Aim: Analyze the U.S.-Soviet Postwar Split

Allies Become Enemies Before WWII ended, the U.S. alliance with the Soviet Union had unraveled US upset that Joseph Stalin signed a nonaggression pact with Germany in 1939 Stalin blamed the Allies for not invading German occupied Europe earlier than 1944 Yalta Conference: Postwar Plan Feb 1945: Leaders of the US, Britain, & Soviet Union met at the Soviet Black Sea resort (Yalta) Agreed to divide Germany into zones of occupations controlled by the Allied Germany would pay the Soviet Union to compensate for its loss of life & property Stalin agreed to join war against Japan 2

Creation of the United Nations June 1945: US & Soviet Union temporarily set aside their differences Joined 48 other countries in forming the United Nations (UN) International organization was intended to protect the members against aggression Based in New York Charter for the new peacekeeping organization established large body called the General Assembly Each UN member nation could cast its vote on a range of issues 11-member body called Security Council had the real power to investigate & settle disputes 5 permanent members were Britain, China, France, US, & Soviet Union 3

Differing U.S. & Soviet Goals Despite Yalta, the US & Soviet Union split sharply after the war War affected them very differently US suffered 400,000 deaths & all cities remained intact Soviet Union had 50(x) fatalities & many cities were demolished 4