1.3.4

Greek Civil War & the Truman Doctrine

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The Greek Civil War, March 1947

America's intervention in the Greek civil war was the first example of the Truman Doctrine in action.

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The outbreak of civil war

  • In 1946 civil war broke out between the monarchists in Greece and the Greek Communists who had fought to liberate Greece from Nazi occupation.
  • Britain provided assistance to the non-communist forces in Greece and neighbouring Turkey.
  • Yet, by 1947 Britain told the USA that it couldn’t continue this because there were too many financial difficulties on British soil.
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US involvement in Greece

  • In March 1947, the USA pledged assistance to Greece and Turkey.
  • This reflected the change in attitudes towards communist regimes following the Kennan Telegram and the Iron Curtain speech.
  • This marked the start of America becoming more involved with European affairs and is known as the Truman Doctrine.

The Truman Doctrine

  • The Truman Doctrine promised to send money and resources to any peoples threatened by another power (suggesting protection from communist takeovers).
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Historical interpretation of the Truman Doctrine

  • Historians David Evans and Jane Jenkins in Years of Russia and the USSR 1851-1991, (2001) argue that Churchill stated that this financial deal (the Marshall Plan) to offer support was ‘the most unsordid act in history’.
  • They also argue that Stalin and his Foreign Minister, Molotov, “regarded it as a devious dollar-backed scheme to loosen the communist grip on Europe”.

Jump to other topics

1Origins of the Cold War, 1945-9

2Widening of the Cold War

3The Global War

4Confrontation & Cooperation

5Brezhnev Era

6Ending of the Cold War

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