you to interpret:

10. Cold War Exam Practice: Essay Based Questions
January 2012
(a) What decisions about Germany were taken at Yalta and
Potsdam? (4)
(b) Explain why the wartime allies disagreed about Poland in
1945. (6)
(c) The following were equally to blame for increasing Cold
War tensions before 1950: Soviet expansion in Eastern
Europe, the Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan, the Berlin
Blockade
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your
answer by referring only to the three factors above (10)
TOP TIP for (c) above!
These questions often prove difficult for students to answer successfully – it is
easier if you use the following structure:
Explain what Soviet expansionism was and how it increased tensions
Explain what the Truman Doctrine was and how it increased tensions
Explain what the Berlin Blockade was and how it increased tensions
In your final paragraph, explain whether you think they were equally to
blame, or if one was more important than the others in increasing tension
June 2011
(a) Describe what happened at the Potsdam Conference. (4)

11. (b) Explain why the USA-USSR alliance had broken down by
1947 (6)
TOP TIP!
Focus your key reasons on two of the following before writing a proper response: the
Potsdam Conference, the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe, and the Marshall Plan
(c) Which country had the more successful policies in Europe
between 1945 and 1949: the USA or the USSR? Explain
your answer (10)
Plan an answer to the following with your partner using the table below:
Policy USA / USSR Success Failure

12. Complete the following question for homework or under timed
conditions in class:
January 2010
(a) What was decided at the Yalta Conference in February
1945? (4)
(b) Explain why there was a breakdown in relations between
the USSR and the West from 1945 to 1946(6)
(c) ‘The Berlin Blockade was more to blame than the Marshall
Plan for increasing Cold War tension.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? (10)