Conflict and Tension between East and West, 1945–1972
What's covered
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Key facts
The development of the Cold War
Matching US defence spending crippled the Soviet economy, which could not sustain the burden — historians regard this as a major factor in the USSR's collapse.
Extended Response Practice
The USSR/East Germany built the Wall to stop the haemorrhage of East Germans into the West — more than 3 million had left between 1949 and 1961, many of them skilled workers.
The origins of the Cold War
When the USSR blocked road and rail access to West Berlin in June 1948 the Western response was an airlift that supplied West Berlin by air for 11 months.
Transformation of the Cold War
The USSR invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to prop up the communist PDPA government that was struggling against the Mujahideen insurgency.
The development of the Cold War
Despite raising stakes, the nuclear arms race made direct war between the USA and USSR LESS likely, because MAD deterred any first strike.
Extended Response Practice
The underlying ideological clash was that the USA promoted capitalism and liberal democracy, while the USSR promoted communism and one-party rule.
The origins of the Cold War
The Berlin Blockade hardened Western resolve and convinced the USA that it had to commit militarily to Europe — leading directly to NATO.
Transformation of the Cold War
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan ended détente: the USA boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics and CIA-armed the Mujahideen via Pakistan.
The development of the Cold War
The Berlin Wall was constructed from 13 August 1961, dividing East and West Berlin.
The origins of the Cold War
The Cold War was primarily a confrontation between two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR).
Sample questions
A taste of the 63 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
The USA dropped the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in which year?
- •1944
- ✓1945
- •1946
- •1949
The Cold War was primarily a conflict between which two superpowers?
- •Britain and the USSR
- •The USA and China
- •The USA and Germany
- ✓The USA and the USSR
SALT I (1972) was an agreement between the USA and USSR to:
- •Ban all nuclear weapons testing
- ✓Limit the number of nuclear missiles each side could hold
- •Remove nuclear weapons from Europe
- •Share nuclear technology for peaceful purposes
The concept of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) meant that:
- ✓A nuclear attack would destroy both sides — making nuclear war suicidal
- •Both superpowers agreed never to use nuclear weapons under any circumstances
- •Each side had exactly enough weapons to destroy the other precisely once
- •Nuclear war was acceptable if it secured a decisive military advantage
At the Yalta Conference (February 1945), which three leaders met to plan the post-war world?
- •Eisenhower (USA), Churchill (Britain), Stalin (USSR)
- ✓Roosevelt (USA), Churchill (Britain), Stalin (USSR)
- •Roosevelt (USA), De Gaulle (France), Stalin (USSR)
- •Truman (USA), Attlee (Britain), Stalin (USSR)
Why did the USSR invade Afghanistan in 1979?
- •In response to a US military presence on its border
- •To prevent Afghanistan ever joining NATO
- ✓To prop up the communist government that was struggling against the Mujahideen
- •To protect oil and gas pipelines running through Afghanistan
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