Expansion and Containment

What is it?

Expansion and containment refers to the attempt to expand one's sphere of influence while simultaneously trying to stop the spread of influence of an opponent. Examples include Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Classic Example: Germany

At the end of World War II, the Yalta and Potsdam conferences led to the decision to divide Germany into four zones, controlled by the USA, USSR, France, and Britain. Berlin, located within the Soviet sector, was also divided into four zones.

1948 Berlin Airlift

Stalin, unhappy with transportation routes through his zone to supply Berlin, blocked all access routes. In response, the Allies conducted the Berlin Airlift, flying in all necessary supplies for a year. Stalin eventually relented and lifted the blockade.

Result of Berlin Airlift

Increased tensions between the involved parties.
Weakened Stalin's position.
Solidified support for the Truman Doctrine.
Led to the formation of NATO, with the primary goal of containing Soviet influence.

The Truman Doctrine

The Truman Doctrine stated that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. Aid should be primarily economic and financial to foster economic stability and orderly political processes.

Additional Notes on Containment

Former U.S. subs were provided for the Turkish Navy.
Former U.S. planes were provided for the Turkish Air Force.
A 500-man U.S. military mission advised Turkish forces.
Former U.S. guns were supplied for the Turkish Army.
The Marshall Plan, under the label "FOR EUROPEAN RECOVERY, SUPPLIED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", was implemented.

Division of Germany by 1961

By 1961, the division of Germany became permanent:

West Germany: Controlled by the US, Britain, and France, became the Federal Republic of Germany, with a population of 60 million and a prosperous economy.
East Germany: Controlled by the USSR, became the German Democratic Republic, with a population of 16 million and a stagnating economy.

Approximately 10,000 people per week were migrating from East Germany to West Germany, often through Berlin.

Berlin Wall (Literal Containment)

The boundary between the French, British, and US sectors was blocked off overnight, eventually leading to the construction of the Berlin Wall. Security was increased around the wall to prevent escape attempts.

Examples of attempts to cross the Berlin Wall

In 1961/62, houses on the border were demolished to create clear visibility and firing ranges.
Occupants had to leave their homes within hours without prior notice.
East German People's Police (Vopos) often blinded photographers with mirrors.
There were 5,075 successful escapes.
Total fatalities at the GDR border: 985

Individuals attempted to escape using various methods:

Hiding in cable reels.
One escape involved a 17-year-old girl who was promised freedom from prosecution if she returned to East Berlin and talked. Her parents were threatened by the state security service (Stasi).
Another escape involved a man who, with his wife and child, hid in the toilet of the "Haus der Ministerien", waited until night, climbed onto the roof, threw a hammer with a line attached over the wall, and then used a wire rope and self-made chairlifts to descend.

German Impressions

Germans felt frustrated at being pawns in a superpower conflict.
Increased tensions resulted in stress.
Indoctrination led to difficulties adjusting after unification.

1987: Reagan's Speech

Reagan's famous quote, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!", symbolized the push for change.

Gorbachev's policies of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) played a role, along with the Soviet Union being embroiled in local issues, including the war in Afghanistan.

1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall

The East German government began lifting restrictions on travel across borders.

A government official misspoke at a press conference, leading people to flood the gates to cross the border.

That night, people started tearing down the wall, with soldiers unsure of how to respond.

1990: German Reunification

In 1990, Germany was reunified under its own government and is now a major world power.