Cold War Terminology

1. Potsdam Conference
Took place in Cecelienhof, Potsdam. It involved the Soviet Union, the United States and the United Kingdom. The conference was held after the Labour Party’s victory over the Conservatives and they meet to discuss how they were going to administer Nazi Germany. Next, they discussed post-war order and issues that had to do with the peace treaties and the countering effects of war.

2. Long Telegram (X Article)
This was published in the Foreign Affairs magazine in July of 1947 and was written by George F. Kennan. In his article Kennan tells his opinions and his views of the Soviets.

3. Iron Curtain
This was the boundary that divided Europe into two separate regions towards the end of World War II. The Iron Curtain separated Western from Eastern Europe and the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall later fell on September 11, 1989.

4. GDR
GDR stands for the German Democratic Republic, but in Germany it is known as the DDR. It existed from 1949 to 1990 and the GDR was a self declared socialist state.

5. Satellite Nations
This is the term that is used for a country that is independent but still under heavy influence or control of a mother country. During a war the satellite nations act as a buffer zone between the enemy country and the nation that has control over them.

6. Containment
One of the U.S. philosophies of keeping communism within its existing boundaries and preventing its further expansion. It would enhance America's security and keep it from causing the domino effect.

7. Brezhnev Doctrine
One of the Soviet Unions foreign policies. Leonid Brezhnev, who was in power during this time created it. This doctrine was used to justify the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and the invasion of Hungary. It was meant to put an end to Democratic liberalization.

8. Occupation Zones
The allied powers who defeared Germany in WW2 divided the country west of the Oder-Neisse line into 4 occupation zones for administrative reasons during the period of 1945-49. In the end of the fighting in Europe, American forces had pushed beyond the previously agreed boundaries for the future zones of occupation.

9. Berlin Blockade
This was aka the German hold-up, it was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War and the first cold war international crisis that resulted in a casualty. During World War II the Soviet Union blocked the Western force's railway and road access to the western sectors of Berlin that they had been controlling. Their aim was to force the western powers to allow the Soviet-controlled regions to start supplying Berlin with food and fuel,which would give them practical control over the entire city.

10. De-Stalinization
This was the process of eliminating the cult of personality and Stalinist political system created by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. It also put an end to the role of large-scale forced labor in the economy.

11. Hungarian Revolution
This was a revolt against the Stalinist form of government inside Hungary. At first, it was just a bunch of students having a rally, but after more people came, violence erupted and caused a revolution all throughout the country. Politburo pretended it was going to give the people what they wanted, but later went behind their backs and crushed the revolution.

12. Arms Race
I'm guessing that this is the Nuclear arms race rather than just any regular arms race. This was a competition to see which country could get the best nuclear weapon, US or Soviet Union. Both nations eventually began work trying to create the Hydrogen bomb. Eventually, nuclear submarines were made and we use them in the modern US. The nuclear arms race was filled with secrecy and caused the KGB and CIA to do espionage on the other country.

13. Détente
A french term that translates to relaxing, this was used in the Cold War between the USSR and US. They used this in order to lessen the tension between the two towards the latter part of the war. NATO and Warsaw thought the nuclear arms both countries were producing would not be able to sustain the economies, so they both decided to lessen the tension.

14. Nikita Khrushchev
Leader of the Soviet Union after death of Stalin. He is responsible for the de-Stalinization of Russia, and the Space Race. He was later removed from office and replaced by Leonid Brezhnev.

15.Viet Cong
Army in South Vietnam that was "pro" North Korea. They caused the American and South Vietnamese soldiers to fight not only in South Vietnam, but also in North. They used Guerilla warfare and were devastating in the War. They are known for the Tet Offensive in which they attacked an embassy and many urban cities.