Changes

In utter disregard of his promise at Yalta, Stalin established communist governments controlled by the Soviet Union in all these eastern European countries:  Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania.  These became “satellite” countries of the Soviet Union, meaning their policies revolved around and were controlled by the Soviet Union.

In utter disregard of his promise at Yalta, Stalin established communist governments controlled by the Soviet Union in all these eastern European countries:  Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania.  These became “satellite” countries of the Soviet Union, meaning their policies revolved around and were controlled by the Soviet Union.

Germany itself was divided between communist and free portions.  The eastern side became the German Democratic Republic, which was merely a communist satellite of the Soviet Union and became known as “East Germany.”  The western side in 1947 became the Federal Republic of Germany.  From a memorable post-war speech by Winston Churchill in America, the Soviet Union had dropped an “iron curtain” across Eastern Europe.   

Germany itself was divided between communist and free portions.  The eastern side became the German Democratic Republic, which was merely a communist satellite of the Soviet Union and became known as “East Germany.”  The western side in 1947 became the Federal Republic of Germany.  As described in a memorable post-war speech by Winston Churchill in Missouri, the Soviet Union had dropped an “iron curtain” across Eastern Europe.   

Berlin, the historic capital city of Germany, was located in the eastern side and the Allied Powers agreed to split that city into free and communist parts.  Stalin then showed his hatred of freedom by blockading the delivery of goods to the free part of Berlin, which was as easy as simply stopping the railroads from traveling to Berlin from the west.  The Allies reacted by implementing a massive airlift of foods and supplies to West Berlin.  Every day huge numbers of airplanes flew to and from West Berlin to carry enough cargo to support a large city.  This Berlin Airlift lasted nearly 11 months, from October 1949 to May 1950, until the Soviet Union backed down and lifted the ground blockade.

Berlin, the historic capital city of Germany, was located in the eastern side and the Allied Powers agreed to split that city into free and communist parts.  Stalin then showed his hatred of freedom by blockading the delivery of goods to the free part of Berlin, which was as easy as simply stopping the railroads from traveling to Berlin from the west.  The Allies reacted by implementing a massive airlift of foods and supplies to West Berlin.  Every day huge numbers of airplanes flew to and from West Berlin to carry enough cargo to support a large city.  This Berlin Airlift lasted nearly 11 months, from October 1949 to May 1950, until the Soviet Union backed down and lifted the ground blockade.

A decade later in 1961, the Soviet Union reacted to a different problem:  huge numbers of refugees fleeing communism in East Berlin to live in the free West Berlin.  While President Kennedy was enjoying a long, relaxing weekend, the communists built a concrete wall to separate East Berlin from West Berlin.  Barbed wire was placed atop this “Berlin Wall,” and armed guards were posted along it to shoot and kill anyone trying to escape from the East into the West (no one would want to go in the opposite direction).  Stories of daring and sometimes successful escapes are fascinating to read.  This was the wall at which President Ronald Reagan stood in the late 1980s demanding that the head of the Soviet Union “tear down this wall!”

A decade later, in 1961, the Soviet Union reacted to a different problem:  huge numbers of refugees fleeing communism in East Berlin to live in the free West Berlin.  While President Kennedy was enjoying a long, relaxing weekend, the communists built a concrete wall to separate East Berlin from West Berlin.  Barbed wire was placed atop this “Berlin Wall,” and armed guards were posted along it to shoot and kill anyone trying to escape from the East into the West (no one would want to go in the opposite direction).  Stories of daring and sometimes successful escapes are fascinating to read.  This was the wall at which President Ronald Reagan stood in the late 1980s demanding that the head of the Soviet Union “tear down this wall!”

Back in 1945, the United Nations was set up by Soviet spy Alger Hiss, who was a confident of Roosevelt, initially in San Francisco.  The United Nations charter established a General Assembly on the principle of one vote per nation.  There was an 11-member Security Council on which Great Britain, China, the United States, France and the Soviet Union had permanent seats.  The other seats rotate and have representative nations from around the world.  Today the Security Council has 15 seats, and communist Hugo Chavez from Venezuela seeks a seat on it.  Any nation on the Security Council can veto any proposal.  The United Nations moved to New York City where it sits today, and many feel it is ineffective or even counterproductive.  Supporters of the United Nations say that it is important to promote peace and participate in peacekeeping operations.

Back in 1945, the United Nations was set up by Soviet spy Alger Hiss, who was a confidant of Roosevelt, initially in San Francisco.  The United Nations charter established a General Assembly on the principle of one vote per nation.  There was an 11-member Security Council on which Great Britain, China, the United States, France and the Soviet Union had permanent seats.  The other seats rotate and have representative nations from around the world.  Today the Security Council has 15 seats, and communist Hugo Chavez from Venezuela seeks a seat on it.  Any nation on the Security Council can veto any proposal.  The United Nations moved to New York City where it sits today, and many feel it is ineffective or even counterproductive.  Supporters of the United Nations say that it is important to promote peace and participate in peacekeeping operations.

The United States had several reactions to the Cold War.  One was a policy of “containment”, whereby America helped smaller countries seeking to resist the spread of communism to them.  The Truman Doctrine was a statement of support to Greece and Turkey against communist advances, and Congress authorized military and economic aid.

The United States had several reactions to the Cold War.  One was a policy of “containment”, whereby America helped smaller countries seeking to resist the spread of communism to them.  The Truman Doctrine was a statement of support to Greece and Turkey against communist advances, and Congress authorized military and economic aid.

Military alliances formed on both sides.  After the Berlin blockade in 1949, western countries joined together as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).  In response, in 1955, the Soviet Union formed a communist alliance in the Warsaw Pact, which included all the communist countries of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union itself.  Another organization, the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), brought together the United States, Great Britain, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Iraq to stop communist advances in the Middle East (Southwest Asia).  SEATO, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, performed the same function in the Far East.  Members included the United States, Great Britain, France, Thailand, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

Military alliances formed on both sides.  After the Berlin blockade in 1949, western countries joined together as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).  In response, in 1955, the Soviet Union formed a communist alliance in the Warsaw Pact, which included all the communist countries of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union itself.  Another organization, the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), brought together the United States, Great Britain, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Iraq to stop communist advances in the Middle East (Southwest Asia).  SEATO, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, performed the same function in the Far East.  Members included the United States, Great Britain, France, Thailand, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

Technology played a key role in the Cold War.  The United States developed the atomic bomb in 1945.  Using secrets stolen from the United States, the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb in 1949.  To stay one step ahead, the United States developed the far more powerful hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) in 1952.  This used nuclear fusion and is called a “thermonuclear weapon.”  The Soviet Union by itself developed its own H-bomb nine months later.  Both nations began to develop huge inventories of these bombs, and advocated a policy of “brinkmanship” or the willingness to do whatever was necessary to defend their interests.

Technology played a key role in the Cold War.  The United States developed the atomic bomb in 1945.  Using secrets stolen from the United States, the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb in 1949.  To stay one step ahead, the United States developed the far more powerful hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) in 1952.  This used nuclear fusion and is called a “thermonuclear weapon.”  The Soviet Union developed an H-bomb for itself nine months later.  Both nations began to develop huge inventories of these bombs, and advocated a policy of “brinkmanship” or the willingness to do whatever was necessary to defend their interests.

Spying between the nations took advantages of improvements in space technology.  First both the United States and Soviet Union developed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to shoot each other with nuclear arms.  Then the Soviet Union launched the first unmanned satellite, known as Sputnik I, into outer space in 1957.  This greatly alarmed Americans, and the United States responded by launching its own satellite in 1958 and later initiating a mission to land on the Moon.

Spying between the nations took advantages of improvements in space technology.  First both the United States and Soviet Union developed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to shoot each other with nuclear arms.  Then the Soviet Union launched the first unmanned satellite, known as Sputnik I, into outer space in 1957.  This greatly alarmed Americans, and the United States responded by launching its own satellite in 1958 and later initiating a mission to land on the Moon.

Americans developed a spy plane that could fly undetected at very high altitudes, called the “U-2”.  When one fell to the earth in Soviet territory in 1960, President Eisenhower arranged for his Administration official to deny that America was spying.  But the pilot disobeyed his orders to kill himself before being captured, and he was produced live in the Soviet Union for the television cameras!  The Soviets then put him on a phony trial (known as a “show trial” because its real purpose is to humiliate an enemy), and a embarrassed United States had to beg for his return, which the Soviets ultimately agreed to.  It was never fully understood how the plane could have landed safely, and the pilot (Francis Gary Powers) died two decades later while operating a traffic helicopter.  The U-2 incident forced cancellation of a meeting between President Eisenhower and the aggressive Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev.

Americans developed a spy plane that could fly undetected at very high altitudes, called the “U-2”.  When one fell to the earth in Soviet territory in 1960, President Eisenhower arranged for his Administration official to deny that America was spying.  But the pilot disobeyed his orders to kill himself before being captured, and he was produced live in the Soviet Union for the television cameras!  The Soviets then put him on a phony trial (known as a “show trial” because its real purpose is to humiliate an enemy), and an embarrassed United States had to beg for his return, to which the Soviets ultimately agreed in a prisoner exchange.  It was never fully understood how the plane could have landed safely, and the pilot (Francis Gary Powers) died two decades later while operating a traffic helicopter.  The U-2 incident forced cancellation of a meeting between President Eisenhower and the aggressive Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev.

==China==

==China==