• “The difference between
reality and fantasy is
often perception”

How did the Allies plan to deal with
Europe after the war?

Yalta [February 1945]
Churchill, FDR and Stalin

 Germany would be divided into
occupation zones
 There would be free elections in
Eastern Europe
 Create a new world peace
organization [United Nations]

Potsdam [July 1945]
Truman, Atlee, Stalin

Issue a warning to Japan

to surrender
unconditionally
Conduct post war-crime

tribunals
USSR pledges to join the

fight against Japan

What was the Cold War?
-competition between the US [west]

and the USSR [east] for power and
influence in the world
RESULT: political, economic and

military conflicts between the two
countries and their allies

The US and USSR disagreed over

what should be done in the post
WWII era [Eastern Europe]
 The two countries differed politically,
economically & socially
 Years of distrust between the nations
 ex. US & WWI allies invaded Russia
during Bolshevik revolution
 US didn’t recognize the USSR until
1933

Truman’s Response to Soviet
“Aggression”
Truman Doctrine

US will give economic

and military aid to
countries under the
threat of Communist
aggression
Examples: Greece &

Turkey

Marshall Plan, 1947
US provided

Western Europe $12
billion dollars in aid
 Goal: Revive
western Europe and
prevent the election
of left leaning
politicians in
Western Europe

Soviet Response to NATO—
Warsaw Pact, 1955

Berlin Blockade and Airlift,1948-
1949—Supplies to W. Berlin!

Korean War, 1950-1953--armistice