The Cold War Origins of the Cold War 1945 – 1991

Vs. The Who? The United States and the “West” = Blue The Soviet Union and the “East” = Red Vs.

What is the Cold War? Cold War was a state of tension and hostility between nations aligned with the United States and those aligned with the Soviet Union Known as the West vs. East

What is the Cold War? After WWII, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two major superpowers of the world Each had differing views of post-war Europe: U.S. Soviet Union Feared spread of Communism Wanted free elections Create “buffer zone” of friendly countries Support of pro-communist governments

Iron Curtain Falls By 1950, an imaginary line known as the Iron Curtain divided Europe. East – Soviet-dominated Communist countries West – Democracies backed by U.S

Iron Curtain Falls …From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe…. ~Winston Churchill, 1945

Truman Doctrine March 1947 – Harry Truman established this policy to stop the spread of communism Rooted in the idea of containment, or limiting Communism to areas already under Soviet control

Marshall Plan 1947 – U.S. provided this massive economic aid package to western European countries devastated by WWII Designed to lessen the appeal of Communism Stalin forbid Eastern European countries from accepting this aid

Marshall Plan

Germany Remains Divided Germany was divided into 4 zones after WWII: French, British, US, and Soviet Further, the capital of Berlin was also divided among the four countries East Germany, Communist West Germany, Democratic Capital of Berlin

The Division of Germany and its capital city Berlin after WWII

Germany Remains Divided The three western countries united their regions to form a free West Germany and West Berlin by 1949. In 1948, Stalin tried to force the Western powers out of Berlin by blockading all supplies into West Berlin For nearly a year, the West flew in supplies and food in what was known as the Berlin Airlift

Opposing Military Alliances In response to the building tension, two new military alliances were forged: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forms in 1949 Western European countries and U.S. Warsaw Pact forms in 1955 Soviet Union and seven of its satellites