The Superpowers Face Off

Allies Become Enemies Even before World War II ended, the U.S. alliance with the Soviet Union began to unravel The United States was upset wit the fact that Joseph Stalin had signed a nonaggression pact with Germany – still didn’t trust him Stalin blamed the Allies fro not invading German-occupied Europe earlier than 1944 – let the Soviet Union take all of the losses Driven by such disagreements, they began to pursue differing goals February 1945 – Roosevelt/Churchill/Stalin meet at Yalta (sea resort town in modern-day Ukraine) Divide Germany into zones (of occupation) controlled by Allied forces Germany would have to pay the Soviet Union for war damages Stalin agreed to free elections in Eastern Europe – Churchill was doubtful; “He will keep his pledge only Eastern Europeans follow a policy that is friendly to Russia:”

The Yalta Conference

Creation of the United Nations In June 1945, the United States/Soviet Union joined other United Nations is created – Organization that protects members from aggression (Found in New York City) The charter for the new peacekeeping organization Established a large body called the General Assembly – Can offer suggestions/recommendations Each member could cast its vote on issues such as territorial disputes, international security, economic and financial growth (trade), etc. All nations affiliated with the United Nations have a representative in the General Assembly (193 member states, 2 observer states) An 11 member body called the Security Council was created to investigate and settle disputes by sending in U.N. forces (Charter Article 25) Purpose is to maintain peace amongst nations – gets criticized by the general assembly at times Five of the Security Council are permanent members – China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States Often some grief in security council due to resolutions being vetoed by opposing members (China and Russia)

United Nations

Differing U.S. and Soviet Goals Despite the agreement at Yalta and their presence on the Security Council, the United States and the Soviet Union split sharply after the war The United States had 400,000 casualties because of World War II, but was the richest and most powerful country The Soviet Union had about 20,000,000 casualties – 1 in 4 Soviets were killed during the war Many Soviet cities such as Leningrad, Stalingrad and Moscow had been destroyed – pulling for reparations from Germany to help rebuild them Soviet Union has a new goal; protect itself from Western invaders (centuries of history taught them to fear it – Mongols, Poles, etc.) Soviet Union Established communist regimes in Eastern European countries such as Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, etc. to be used as a buffer zone between the west and Russia (made possible because Russian troops were still there because of WWII) To Harry S. Truman, Roosevelt’s successor, this was a clear violation of the Yalta agreement – Eastern Europe was supposed to have free elections While meeting in Potsdam, Germany in 1945 (Potsdam Conference), Stalin, Truman and Churchill discussed Eastern Europe, punishment of war criminals, unconditional surrender of Japan; Stalin declared he wouldn’t allow free elections – gets Truman really upset though Churchill had expected as much Stalin later goes on to state that capitalism and communism cannot exist in the same world

The Iron Curtain and Containment Europe now lay divided between East and West; Communist and Democratic Soviets had control of the Eastern part, including half of the capital Berlin Under a communist government, East Germany was known as the German Democratic Republic The Western (Allied) zones became the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949 Winston Churchill described the division of Europe as such: “From Stettin the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent…and all are subject…to Soviet Union influence” Iron Curtain—boundary dividing Europe into two: Western Europe – Democratic, Eastern Europe – Communist

Division of Germany and Berlin

The Berlin Airlift In 1948, France, Britain and the United States decided to withdraw their forces from Germany and allow their occupation zones to form one nation The Soviet Union responded by holding West Berlin, which had been under Western Control, hostage They didn’t want to give Germany the opportunity to unify; also didn’t Democratic influence growing close to Eastern Europe They cut of traffic (by setting up road blocks and stationing soldiers) and water to West Berlin – Stalin wanted to see what the Allies would do Allies fly supplies to West Berlin (food, medicine, clothes, supplies, candy, water, etc.) for 11 months – Berlin Airlift Soviet Union lifts the blockade in May 1949 – Stalin’s gamble of baiting the Allies into conflict failed First instance of conflict where military forces are not directly used (at least between the United States and Russia) – “Cold War” Mostly because of the possibility of both sides using nuclear weapons