Roots+of+the+Cold+War+p1-6+weiweil2013+10.4.11

US'S NATURAL ANTAGONISM AGAINST BOLSHEVIKS NAZI-SOVIET PACT PACT/PEACE/TREATY OF CONVENIENCE BETWEEN USSR AND ALLIES BIG THREE'S FIRST MEETING AT TEHRAN BIG THREE SECOND MEETING AT YALTA SURRENDER + DIVISION OF GERMANY
 * two revolutions in 1917, resulted in Bolshevik gov. with Lenin leading
 * US government didn't like Bolsheviks from start
 * not because of totalitarianism (until Stalin came to power in 1928)
 * USSR dropped out of war just before USA did (from Allied side)
 * ideological divide between USA capitalism + USSR communism
 * Russian civil war: US troops sent in on White Army side AGAINST Bolsheviks
 * NEP: government controlled economy, USA recognises USSR as a country
 * Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact (signed in secret, revealed late August 1939)
 * Stalin distrusted Germany, but distrusted UK + France more
 * pact = delaying tactic for both sides: USSR = not ready for war, Germany = finish Western front first
 * USSR entered war in June 1941 on Allied side, but mistrust stood and connections were uneasy
 * USSR asked for relief in form of invasion in German-occupied France, Roosevelt agreed
 * Churchill disagreed, invaded North Africa instead, upset Stalin, tried to reassure but really just gonna be "bombing our way out"
 * Stalin became suspicious at Churchill's apparent self-interest in North Africa (while Russians are dying)
 * Big Three Tehran meeting: November 1943
 * Stalin = smarter, more realistic, most effective but also murderous tyrant
 * US agreed to invasion on May 1, 1944, Churchill had to agree
 * main topics: League of Nation's successor, future of Eastern Europe, Germany, Soviet entry into Pacific War
 * Stalin very strong in mind and strength, but Roosevelt very ill and couldn't resist demands
 * Stalin wanted: veto power, recognition for commie gov, 10 billion dollars of war reparation, annexing Japanese islands
 * USA + UK helplessly agree because of USSR's military advantage, but tried to make agreements as flexible as possible
 * April 16: USSR main assault on Berlin, April 30: Hitler commits suicide
 * Berlin surrenders May 7, 1945, divided into four zones (UK, USA, France and USSR)