Post-WWII History and the Origins of the Cold War

Post-WWII Diplomacy and the United Nations

In 1943, the Tehran Conference took place. In February 1945, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin met at the Yalta Conference to decide the post-war world. They determined that Germany would be divided into four occupation zones, free elections would be held in Eastern Europe, and they also discussed the situation in Japan.

In April 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Francisco. The organization is composed of:

• The General Assembly: Including every country in the world.
• The Security Council: Composed of 10 elected countries and 5 permanent members (USA, USSR, UK, France, and China) who all hold the power of veto.
• The International Court of Justice, UN commissions, and the Secretariat.

The Potsdam Conference and the Atomic Bomb

In May 1945, Germany surrendered. In July, the Potsdam Conference was held. The USSR was able to get reparations from Germany, and President Truman announced an incredible weapon: the atomic bomb, which was dropped on the 6th and 9th of August. Truman, Churchill (later replaced by Attlee), and Stalin represented their respective countries.

The Iron Curtain and the Truman Doctrine

On March 5, 1946, Churchill gave his Iron Curtain speech. The "Iron Curtain" represents an imaginary line that divided East and West Europe. He called for firmer action by the West against the threat of communism.

In 1946–47, the containment policy against communism began, starting with the Truman Doctrine. This was used to support countries that rejected communism, such as Greece and Turkey. The Truman Doctrine was aimed at preventing the spread of communism and isolating its influence.

The Marshall Plan and the Division of Germany

In 1947, the USA created the Marshall Plan, which was aimed at encouraging countries threatened by communism. Loans were granted to those countries, and Yugoslavia received money from this plan. This plan was created for both altruistic and self-serving purposes because the USA wanted to stop the spread of communism, while Stalin wanted to turn Eastern European countries into a buffer zone.

In 1948, Britain, France, and the USA withdrew their forces from Germany, allowing their three zones to form one. However, the later division of Germany resulted in two states: the Federal Republic of Germany (West) and the German Democratic Republic (East). Berlin was also divided into four parts. The USSR closed their zone, initiating the Berlin Blockade, and the USA responded with the Berlin Airlift, where food and fuel were flown into the city. This blockade lasted for one year.