Hottest Times of the Cold War

History M25 - Krister Swanson - Moorpark College

At War’s End:

• Axis powers are totally destroyed

• Colonial empires have crumbled

• 2 superpowers to fill the void

• It is this situation that creates the Cold War

Big Three at Yalta (2/45)

• USSR agrees to enter war against Japan

• USSR maintains control over Eastern Europe – Stalin promises free elections

• Germany’s divided into 4 occupation zones (United States, GB, Fr, & USSR)

Start of the Cold War

• USSR dominates Eastern Europe (satellite states)

• UN is ineffective at first

• New Germany never formed, boundaries set by occupation zones

• Stalin draws the "iron curtain"

The U.S. Responds

• NSC & CIA protect U.S. from danger & unwanted influences

• 1947: Truman Doctrine: U.S. will work to contain Communism

• 1948-51: Marshall Plan gives $12.5b in aid to European nations to help them rebuild & keep them from going Communist

Soviet Response to Marsh. Plan

• Stalin purges all opposition in Eastern Bloc

• Blocks US access to W. Berlin

• U.S. airlifts in needed suppliesè no response from Sovs

• 1949: FDR formed from west zones, GDR formed from Soviet zone

Key Issues of Contention

• Soviet control of E. Europe/U.S. support of W. Europe

• Influence in the Middle East and the Mediterranean

• Spread of communism in Asia where former colonies are becoming new nations

• Fear of Nuclear War

China Goes Communist

• 1920’s: Civil War between Nationalists (Chang Kai Shek) & Communists (Mao)

• 1930’s: Japanese aggression

• WWII: Communists success vs. Japan, è support for Mao

• We support Shek & Nationalists, but Mao comes to power in 1949

Korean War

• USSR occupies NK (Comm.), we occupy SK (Dem., Cap.)

• 6/50: NK invades SK with Soviet trained army

• UN resolution passed to support S. Korea, we supply majority of troops

• we get whipped early, massive counterattack succeeds, push toward China

MacArthur Truman

• "total victory"

• big winner in WWII

• charismatic

• away for 14 years (big ego)

• not charismatic

• containment

• civilian control

Chain Reaction in Vietnam

• Pre-World War II Vietnam is French Indochina

• WWII: Japan occupies Vietnam

• 1945-54: Vietminh vs. French (U.S. supports French because Ho Chi Minh is comm., we need France in Europe)

• U.S. policy based on domino theory, must stop comm. in SE Asia

• 1954: Dien Bien Phuè Geneva Accords : Vietnam split in two (Ho in North, Diem in South)

• 1961: Involvement escalates under JFK 900 è 16,000 troops)

• 1963: Diem overthrown & killed

• 1963: JFK assassinated – LBJ will follow his policies

LBJ Takes Over

• Wants to maintain JFK’s policy – McNamara "we must escalate"

• LBJ needs reason è Gulf of Tonkin Incident è Congress issues Tonkin Gulf Resolution: authorizes "all necessary measures"

Escalation Begins

• 4/65- start calling draftees

• Soldiers disproportionately poor minorities (exemptions for health reasons, being married, and education)

• Convinced we can defeat VC & N. Vietnamese with resources & technology

Military Action Overview

• 1965: Rolling Thunder: massive bombing on Ho Chi Minh Trail

• 1965-67 Defoliation & Search & Destroy

• 1967:Pacification: secure countryside by removing VC and burning villages

• 1968: Tet Offensive: massive assault throughout South by NVA and VC, pub opinion in U.S. goes anti-war

• 1969: Vietnamization: turning the war over to the South Vietnamese & withdrawing U.S. troops

• 1970: Bombing & invasion of Cambodia: hope to eliminate VC bases, supplies & support

• 1972 Christmas Bombings: force NV back to bargaining table