1_The Start of the Cold War

Who Was to Blame for the Cold War?

Focus Points:

  • Post-WWII, the USA and USSR moved from wartime allies to Cold War rivals (1945–1948).

  • Key questions:

    • Why did the alliance break down in 1945?

    • How did the USSR gain control over Eastern Europe?

    • How did the USA react to Soviet expansion?

    • What were the consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

    • Who was to blame — USSR, USA, or both?

  • Possible explanations:

    • Stalin’s expansion in Eastern Europe.

    • Truman’s Truman Doctrine and Marshall Aid.

    • Mutual suspicion and contrasting ideologies.

    • Some historians argue the Cold War was inevitable.

After 1945, relations between the USA and USSR deteriorated rapidly, leading to the Cold War. Historians debate whether Stalin’s aggressive control of Eastern Europe, Truman’s anti-communist policies, or mutual ideological mistrust caused the conflict. Others suggest the Cold War was unavoidable, given the deep ideological divide between communism and capitalism.

Why Did the US–Soviet Alliance Begin to Break Down in 1945?

I. Allies Against Hitler

  • The Grand Alliance (USA, USSR, Britain) was formed during WWII against Nazi Germany and Japan.

  • It was a strategic alliance, not a friendship — united by a common enemy.

  • The USSR was communist (since 1917); Britain and the USA were capitalist and opposed communism.

  • Mutual distrust existed — the West had previously supported anti-communist forces.

  • Despite ideological hostility, they cooperated to defeat Germany by 1945.

Paragraph:
The wartime alliance between the USA, USSR, and Britain was based purely on defeating Hitler, not shared values. Deep ideological differences and past hostility made cooperation temporary. Once Germany was defeated, old suspicions resurfaced, ending the alliance.

II. Early Tension Between East and West

  • The Grand Alliance united capitalist and communist states against the Axis powers.

  • Germany’s invasion of the USSR in 1941 forced Stalin to ally with Britain.

  • After Pearl Harbor (Dec 1941), the USA joined the war, aligning with the USSR and Britain.

  • The alliance was uneasy due to ideological conflict — capitalism vs. communism.

Paragraph:
Germany’s invasion of the USSR and Japan’s attack on the USA brought unlikely allies together. However, deep ideological divisions remained, and once the shared threat of Hitler was gone, these tensions resurfaced, paving the way for the Cold War.

III. Rivals with Differing World Views

  • The USA valued capitalism, democracy, private property, and freedom.

  • The USSR valued communism, state control, and collective ownership.

  • Both believed their system was superior and should spread globally.

  • Each saw the other as a threat to world stability.

  • Source 2 shows that both sides had opposite ideas of “freedom” and “democracy.”

Paragraph:
The USA and USSR viewed the world through opposing lenses: capitalism versus communism. Both sought to promote their systems globally and saw the other’s expansion as dangerous. These conflicting ideologies lay at the heart of post-war rivalry.

Understanding the Differences Between Capitalism and Communism

Capitalism (USA/Britain)

Communism (USSR)

Several political parties

One-party state

Free democratic elections

Controlled elections (one-party rule)

Private ownership of business

State ownership of industry

Individual freedom & rights valued

State control over individuals

Free speech & press

Censorship & propaganda

A Clash of Ideologies

  • The USA: capitalist democracy; free elections; private business; individual rights.

  • The USSR: communist dictatorship; one-party rule; state ownership; collective good prioritized.

  • The USA saw communism as a global revolutionary threat.

  • The USSR saw the USA as trying to expand capitalist influence.

  • Both believed their ideology should shape post-war Europe.

Paragraph:
The USA promoted capitalism and democracy, while the USSR sought to spread communism. Each believed their system was morally and politically superior, causing inevitable ideological conflict after WWII.

Superpowers

  • After WWII, the USA and USSR became the world’s two superpowers.

  • Britain and France lost global influence (“second division” powers).

  • The USA abandoned its 1930s isolationism and adopted a policy of global involvement.

  • The USA now opposed appeasement and vowed to resist communism.

  • The USSR, meanwhile, expanded influence in Eastern Europe to ensure security after huge wartime losses.

Paragraph:
Post-1945, the USA and USSR emerged as rival superpowers. The USA abandoned isolationism, promising to confront communism, while the USSR tightened control in Eastern Europe for protection. This shift transformed wartime unity into global rivalry.

Conferences:

I. The Yalta Conference (February 1945)

Agreements at Yalta:

  • Stalin to join the war against Japan after Germany’s surrender.

  • Germany divided into four zones: USA, USSR, Britain, France.

  • Free elections in liberated countries.

  • Formation of the United Nations to maintain peace.

  • Nazi war criminals to be punished.

  • Eastern Europe recognized as a Soviet sphere of influence for USSR’s security.

Paragraph:
At Yalta, the Big Three — Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill — cooperated effectively. They agreed on dividing Germany, holding free elections, forming the UN, and punishing Nazis. Stalin was given a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe for Soviet security.

Disagreements at Yalta:

  • Main issue: Poland’s borders and government.

  • Stalin wanted the USSR’s border to move west and Poland’s to shift into Germany.

  • Churchill and Roosevelt opposed this but accepted it, as the Red Army already occupied Eastern Europe.

  • Compromise: USSR wouldn’t interfere in Greece (British control).

Paragraph:
The only major disagreement at Yalta was over Poland. Stalin wanted territorial changes and control, while Britain and the USA opposed it. Ultimately, they compromised, revealing early signs of mistrust and differing ambitions.

II. The Potsdam Conference (July 1945)

Changes Since Yalta:

  1. Soviet Expansion: Stalin kept Red Army troops in Eastern Europe, installing communist governments.

  2. New US President: Truman replaced Roosevelt — more anti-communist and suspicious of Stalin.

  3. Atomic Bomb: USA successfully tested the atomic bomb (July 1945), increasing tension and mistrust.

  4. British Change: Churchill replaced by Clement Attlee during the conference.

Paragraph:
By Potsdam, relations had worsened. Stalin’s expansion in Eastern Europe, Truman’s hostility toward communism, and the US atomic bomb test all heightened mistrust. Leadership changes made cooperation nearly impossible.

Disagreements at Potsdam:

  • Germany: Stalin wanted to cripple Germany; Truman resisted to avoid another Versailles.

  • Reparations: Stalin demanded heavy reparations; Truman limited Soviet claims.

  • Eastern Europe: Stalin installed pro-Soviet governments; Truman adopted a “get tough” policy.

  • The conference ended without unity, worsening tensions between the USA and USSR.

Paragraph:
At Potsdam, the Allies disagreed sharply over Germany, reparations, and Eastern Europe. Stalin wanted control and compensation, while Truman opposed harsh punishment and Soviet dominance. These disputes marked the clear breakdown of the wartime alliance.