Transcript Cold War Timeline

Berlin & Korea
Cold War Timeline
28 Nov - 1 Dec 43
Tehran Conference
First Face-to-Face Meeting of the Big Three
Tehran Conference
November 28 - 1 December 1, 1943
• US, Britain agree to open Second Front May 1944
• Stalin insists on territory from Poland
• Allies agree to coordinate activities
Cold War Timeline
28 Nov - 1 Dec 43
4-11 Feb 45
Tehran Conference
Yalta Conference
Yalta Conference
4-11 February 1945
Yalta Conference
4-11 February 1945
The Big Three
Yalta Conference
4-11 February 1945
Each leader had their priorities:
• Roosevelt: Gain Soviet assistance in war with Japan
Obtain Soviet participation in United Nations
• Churchill: Restore democratic institutions to Eastern Europe
• Stalin: Extend sphere of influence to Eastern Europe as buffer
Yalta Conference
4-11 February 1945
Results: Defined the post-war world
• Pursue unconditional surrender of Nazi
Germany
• Germany to be divided into four occupation zones
• Berlin to be subject to four-power occupation
• Germany to be demilitarized and purged of Nazis
• Reparations to USSR (forced labor & industrial capacity)
Yalta Conference
4-11 February 1945
• Recognition of provisional government and elections in Poland
• Poland would cede territory to USSR but gain from Germany
• USSR would join UN provided it had veto in Security Council
• USSR to declare war on Japan within 90 days of German
defeat
Yalta Conference
4-11 February 1945
Newsreel
Yalta Conference
4-11 February 1945
Concerns:
• Soviets would take Berlin
• Four Power Partition of Germany, Berlin
• Soviets would get parts of Poland
• Soviets would receive Japanese territory
• Korea divided at 38th parallel
Considered by many the beginning of the Cold War
Cold War Timeline
4-11 Feb 45
12 Apr 45
Yalta Conference
FDR dies, succeeded by Harry Truman
Transitions
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Died at Warm Springs, Georgia
April 12, 1945
Transitions
Harry S. Truman
Assumed presidency
April 12, 1945
Cold War Timeline
4-11 Feb 45
Yalta Conference
12 Apr 45
FDR dies, succeeded by Harry Truman
8 May 45
VE Day
17 Jul - 2 Aug 45
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
July 17 - August 2, 1945
Potsdam: Berlin suburb
Big 3 allies gathered to discuss administration of Germany and other
issues involving transition from war to peace
Potsdam Conference
July 17 - August 2, 1945
• Big 3 allies gathered
to discuss
administration of
Germany and other
issues involving
transition from war to
peace
• President Truman
presided as the only
head of state
Cecillenhof Palace, Potsdam
Potsdam Conference
July 17 - August 2, 1945
Big Three early in Potsdam Conference
Transitions
Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill
Conservative Party voted out of office
July 27, 1945
Clement Attlee
Prime Minister, July 1945 - October 1951
Potsdam Conference
July 17 - August 2, 1945
Big Three late in Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Agreement
August 1, 1945
Key Points:
Political: Democratization, Disarmament, Demilitarization, Denazification
Economic: -Destruction of all war-making industry
-Focus of economy to be agriculture and light industry
Reparations to USSR from Soviet zone plus 10% of industrial capability from
Western zone
Dispersal of German navy and merchant marine
War crimes: Established mechanism for Nuremberg Trials
Provisions for governments of Austria and Poland
Provisions for peace treaties and admission to United Nations
Transfer of populations
Source: PBS
German Zones of Occupation
Potsdam Conference
Truman tells Stalin about A-bomb
July 24, 1945
Comment on back of photograph:
“In which I tell Stalin we expect to drop the most powerful explosive ever on the
Japanese. He smiled and said he appreciated my telling him but he did not know what I
was talking - about - the Atomic Bomb!
HST”
Department of Energy Source
Potsdam Declaration
July 25, 1945
Key Points: Resolution of Pacific War
-Militarism must end in Japan
-Japanese Army to be disarmed
-Democracy to be established
-Industry to be allowed but no capability to rearm
-Territory taken from China to be returned
-Korea to become a free and independent nation
-War criminals to be punished
-Japan to be occupied until these provisions are complied with
"We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all
Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good
faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction.”
Roots of the Cold War
The Three Conferences
Tehran Conference
November 28 - 1 December 1, 1943
First meeting of “Big 3”
Allies agree to coordinate war activities
Yalta Conference
4-11 February 1945
Defined post-war world
Potsdam Conference
July 17 - August 2, 1945
Discussed issues in transition from war to peace
Cold War Timeline
4-11 Feb 45
Yalta Conference
12 Apr 45
FDR dies, succeeded by Harry Truman
8 May 45
VE Day
17 Jul - 2 Aug 45
6, 9 Aug 45
Potsdam Conference
Atomic bombings of Japan
8 Aug 45
USSR declares war on Japan
15 Aug 45
VJ Day
11 Jan 46
Communist regime declared in Albania
22 Feb 46
George Kennan “Long Telegram” from Moscow
“The Long Telegram”
February 22, 1946 from Moscow
Deputy Chief of US Mission in Moscow
Was responding to US Treasury inquiry
• Why is USSR not supporting world monetary system?
George F. Kennan
His response is hailed as the defining document of Cold War
• Characterized Soviet mindset and coming confrontation with West
Document served as foundation for Containment Policy
Text of Message
Wikisource
“The Long Telegram”
February 22, 1946 from Moscow
Highlights:
• The USSR perceived itself at perpetual war with capitalism
• Socialism and social democracy are enemies, not allies;
• USSR would use Marxists in the capitalist world as allies;
• Soviet aggression aligned with historic Russian xenophobia and paranoia;
• Soviet system prohibited objective view of reality.
Soviet power impervious to logic of reason, but highly sensitive to logic of force.
Roots of Containment
Cold War Timeline
4-11 Feb 45
Yalta Conference
12 Apr 45
FDR dies, succeeded by Harry Truman
8 May 45
VE Day
17 Jul - 2 Aug 45
6, 9 Aug 45
Potsdam Conference
Atomic bombings of Japan
8 Aug 45
USSR declares war on Japan
15 Aug 45
VJ Day
11 Jan 46
Communist regime declared in Albania
22 Feb 46
George Kennan “Long Telegram” from Moscow
Mar 46
Civil war erupts in Greece - Communists vs. conservatives
“Iron Curtain”
March 5, 1946
Winston Churchill
Westminster College, Fulton, MO
“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an ‘iron curtain’ has descended across the Continent.
Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin,
Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations
around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to
Soviet influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow.”
Alt:  (0:51)
Cold War Timeline
5 Mar 46
Churchill “Iron Curtain” speech
8 Sep 46
Bulgaria deposes king, establishes People’s Republic
19 Jan 47
Referendum in Poland brings Communist government
12 Mar 47
Truman Doctrine announced
Truman Doctrine
March 12, 1947
US foreign policy designed to stop spread of Communism
Pledged to provide economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey
US foreign policy transitioned from détent to containment
Some sources cite this as the beginning of the Cold War
Alt:  (2:30)
George C. Marshall
Soldier - Statesman
• Graduate of VMI (1901)
• Army Chief of Staff (1939)
• Time Man of the Year (1943)
• General of the Army (5 stars - 1944)
• Retired as Army Chief of Staff (1945)
• Secretary of State (1947 - 1949)
1880-1959
… the “true architect of victory” in Western Europe …
Winston Churchill
Marshall Plan
April 3, 1948
Foreign Assistance Act of 1948
(Also referred to as the Economic Cooperation Act and the European Recovery Act)
• Grew from realization that slow recovery from war devastation in Western
Europe would leave the region weak and subject to Communist incursion
• US leadership did not want a repeat of post- World War One conditions
that contributed to the Great Depression and rise of Fascism.
• Marshall publicly presented idea in Harvard commencement address
(June 5, 1947)
• Provided $12 B in recovery aid (Value in 2005 $: $555 B per GDP share)
• Major factor in Western European resistance to Communism
Cold War Timeline
5 Mar 46
Churchill “Iron Curtain” speech
8 Sep 46
Bulgaria deposes king, establishes People’s Republic
19 Jan 47
Referendum in Poland brings Communist government
12 Mar 47
Truman Doctrine announced
5 Jun 47
25 Feb 48
3 Apr 48
Sec State George Marshall outlines European aid plan
Communist Party takes control of Czechoslovakia
Truman signs Foreign Assistance Act (Marshall Plan)
10 May 48
Republic of Korea proclaimed, Syngman Rhee president
24 Jun 48
Stalin orders blockade of Berlin; allies respond with airlift
Berlin
Berlin
Berlin Blockade
• Soviets wanted Western Allies out of Berlin
• June 24, 1948:
Blocked all ground access to Berlin
• Ground access rights never formally guaranteed
Berlin Airlift
June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949
• Western response: supply city by air
Air corridors guaranteed by
Four Power agreement on
Berlin
First significant confrontation of the Cold War
Berlin Airlift
June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949
Berlin Airlift
June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949
Major General William H. Tunner, USAF
Commander of the Berlin Airlift
Berlin Airlift
June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Berlin Airlift
June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949
Berlin Air Corridor Profile
Berlin Airlift
June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949
Approach to Tempelhof
Berlin Airlift
June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949
RAF Sunderland flying boat
Operating on Havel River
Carried general cargo plus bulk salt
Berlin Airlift
June 24, 1948 - May 11, 1949
North Atlantic Treaty
April 4, 1949
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Formed
• Military alliance to protect Western Europe
• Original members: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France,
Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, United Kingdom, United States
• Greece, Turkey joined in 1952
• West Germany joined following ratification of Paris Peace Treaties
(May 1955)
USSR responded with Warsaw Pact (May 14, 1955)
• Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary,
Poland, Rumania, Soviet Union
Cold War Timeline
9 Sep 48
Stalin declares PDRK legitimate government of all Korea
4 Apr 49
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) established
11 May 49
Berlin Blockade lifted
23 May 49
Federal Republic of Germany created from Western Zone
29 Aug 49
Soviet Union detonates first nuclear device
Soviet A-bomb
Soviet Nuclear Test (US code name “Joe 1”)
August 29, 1949
NSC-68
April 14, 1950
Classified National Security Council document
• Full analysis of US-USSR relationship
• Defined initial US Cold War strategy:
Containment
• Implemented the Truman Doctrine
Cold War Timeline
9 Sep 48
Stalin declares PDRK legitimate government of all Korea
4 Apr 49
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) established
11 May 49
Berlin Blockade lifted
23 May 49
Federal Republic of Germany created from Western Zone
29 Aug 49
Soviet Union detonates first nuclear device
1 Oct 49
Mao Zedong declares People’s Republic of China
7 Oct 49
German Democratic Republic created from Eastern Zone
12 Jan 50
Sec State Acheson speech omits Korea as US interest area
14 Feb 50
USSR & PRC sign mutual defense pact
25 Jun 50
North Korea (PDRK) invades South Korea (ROK)
27 Jun 50
United Nations votes to use military force to assist ROK
Korean War 1950-1953
Korea
• Annexed by Japan in 1910
• Big 3 pledged independence for Korea at Potsdam
• Divided into zones of occupation at 38th parallel after WW
II
•
USSR occupied north, US the south
Korea
Ignored strategically by US after WW II
“From the standpoint of military security, the United States has little
strategic interest in maintaining the present troops and bases in Korea.”
Joint Chiefs of Staff to President Truman
25 September 1947
Soviets announced plan to withdraw their troops by 1 January 1949
28 September 1948
Korea omitted from countries in US Pacific defense perimeter
Secretary of State Dean Acheson
Speech on the Far East
National Press Club
12 January 1950
Korea
Ignored strategically by US after WW II
“The defensive perimeter runs along the Aleutians to Japan and then
goes to the Ryukyus … [and] from the Ryukyus to the Philippine Islands.”
Secretary of State Dean Acheson
Speech on the Far East
National Press Club
12 January 1950
Korean War
June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953
June 25, 1950:
North Korean forces crossed 38th parallel
100,000 troops supported by tanks and aircraft
Korean War
North Korea Attacks
25 June 1950
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/maps/koreatxt.html
Korean War
June 25, 1950 - (July 27, 1953)
• UN Security Council voting to use military force in Korea
June 27,1950
• USSR absent (boycotting UN)
Parallels
Korea and Gulf War
• Both were declared non-vital to US survival
• These were the only two times the UN
authorized military force (up to 1991)
Korean War
June 25, 1950 - (July 27, 1953)
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
Placed in command of UN forces
Korean War
Pusan Perimeter
July-August 1950
• Large-scale battle between
the UN forces and North
Korea
• Aug. 4th , 1950 – Sept. 18th,
1950
• One of the first major
engagements
• 140K UN troops were
pushed to the brink of
defeat
• Rallied to make a final
stand against the strong
NK Army
Korean War
Inchon Landing
15 September 1950
• The Battle of Inchon
• Amphibious invasion and
battle of the Korean War
• Resulted in a decisive victory
and strategic reversal in favor
of the United Nations.
• The operation involved some
75,000 troops and 261 naval
vessels
• Led to the recapture of the
South Korean capital of Seoul
two weeks later.
Inchon Landing – Operation Chromite
September 15, 1950
MacArthur proposed bold strategic stroke in enemy rear
Inchon Landing
September 15, 1950
Operation Chromite
Inchon 10 miles from Seoul and lightly defended
Inchon Landing
September 15, 1950
Problem: 30 foot tides
Inchon Landing
September 15, 1950
Operation Chromite
Inchon Landing
September 15, 1950
Operation Chromite
Korean War
Approaching the Yalu River
October-November 1950
Korean War
China Enters the War
November 1950 - January 1951
• Memory of this haunted presidents
during the Vietnam War
Truman & MacArthur
Meeting at Wake Island, October 14, 1950
Truman & MacArthur
Truman concerned about MacArthur’s “freelancing”
• Statements about expanding the war
• Did not seem to understand political implications of war
“From the Far East I send you one message, written in blood on
every beachhead from Australia to Tokyo:
There is no substitute for victory!”
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
Firing Message
"With deep regret I have concluded that General of the Army
Douglas MacArthur is unable to give his wholehearted support to the
policies of the U.S. Government and of the U.N. in matters pertaining
to his official duties. In view of the specific responsibilities imposed
upon me by the Constitution of the U.S. and the added
responsibilities entrusted to me by the U.N. I have decided that I
must make a change in command in the Far East. I have, therefore,
relieved General MacArthur of his command and have designated Lt.
Gen. Matthew Ridgway as his successor".
Truman Statement on MacArthur
April 6, 1951
Korean War
US Battle
Deaths:36,940
Stalemate
January 1951 - 27 July 1953
Korean War
June 25, 1950 - (July 27, 1953)
• Dwight Eisenhower elected president: November 1952
• Visited Korea as president-elect
• Hinted at use of nuclear weapons to end war
• Chinese got serious about negotiations
• Cease fire signed July 27, 1953
Next Time:
Cold War - Living on the Brink