chapter 7

The Impact of WWII on Europe What happened in Europe? ● Much of the infrastructure (roads, railways, bridges, canals) in Europe was destroyed ● No gas, electricity, running water in most of the places, and disease and malnutrition were widespread as there were desperate shortages of medicine and healthcare everywhere ● Many (over 50 million) people lost or forced to leave their homes Decline of the Western European powers ● Three major European powers: Britain, France, Germany ● Britain: was not invaded/defeated, but exhausted all resources of its people and industries, became virtually bankrupt (almost bankrupt) ● France: was occupied by Germany in 1940, then liberated in 1944, but they lost a lot of their influence and power ● Germany: 1945, defeated in WWII, basically in ruins Early Tensions Between US and USSR History of suspicion and mistrust before 1939 ● 1917: Russia became communist state, USSR ● USSR had a vision aligned to Communist Manifesto → garner communist worldwide to come together and overthrow capitalist states → Got US and Western European states worried that this would influence ppl in their own country + cause communist revolutions ● 1919: Paris Peace conference → Germany was decided not to be split up → British + America afraid of the possibility of a new communist state in Russia and the consequences of it/afraid that Russia would influence the weak Germany to be communist → Wanted Germany to be a barrier to communism, highlights their suspicion toward Russia ● 1918-1921: Civil war in Russia → War between reds (Bolsheviks) and whites (anti-communists) → Reds won though despite US and British troops being sent in ● REMEMBER: US SENT TROOPS IN TO SUPPORT THE “WHITES”, AKA THE SIDE THAT LOST, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY GOT DISTRUST

● 1920s: US had a “red scare” → arrested + imprisoned a lot of ppl (mostly Russian immigrants that were innocent) ● 1930s: British and French had appeasement policy toward Hitler → bc. they were afraid USSR were trying to spread communism by force → British hoped Hitler’s Germany would oppose communism → But appeasement threatens USSR’s security as they thought POA implied Hitler was free to take over Eastern Europe ● 1939: USSR + Germany signed NAZI SOVIET NON AGGRESSION PACT → surprised the world cuz they thought USSR was supposed to sign an alliance with Britain and France against Hitler → nothing happened though ● During WW2, Germany continuously attacked → Stalin urged Britain and US to open a second front in France to end war as quickly as possible → bc. Soviet troops faced a lot of pressure due to Germany → US and B only did it during 1944 through operation overlord → led Stalin to think US and Britain only did that to minimise their own losses → deepen distrust Different ideologies ● US and USSR ideologies clashed → at the very beginning of communist rule in USSR → US and other democratic countries opposed them → many businessmen and politicians hated and feared communism ideas as they felt it might threaten their way of life ● USSR also did not like US → thought US was acting selfish to build its own empire and political influence in the world → tensions and mistrust between both of them Yalta and Potsdam Breakup of US, UK, USSR: Yalta conference (Feb 1945) ● Yalta (part of Soviet territory) ● At this time, it was clear that the Big Three were going to win —> but US and USSR were mostly dominating discussions and had different views on what would happen after the war ● Agree: ● USSR to enter the war once Germany surrenders → Germany to be divided into 4 zones: US,F,B,SU + berlin(capital) to be split up into 4 zones + Nazi war criminals responsible for the Holocaust to be tried before an international court

● Countries liberated from German occupation (no longer under Nazi rule) to be allowed to hold free elections to choose they wanted (Churchill + Roosevelt request) ● The Big Three to join the United Nations, which was an organisation designed to keep peace after the war ● E.E: (countries between USSR and Western Europe, so like buffer states) to be a Soviet Sphere of influence as Stalin was concerned about the future security of the USSR in view of the wartime sufferings it had gone through (Stalin’s request) , BUT Roosevelt and Churchill made a compromise and said that those countries USSR wanted to control had to have free elections ● Disagree: Stalin wanted Soviet border to move westwards into Poland and argued that Poland, in turn could move its border westwards into German territory —> Churchill + Roosevelt unhappy —> Roosevelt was eventually persuaded by Churchill to accept it as long as USSR did not interfere with Greece, where the British were trying to prevent a communist takeover —> later accepted by Stalin Views Reasons US - believed in having peace, safety and prosperity in post-war world - Believed capitalism and democracy is a model for international development —> also a method to gain political influence + benefit economically through trade - Believed recovery of Western Europe was essential for international stability and US prosperity from trade - Alarmed by Soviet-supported communist parties in Eastern Europe who seemed like they were taking action to seize power according to the Communist Manifesto - Trade with Europe was disrupted bc. of WW2 USSR - Wanted to establish buffer states in Eastern Europe to prevent another invasion - Believed that Eastern Europe must remain friendly to USSR - Wanted massive war reparations from Germany to repair its own economy and ensure that Germany could not threaten it again - Russia/USSR was invaded by Germany twice through Poland - WW2 resulted in at least 20 million Soviet citizens dead and devastation of USSR’s industries and cities Having buffer states could buy them more time , cuz other countries would have to go through them first, and that could tire them out - Also USSR wanted pro communist governments so those countries would not ally with the west/ allow western troops to come

End of Conference: ● Stalin + Churchill: clashed on numerous issues, and relationship was tense ● Roosevelt: more willing to work with Stalin ● But they put up a front in front of the whole world to show they’re united and very friendly with each other → After the conference: Churchill wrote to Roosevelt to express his concerns that USSR might jeopardise world peace, and he even ordered his military commanders to make