Parker, ch 16: soviet union and the west

The Grand Alliance consisted of the British Empire, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
This alliance was significant in achieving victory in World War II but faced challenges due to mutual distrust.
Each side feared potential collaboration between the other side and Nazi Germany.

There was skepticism about an understanding between the Western allies and Soviet Russia regarding post-war cooperation with Germany.
Hitler's untrustworthiness meant that any alliance with Germany could only happen once the Nazi regime was dismantled.
Without a reliable successor regime (either a liberal democracy or a Communist state), the risk of Germany playing both sides was too high.

An ongoing cooperation between the allied powers was viewed as essential for promoting world peace post-war.
There was hope among Western nations, and likely in the Soviet Union as well, that the three main powers (potentially with China and France) could collaboratively manage global affairs to avoid future conflicts.

The alternative to cooperation was the division of the world into spheres of influence, wherein each superpower could impose its will without accountability.
Early signs of tension that contributed to the Cold War appeared when the Red Army approached Warsaw in July 1944.

In late July 1944, calls for an insurrection in Warsaw culminated with the Polish Home Army (loyal to the London government) seizing parts of the city.
This uprising was not supported by the Soviet Union, which had its own puppet government in Poland.
The Polish resistance aimed to reduce Soviet influence by establishing their own authority in the absence of the Red Army.
Stalin's refusal to assist the insurgents raised suspicions regarding Soviet intentions in Poland.

During the uprising, the Polish Home Army faced overwhelming odds against German forces.
Initial Soviet promises of support were quickly withdrawn, leading to a sense of betrayal among the Poles.
The Western allies were concerned about Soviet propaganda against the Polish insurgents.
Ultimately, the uprising was crushed, resulting in significant casualties among both combatants and civilians.

Western sympathy grew for Poland, particularly after the horrific results of the uprising.
Churchill recognized the Polish Home Army's struggle yet was limited in securing concessions from the Soviet Union for a post-war Polish government.
Diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and the Polish government in London deteriorated, culminating in the recognition of the Soviet-backed Lublin Committee as the legitimate Polish government.

By January 1945, as the Red Army advanced, they established the Lublin Committee fully in Warsaw.
The fate of Poland was a contentious topic at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences, showcasing the increasing difficulty of three-power cooperation.

Key disagreements grew from the differing objectives of the Soviet Union (security through control of Poland) and the US/British commitment to democratic principles established in the Atlantic Charter.
Polish aspirations for independence clashed with Soviet intentions for a satellite state.

At Yalta, discussions included agreeing on the Curzon Line as the new frontier for Poland and pledging reforms in the Polish government for better representation.
However, post-war promises for free elections were not realized, and Soviet manipulation ensured Communist dominance in Poland.

Subsequent meetings at Potsdam confirmed the transition from the Polish government in London to the government in Warsaw, still controlled by Communists.
The discussions highlighted tensions regarding territorial adjustments and reparations stemming from war damages.
Issues concerning the status of Germany dominated discussions.

The Soviet Union and Western allies initially agreed on a unified Germany but volatile reparations demands began to surface, leading to divergent policies on governing post-war Europe.
The Berlin Blockade in 1948 emerged as a crucial moment in the Cold War, reinforcing divisions between East and West.

As Japan surrendered, competing American and Soviet influences emerged in East Asia, notably in Korea, where mutual distrust led to a significant rift in post-war alliances.
The rise of the Communist party in China under Mao, exacerbated American fears of Communism's expansion, which further entrenched global divisions.