Paper 2: Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 - Key Topic 1: The origins of the Cold War, 1941-58
In revising for this paper, it is important that you are able to recall key information from each key event so that you can use the information as
part of a narrative response, a consequences response, or an effects question.
Remember – not every event would warrant a full exam question. For example, it is unlikely that you would be asked to write a “narrative” on
the Novikov Telegram, but you could use this information in a narrative account of the key events that increased Cold War tensions during the
period 1945-49.
Key event Key information: Can I recall three How would I use this How would I use this How would I use this
key facts about this event? information in a information in a narrative information in an
“consequences” question? style question? importance style question?
The Tehran Conference - In November 1943 (Grand Consequence 1: Agreement Importance 1: Agreement
Alliance Meet 1st time – on Eastern Europe on post war borders and
Positive) They discussed the post-war influence
- Britain and America agree reorganization of Europe,
to open a second front by specifically what the Soviets Importance 2: Distrust and
invading France in 1944 had control of during the war. emerging tensions
- Soviets agreed to attack General agreement that the
Japan once Germany were Soviet Union would maintain
defeated. influence and control in
- UN to be set up after the Eastern Europe and use it as a
war. buffer zone in case of possible
- Borders of Poland moved invasions. Borders of Poland
further West at the request moved further West at the
of Stalin. request of Stalin even though
the land was supposed to be
given back after the war.
It laid the groundwork for the
next 2 conferences where
further negotiations and
agreements would occur
regarding the division of
Germany and the
establishment of the USSR as
a sphere of influence in
Eastern Europe.
These decisions contributed
, Paper 2: Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 - Key Topic 1: The origins of the Cold War, 1941-58
to the start of the Cold War as
the ideological differences
between the US and USSR
started to occur.
Consequence 2: Conflicting
post war visions
This conference highlighted
the tensions between the Big
Three. Churchill wanted to
open a second front in the
East whereas Stalin wanted to
relieve pressure of the Soviets
by opening a front in the west
in France Roosevelt sided with
Stalin making Churchill feel
isolated and tensions
emerging.
Britain and America agree to
open a second front by
invading France in May 1944.
Even though Churchill agreed
he still felt separated as the
US-USSR relations almost
increased because Stalin was
initially concerned the USA
and Britain were deliberately
delaying the opening of a
Second Front in the West.
The Yalta Conference - In February 1945 (Grand Consequence 1: Division of Importance 1: Division of
Alliance Meet 2nd time – Germany into four zones Germany
Positive) which later becomes two.
- Germany to be divided into Importance 2: Soviet
four zones after the war, Consequence 2: Expansion of Sphere of Influence in
Britain, France, USA, and Soviet influence in Europe Eastern Europe
, Paper 2: Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 - Key Topic 1: The origins of the Cold War, 1941-58
USSR to control a zone.
- Hunt and try Nazi criminals.
- Free elections for countries
who had been taken over
and controlled by the Nazi’s
during WW2.
- Eastern Europe would be a
Soviet ‘sphere of influence’.
The Potsdam - In July 1945 (Grand Alliance Consequence 1: Division of Importance 1: Increased
Conference Meet 3rd time – Negative) Germany into four zones tension between Stalin,
- Germany and its capital which later becomes two. Atlee and Truman because
Berlin to be divided into One consequence of the of disagreements over the
four zones. Potsdam conference in July fate of Germany.
- Germany to be 1945 was the splitting of
demilitarised. Germany into 4 zones. In the With the division of East
- Democracy returned to conference the grand alliance and West Germany
Germany. (specifically Britain, USA and seemingly unequal in the
- Nazi party banned. the USSR) discussed how they eyes of Stalin, tensions
- Germany to pay reparations were going to divide over this country are
to Allies of equipment and Germany; this ended up being present from the outset of
materials. 4 zones. The US, Britain, the conference.
- Disagreed over how much France and the USSR each had
compensation should be a zone with the USSR Stalin sought compensation
paid by Germany. US said controlling mainly the east and over Russian involvement
not too much so Germany France, US and Britain having in WW2 as 20 million
could repair them. parts of the west. They also Russians died, so he
- Also disagreed about the divided Berlin into 4 zones. wanted to drain East
free elections, US wanted Since the Soviet Union took Germany of it’s resources
all Eastern European the biggest hit from world war in order to claim this
countries to have free two they got the largest zone. compensation.
elections but USSR This eventually led to the
disagreed as they had formation of bizonia and This disagreement was
already liberated and leapt trizonia in the west in 1948 important as Truman
control over some countries before the formation of the disagreed with this
influencing communism. FDR in the west and GDR in approach and placed a
the east in 1949, highlighting huge importance of the
the divide between the development of a strong
In revising for this paper, it is important that you are able to recall key information from each key event so that you can use the information as
part of a narrative response, a consequences response, or an effects question.
Remember – not every event would warrant a full exam question. For example, it is unlikely that you would be asked to write a “narrative” on
the Novikov Telegram, but you could use this information in a narrative account of the key events that increased Cold War tensions during the
period 1945-49.
Key event Key information: Can I recall three How would I use this How would I use this How would I use this
key facts about this event? information in a information in a narrative information in an
“consequences” question? style question? importance style question?
The Tehran Conference - In November 1943 (Grand Consequence 1: Agreement Importance 1: Agreement
Alliance Meet 1st time – on Eastern Europe on post war borders and
Positive) They discussed the post-war influence
- Britain and America agree reorganization of Europe,
to open a second front by specifically what the Soviets Importance 2: Distrust and
invading France in 1944 had control of during the war. emerging tensions
- Soviets agreed to attack General agreement that the
Japan once Germany were Soviet Union would maintain
defeated. influence and control in
- UN to be set up after the Eastern Europe and use it as a
war. buffer zone in case of possible
- Borders of Poland moved invasions. Borders of Poland
further West at the request moved further West at the
of Stalin. request of Stalin even though
the land was supposed to be
given back after the war.
It laid the groundwork for the
next 2 conferences where
further negotiations and
agreements would occur
regarding the division of
Germany and the
establishment of the USSR as
a sphere of influence in
Eastern Europe.
These decisions contributed
, Paper 2: Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 - Key Topic 1: The origins of the Cold War, 1941-58
to the start of the Cold War as
the ideological differences
between the US and USSR
started to occur.
Consequence 2: Conflicting
post war visions
This conference highlighted
the tensions between the Big
Three. Churchill wanted to
open a second front in the
East whereas Stalin wanted to
relieve pressure of the Soviets
by opening a front in the west
in France Roosevelt sided with
Stalin making Churchill feel
isolated and tensions
emerging.
Britain and America agree to
open a second front by
invading France in May 1944.
Even though Churchill agreed
he still felt separated as the
US-USSR relations almost
increased because Stalin was
initially concerned the USA
and Britain were deliberately
delaying the opening of a
Second Front in the West.
The Yalta Conference - In February 1945 (Grand Consequence 1: Division of Importance 1: Division of
Alliance Meet 2nd time – Germany into four zones Germany
Positive) which later becomes two.
- Germany to be divided into Importance 2: Soviet
four zones after the war, Consequence 2: Expansion of Sphere of Influence in
Britain, France, USA, and Soviet influence in Europe Eastern Europe
, Paper 2: Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 - Key Topic 1: The origins of the Cold War, 1941-58
USSR to control a zone.
- Hunt and try Nazi criminals.
- Free elections for countries
who had been taken over
and controlled by the Nazi’s
during WW2.
- Eastern Europe would be a
Soviet ‘sphere of influence’.
The Potsdam - In July 1945 (Grand Alliance Consequence 1: Division of Importance 1: Increased
Conference Meet 3rd time – Negative) Germany into four zones tension between Stalin,
- Germany and its capital which later becomes two. Atlee and Truman because
Berlin to be divided into One consequence of the of disagreements over the
four zones. Potsdam conference in July fate of Germany.
- Germany to be 1945 was the splitting of
demilitarised. Germany into 4 zones. In the With the division of East
- Democracy returned to conference the grand alliance and West Germany
Germany. (specifically Britain, USA and seemingly unequal in the
- Nazi party banned. the USSR) discussed how they eyes of Stalin, tensions
- Germany to pay reparations were going to divide over this country are
to Allies of equipment and Germany; this ended up being present from the outset of
materials. 4 zones. The US, Britain, the conference.
- Disagreed over how much France and the USSR each had
compensation should be a zone with the USSR Stalin sought compensation
paid by Germany. US said controlling mainly the east and over Russian involvement
not too much so Germany France, US and Britain having in WW2 as 20 million
could repair them. parts of the west. They also Russians died, so he
- Also disagreed about the divided Berlin into 4 zones. wanted to drain East
free elections, US wanted Since the Soviet Union took Germany of it’s resources
all Eastern European the biggest hit from world war in order to claim this
countries to have free two they got the largest zone. compensation.
elections but USSR This eventually led to the
disagreed as they had formation of bizonia and This disagreement was
already liberated and leapt trizonia in the west in 1948 important as Truman
control over some countries before the formation of the disagreed with this
influencing communism. FDR in the west and GDR in approach and placed a
the east in 1949, highlighting huge importance of the
the divide between the development of a strong
