What means cold war?

The word „cold“+ in connection with war has nothing to do with temperature. It means that no force of arms was delivered. The conflict is psychic based and is delivered by speeches and threats.

Key Issues in the development of tension in Europe 1945 to 1949

• Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe
• Division of Europe into 2 blocs – East and West (Imperialism)
• Marshall and Molotov Aid
• Political statements – Bolshoi
• Unification of Western Gernany – threat to USSR
  o 1) Unification against USSR
  o 2) economic threat
  o 3) NATO 1949
  o 4) Influence over East Germany
• Bizonia
• Trizonia
• Currency reform – introduction of Deutschmark in Trizonia
• Berlin Blockade

Sovietization and Cominform
In respond to the “Marshall plan” and “Truman Doctrine” the USSR established Cominform, an organisation designed to coordinate communist parties and groups throughout Europe.
cith sixty Red army divisions scattered across Europe in a “policing role” the Soviet Union was able to apply pressure and establish pro-communist governments in Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.
The end of 1947 the only non-communist country left in Eastern Europe was Czechoslovakia. (The process and actions that the Soviet Union undertook to secure their control over these countries has since been termed Sovietization.

Actions
Sovietisation was achived through some / all of the following:

• rigged Elections (dt.manipulierte Wahlen)
• propaganda – western democracies painted as “fascist” movements – a threat to the people
• persuasion / enforcement of communist rule through presence of the Red Army
• merging Socialist groups and subjugating them under communist led leader
• “removal” of popular non-communist leaders

Example: The Czechoslovakian Crisis 1948
May 1948 – Elections due Czechoslovakia and importantly the communist party was expected to fare poorly in them. Soviet influence had forced the Czechoslovakian government to turn down “Marshal aid” from the USA and as a result the communists were blamed by many for the economic problems of the country
Feburary 1948 – communist party, with Soviet backing and exploiting presence of the Red Army seized control:

• of the ploce force and quickly purged it of non-communist personnel.
• Non – communist parties were quickly repressed with their representatives and leaders forcefully removed from government and imprisoned
• President Benes was forced to resign and by the beginning of March the only non – communist in government was Jan Masaryk. In a few short weeks he suffered defenestration and died from his injuries.
• With comparatively little bloodshed, Czechoslovakia had been forced to turn communist

Example Poland

• Location – shared borders with Germany and USSR
  Issue – traditional invasion route West and East

Yugoslavia
Location – central Eurpean state
Issue - Ally of Nazi Germany

• Liberated by partisans led by Josip Broz Tito
• Communism firmly established
• Country pro – soviet in outlook
  BUT:
• Soviet influence weakened – result of conflict between Tito and Stalin
  What reasons can be given for the Sovietization of Europe and spreading communism
• Defense of the motherland – Protect USSR
• Expand soviet power
• Reclaim lost areas – Baltic Sea
• Spread world Revolution – communism – remove capitalism

• Exploit position of red Army

• Many communists – spread communism to keep it alive

• Not the main priority to spread communism
• Coordinate communist parties around Europe
• Opportunity to spread communism through the defeat of Germany
• Intention to spread: takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948 and Soviet blockade

Warsaw Pact

• Created in 1955
• Reason – reaction to NATO allowing West Germany (FDR/FGR) to join
• Reason – counter to NATO – defensive
• Purpose to protect Eastern Europe from the threat of invasion from Western Europe – defensive
• Structure – unified military command, Soviet troops based in satellite states – paid for by the satellite state