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Canada and the cold war

The Cold War began in 1945 after WWII and lasted until 1991. It was a period of geopolitical tension and military buildup between the United States and its capitalist allies and the Soviet Union and its communist allies. Though direct military conflict was avoided, the two superpowers engaged in espionage, propaganda, arms races, and proxy wars. The ideological conflict that fueled the Cold War was between communism and democracy. Key events included the Berlin Airlift, nuclear arms buildup, space race, Cuban Missile Crisis, and fall of the Berlin Wall. The Cold War ended as reform policies in the USSR led Eastern Bloc countries to abandon communism in 1989-1991.

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The Cold War 1945 - 1991
• The transition into post-war Canada was smoother after WW II than the transition from WW I. • Past experience had alerted the government to the needs of returning soldiers and the changes required for a successful transition to a peace-time economy.
• Of concern was the admission by a Russian cipher clerk of the existence of a Soviet spy ring in Canada. • Igor Gouzenko’s divulgence of this information resulted in a realization by Canada that it was not removed from international affairs and especially the affairs of its southern neighbour the United States of America. • It would open a new era in foreign affairs.
• A cipher clerk for the Soviet Embassy to Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. • He defected on Sept. 5, 1945 with 109 documents on Soviet espionage activities in the West.
• The U.S.A. and Russia would square off as the world’s superpowers. • As a result of the escalation of nuclear weapons and differing political views, the two nations would confront each other with challenges for control of developing nations. • The superpowers would engage in small scale wars while continually endeavouring to gather secret information through espionage and spy rings.
• Constant global confrontation between the Soviet Union and United States. • Avoidance of direct armed conflict between the two “Superpowers”.
What two ideologies were in conflict during the Cold War? • A. anarchy and socialism • B. democracy and fascism • C. communism and democracy • D. communism and totalitarianism
Key Issues • Why did the wartime alliance fall apart? • What were the major points of difference? • The importance of Yalta and Potsdam conferences • The roles of Stalin and Truman
• The creation of the U.N. • Truman takes control • Postdam Conference
• The Allied countries struggled to split Germany and they did so by splitting it into four zones with each country controlling a zone • Can begin to see that there is a “small” problem?
• Winston Churchill o Speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri on March 5, 1946. “An iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” • Describes Soviet sphere of influence and control in eastern Europe.
Albania and Bulgaria Czechoslovakia Hungary and Romania East Germany Finland and Yugoslavia
• Major point: The USSR lost around 20 million people in WW2 • Stalin was determined to make the USSR secure in the future • By contrast GB lost around 370,000 and the USA lost 297,000 people.
• Before WW2 there were a number of countries which could have claimed to be superpowers – USA, USSR,GB, France, Japan, Germany. • They were colonial powers NOT a superpower • The damage caused by the war to these countries left only two countries with the military strength and resources to be called superpowers…USA and USSR.
• Don’t forget USA was capitalist and USSR was communist • They were complete opposites • They had allied against Fascism ….. Now the common enemy had been defeated the reason for co-operation was gone • Differences soon emerged
• After the war, who would lead the countries and form new governments? • The USSR favoured the communist groups, the USA favoured the non-communists • Examples would be Greece and Yugoslavia • This was one cause of tension between the superpowers
• The Marshall Plan was attempt to repeat WW1. • Economic recovery for Europe with America taking the lead. • Over 10 million dollars largest to food feed and fertilizer. • 13 billion in grants and many trade partners for US. Soviets did not want help. • Stubborn and did not want our influence.
• No idea what to do with a defeated Germany. • Stepped up communist influence. • Many tried to flee but the roads to West Berlin cut off. • 2.5 million people now threatened to starve. • Started Berlin Airlift. 200,000 missions 13000 tons of food a day
• This relationship would become known as the Cold War and would manifest itself in battles in Korea, Vietnam, Egypt, and Cuba. • Defensive posturing would result in the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization of democratic countries and the Warsaw Pact, an alliance of communist countries. • The hope of N.A.T.O. was to stop or limit the spread of communism, the “red menace”.
The Bikini Atoll-Marshall Islands. A bomb test , July 1946. The U.S. relocated the residents prior to this test, but the indigenous people of this island have not been able to return since.
• August 29, 1949 • Soviets called their first the “First Lightning” • Their weapons laboratory was in Kazakhstan
NUCLEAR TESTS  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gD_TL1BqFg (test videos)  Timeline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJe7fY- yowk
• The United Nations, a predecessor to the ineffective League of Nations, was created in 1945 in San Francisco formulated on the principle of collective security. • This organization could publicly condemn offending nations, impose economic boycotts, and engage military force through its Security Council. • The five permanent members of the UN Security Council are: Great Britain, France, the U.S.A., Russia, and China (they all have the power of “veto”).
• Canada would be an active member of the U.N. participating in many aspects of the organizations structure. • Canada would be a member of the prestigious Security Council in every decade of the U.N.’s existence. • It would be Lester B. Pearson, who would become Prime Minister of Canada in 1963, who suggested a solution to the Suez Crisis with the deployment of an international peace keeping force to maintain the peace.
• Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson (23 April 1897 – 27 December 1972) • A Canadian statesman, diplomat and politician who was made a Nobel Laureate in 1957. • Fourteenth Prime Minister of Canada from April 22, 1963, until April 20, 1968
• The United Nations is committed to the betterment of people’s lives through its many agencies including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the International Monetary Fund. • Canada has participated in many of these agencies as well as development projects, aid during natural disasters, and refugee assistance.
• Military apprehension would lead Canada to closer ties with the U.S.A (and decreasing association with Great Britain). • Canada would commit to the N.O.R.A.D agreement in 1957, a combined defensive effort of North America by combined Canadian and American efforts (mostly American).
• The Americans would install three “warning systems” throughout Canada purposed to intercept inter-continental ballistic missiles that if launched would travel over Canada on their way to either the U.S.A. or Russia. • Canada would keep an army brigade and several air squadrons in Europe and Canadians ships and planes would track Russian submarines.
Distant Early Warning (DEW Line)
• ICBMs – Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles • IRBMs – Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles • MAD – Mutual Assured Destruction
• The Canadian government would develop civil defence plans for citizens and those more fearful, would construct “bomb shelters”. • Canadians would also become more conscious of “communist” ideologies and sympathies. • Defence industries “screened” their workers and unions were eyed with a “watchful eye”.
• The situation in Canada did not parallel the American intensity. Senator McCarthy initiated a “witch-hunt” in the U.S.A. for communists and communists sympathizers with his House Committee on Un-American Activities. • McCarthy’s persecution of many innocent Americans through this commission would ruin many of their lives.
This was the last time Canada “officially” declared war upon another country.
USA • 450 ICBMs • 250 Medium range missiles • 2,260 Bombers • 16,000Tanks • 32 Nuclear submarines • 260 Conventional submarines • 76 Battleships and carriers USSR • 76 IBMs • 700 Medium range bombers • 1,600 bombers • 38,000 Tanks • 12 Nuclear submarines • 495 Conventional submarines • 0 Battleships and cruisers
In 1960, U2 was a spy plane Able to fly 6000km at high altitudes Could take photos of Soviet bomber bases and missile sites
• In the 1960’s tensions existed between the presidents of the U.S.A. and Canadian prime ministers, probably a result of a lack of total commitment by Canada to U.S. defence efforts. • Both Prime Ministers Diefenbaker and Pearson would have confrontations with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. • Canada was hesitant during the Cuban missile crisis and Pearson was hesitant to allow nuclear warheads on American missiles on Canadian soil. • We are a Nuclear Free Country!!
• Canadians tracked Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic from military facilities in Halifax. • Beacons were placed on the ocean floor. • These are now used to track the migration of whales.
Canada also had the Distant Early Warning line (DEW) and Mid Canada Line ( radar and tracking stations located across the north and middle of the country). It was designed and built during the Cold War as the primary line of air defence warning of "Over the Pole" invasion of the North American Continent. There would be 58 sites and would be used for over 30 years
• Uranium City, Saskatchewan mined weapons grade uranium for use in nuclear weapons. • Ship the weapons grade down to the United States and the route was kept secret. • This site is still extremely radioactive today. • Nuclear weapons were placed here for approximately twenty years. The mid 1960’s to the mid 1980’s.
• A shining moment occurred with the development of the Avro Arrow, a supersonic jet fighter. • It was well ahead of its time technologically but would be scrapped by the Diefenbaker government who maintained modern day warfare would be fought with intercontinental missiles rather than jet fighters.
• It was also a Liberal inspired project and Diefenbaker was a Conservative. • Some thought the project was submarined by the U.S.A. because they had not developed the technology. • It is ironic that most of the world’s minor conflicts since then have utilized jet fighters almost exclusively.
Which of the following was a result of Canada’s decision to cancel the Avro Arrow project? • A. greater economic growth • B. increased dependency on the US military • C. withdrawal of its membership from NORAD • D. decreased involvement with the United Nations
• On July 21, 1969, the first manned moon landing by the U.S.A. occurred. • The ozone layer was discovered in 1976. • In 1969 ARPANET was created, it provided the foundation for the development of the Internet. • Spar Arrowspace, a Canadian company, would develop the Canadarm for the U.S, space missions.
• A change in leadership in the U.S.S.R. brought change to the communist world. • The U.S.S.R.’s President Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of “glasnost” and “perestroika” brought sweeping economic, social, and political reforms, to the U.S.S.R. • Censorship was loosened and greater freedom of speech was allowed. • East Germans, Czechs, Poles, Hungarians, and Romanians demanded similar reforms.
• In November of 1989 the Berlin Wall fell but China who experimented with perestroika was more reluctant with increased freedoms as evidenced in Tiananmen Square where the military squared off with demonstrating students and citizens. • The result indicated China was not as ready as the U.S.S.R. to chart a new domestic path.
Canada and the cold war