Europe in the 1940s-1960s

After World War II Many countries’ borders needed to be set and governments re-established after the war. Europe was in need of financial help because so many roads, bridges, buildings, and more had been destroyed during the war. The United States offered aid to help Europe recover.

The United Nations The Allied countries formed the United Nations to try to prevent World War III from happening. The United Nations formed on October 24, 1945. There were 51 original members.

Europe Divides Europe divided into the Eastern Bloc and the West. The East was led and controlled by the Soviet Union (Russia) This was called the Warsaw Pact. The West (including the United States) formed an alliance against communism. This was called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The Cold War Begins NATO and the Warsaw Pact would take place in an arms race war which was called the Cold War. The Cold War never escalated into full war due to the fear of what would happen to the world if many countries started dropping atomic bombs. The Cold War lasted for 45 years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAsMBgnt3mA

Western European Union In 1955, 10 countries formed the Western European Union (WEU) which worked in cooperation with NATO. The WEU’s goal was to provide for defense and cooperation in economic, social, and cultural matters. The WEU lasted until 2011.

European Economic Community The EEC was created in 1958. This was a group of European countries who joined together to try to eliminate trade barriers and establish common trading policies. The EEC eventually became the European Union (EU) in 1991.

Élysée Treaty France and West Germany signed a treaty of friendship called the Élysée Treaty in 1963. This treaty ended centuries of rivalry between the France and Germany.