Summary
Summary 'Germany was responsible for global tensions prior to 1950'
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Analysing the title with the arguments of ideologies and the aggression of the US towards the USSR.
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GermanyIn 1945, at Yalta and Potsdam, it was agreed by the Grand Alliance that Germany (as well
as Berlin) would be divided into four zones occupied by the Allied Control Council until free
elections could be held with the US and UK agreeing to give the USSR 25% of reparations
from their zones. However, tension increased in 1946, when General Clay announced that
no further reparations would be taken from Germany. Stalin believed that this would allow
Germany’s economy to be redeveloped, potentially enabling the possibility of reestablishing
the country’s threat (and therefore a 3rd war.) The conflict over Germany only intensified
following the introduction of the deutsche mark on June 23rd 1948 resulting in the Soviet
Union blocking all roads and rain tracks to the Western zones (including Berlin) and
beginning of the Berlin Blockade which lasted 318 days and resulted in the establishment of
the FRG and GDR in 1949 (further establishing more tension.)
Ideologies
It can be suggested that the Cold War was established as a result of ideological conflict
between the Capitalists and Communist as both ideologies saw the other as a threat to
functionation. In February 1946, George Kennan’s ‘Long Telegram’ also arguably contributed
to the beginning of the Cold War as he emphasised the threat of the communists to the
western world due to its intention to “demonise the West for domestic political reasons.” This
further encouraged Truman’s introduction of altering America’s foreign policy to address
potential conflict towards the USSR (the Truman Doctrine in 1947.) Similarly, on the 6th
March 1946, Winston Churchil performed the ‘Iron Curtain Speech’ which ideologically
attacked the Soviet Union as well as their policies on expansion which resulted in Stalin’s
defensive interview to Pravda ten days later where he implied that Capitalism threatened the
Soviet’s need for security ‘the iron curtain.’ Due to ideological differences both superpowers
believed the other to be a threat which ‘needed addressed’ to ensure their position as the
ultimate global power.
The US
Between 1945 and 1949, the US’s behaviour towards the USSR was understandably
perceived as being hostile and although indirect, arguably it was this behaviour which
contributed to the start of the Cold War as the US was determined to establish their
superiority against the Soviets. In 1945, Truman failed to tell Stalin of the true nature of his
“weapon of unusual destructive force” whilst at Potsdam, which made the droping of the
atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Negasaki appear threatning to the USSR, as it demonstrated
the power the US had over the USSR - almost an implication for the USSR to ‘stay in line.’
Similarly, the 1947 introduction of the Marshall Plan further contributed to the beginning of
the Cold War, as the offering of financial aid to countries who were vulnerable to communist
expansion, further increased tensions as Stalin believed that this prevented the USSR’s
establishment of security therefore leaving the country vulnerable and as appearing weak.
Stalin saw this behaviour as being threatening and therefore influential in the creation of the
Cold War, particularly with a focus on Europe as this was seen as the ‘European Recovery
Programme.’
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