The document summarizes several proxy wars that occurred during the Cold War between the US and Soviet spheres of influence. These include the Greek Civil War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Chilean Coup d'etat, Angolan Civil War, and the war in Afghanistan. In each conflict, one side received support from either the US or Soviet Union while the other received aid from the opposing superpower, leading to increased tensions but also shifts in the size of each country's sphere of influence.

1. Proxy Wars Julie McMurray Proxy War- a war instigated by a major power that does not itself participate.

3. Greek Civil War http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-179-1552-13%2C_Griechenland%2C_erh%C3%A4ngter_Mann_in_Ortschaft.jpg The main combatants were Greece and Germany. Germany was supported by the Soviet Union and Greece was supported by the US and Britain. In Oct 1944, the German occupation had been opposed by two main Greek guerrilla forces, the communist EAM-ELAS and the EDES. After all of the guerilla rivals except the EDES had been eliminated in 1944, EAM-ELAS set up a provisional government in the Greece that renounced the Greek king and his government-in-exile. This government disintegrated a few weeks later when the communist members of the coalition refused to disband their guerrilla force. A civil war broke out in Athens on Dec 3, which the British military forces managed to suppress. The communists accepted their defeat and a plebiscite was held in 1946 put the Greek King back in power. Then in 1946 another guerrilla war occurred because of the communists. Britain could no longer defend Greece and the US took over with the announcement of the Truman Doctrine, by the end of 1947 the communists had declared a provisional government. This lasted until 1949 when the Greek army managed to get rid of the rebel centers. Tension increased between the US and the Soviet Union, the US capitalist sphere grew larger.

4. Korean War The main combatants were North Korea and South Korea. The US and Britain helped South Korea while the Soviet Union helped North Korea. The Korean War began in 1950. Korea had been split into North Korea and South Korea two years earlier. In North Korea, there was a communist government. In South Korea, there was a democratic government. Both of them wanted to unify Korea under its own form of government. North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25th, 1950 and North Korean troops took over Seoul. As the Communist North Koreans campaigned to unify the country by force, the entire land was devastated and millions of people were left homeless and separated from their families. A cease-fire was signed in July 1953. The UN forces in Korea then attacked Inchon, in September of 1950.The UN was able to take back Seoul. In October 1950 the UN invaded North Korea and were doing well but China helped North Korea take back power with their many troops Seoul was lost for a second time to the communists in January of 1951 but the UN was able to gain it back in March. North Korea was moved approximately 20 miles above the border. Peace talks with the US eventually lead to an agreement on July 27, 1953. Tensions increased because of this war but neither sphere grew. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2920364434_886695ae44.jpg

5. Vietnam War North Vietnam and South Vietnam were the main combatants. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union ad South Vietnam was supported by the US. Ngo Dinh Diem who was a pro-American came to power and since he resisted the communist movement he was supported by the US. Diem was also supported by Catholics in Vietnam but non-Christian people rebelled at Diem. The US began to send large amounts of military aid to Diem’s regime. Anti-Diem groups had banded together to form the Viet Cong, a group against the US. The Viet Cong became the NLFSV in 1960. The US tried to isolate Vietnamese from Viet Cong but this did not work and they eventually joined Viet Cong anyways. Diem had become a strain on the US and Vietnam so the US government secretly gave assistance to over throw. On November 1, 1963, Diem was killed. Weeks later, President Kennedy was assassinated, leaving the difficult matter in the hands of his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. On August 7, 1964 the Tonkin Gulf Resolution was passed granting the President limitless military power. Nixon won the presidential election in 1968.Nixon was able to start peace negotiations. By June of 1969, the NLFSV and other rebel groups organized a Provisional Revolutionary Government. Nixon began to withdraw troops from Vietnam. In March of 1970, a Communist regime took power in Cambodia. In April President Nixon ordered an invasion of Cambodia. Through 1971 and 1972, Nixon continued withdrawing troops, increasing air attacks, and stepping up naval bombardment. On January 27, 1973, a cease-fire was signed by the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong. The last American forces left Vietnam. Peace negotiations disintegrated, and war resumed. North Vietnam began to conquer the south. The war ended on April 30, 1975, with South Vietnam surrendering. Tensions increased and the Soviet sphere grew. http://cpshaw.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/vietnam-war-2.jpg

6. Bay of Pigs Invasion The Bay of Pigs Invasion involved US-backed Cubanexiles to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. US supported the Cuban exiles and the Soviet Union supported Castro and his government. Increasing friction between the U.S. government and Castro's government led President Eisenhower to break off diplomatic relations with Cuba in January 1961. The invasion plan was approved by Eisenhower's successor, John F. Kennedy. On April 17, 1961 exiles, armed with U.S. weapons, landed at the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba. Only a short while after fighting it became obvious that the exiles were going to lose. The invasion was stopped by Castro's army. The failure of the invasion was an embarrassment to the US. However, the invasion did make Castro fearful of the US. He was convinced that the Americans would try to take over the island again. Tensions increased and Castro’s party increased communist influence. http://www.topsecretwriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/bayofpigs.gif

7. Chilean Coup d’état This was between Chilean military and president Salvador Allende. The US supported non communist governments in Chile and the Soviet Union supported the communist government. The Cold War began to affect Chile and it became a part of the Alliance for Progress. The alliance was meant as a way to keep socialistic revolutions from taking hold in Latin America. President Eduardo Frei of Chile wanted to pass radical reforms but the more industrialized Chile became the more the Labor Unions wanted better wages which lead to higher prices and inflation. People began to protest the government and lean towards a communist part in Chile. In 1970, the Socialist Party won the presidency with Salvador Allende. He promised to provide reforms that would make the working class more equal. President Nixon, of the US wanted Allende out of power but the only way to overthrow him was by Chilean military rising against him. Allende nationalized industries and raised wages and he froze prices to try to stop inflation but it only made it worse. On top of his reforms, the CIA was running propaganda against Allende. By 1973, the Chilean Congress and Judiciary stood against Allende. They claimed that his government went against the Chilean constitution. The military then stormed his palace and killed Allende. This increased tensions but neither sphere grew. http://formaementis.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/monedabombing.jpg

8. Angolan Civil War The war was a conflict between, the communist MPLA and the anti-communist UNITA. The Soviet Union supported the MPLA while the US supported the UNITA. When the MPLA gained control of Angola's central government in 1976, UNITA and the FNLA, two separate groups fighting for superiority, refused to recognize the new Marxist-oriented government. White mercenaries, South Africans, and Portuguese frequently aided UNITA militarily, and secret US arms and assistance were received as well. In 1977, UNITA initiated a series of guerrilla raids on urban areas in Angola. In the early 1980s, UNITA guerrillas had extended their control to central and southeast Angola. They won the support of Great Britain, France, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and some African nations, while the MPLA was backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba. The continuous warfare had disrupted Angola’s economy. In 1988 talks with the US led to a signed peace accord. Which cause South Africa to remove its troops but the fighting continued between the MPLA and the UNITA. Another truce was signed in 1989 by Angola’s president and UNITA’s leader but this also failed. Cuba removed its troops in May 1991. On May 31 1991 both the president and UNITA’s leader signed another peace treaty which finally ended the war. The US sphere grew from this but the tensions had somewhat decreased. http://www.blackpast.org/files/blackpast_images/Angolan_Civil_War.jpg

9. Afghanistan The Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the mujahideen were against each other. Soviet Union supported the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the US supported the mujahideen In 1978 Afghan president Sardar Muhammad Daud Khan was over thrown. The president was assassinated and a pro-Soviet Communist government was established. The Soviet invasion caused the resistance of the Afghans. The mujahidin were supported by aid from the United States, China, and Saudi Arabia, channeled through Pakistan, and from Iran. The USSR was a far better military force but operating in a complete void. They knew nothing of the territory and therefore failed against the native afghan rebels. In 1988 President Mikhail Gorbachevannounced the withdrawal of USSR troops. Soviet citizens had become increasingly unhappy with the war, which carried on without success. In 1992, the government collapsed and, after 14 years of rule by the People's Democratic Party. The War left severe hardship, political, economic, and ecological problems. Economic production was drastically cut, and much of the land was wasted. The disparate guerrilla forces that had triumphed proved unable to unite, and Afghanistan became divided into spheres of control. The US sphere grew larger and the tensions increased between the two superpowers. http://gulaghistory.org/nps/onlineexhibit/after/fall-src/images/troops_detail1.jpg

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