Imagine living in a world where nuclear war seems unavoidable. Unfortunately, because of the cold war, that was a dark reality for those living in the 1950s. Although the United States of America and the Soviet Union were able to find peace and work together during World War II, the Soviet Union ultimately fractured this relationship rapidly through intentional and direct action against the US and its allies. The USSR was to blame for causing the Cold War because they refused US aid for Europe while trying to spread communism, endangered the lives of millions of civilians through the Berlin Blockade, and convinced North Korea to enter a brutal and unnecessary war against South Korea over a desire for more power.
Because they shared a common enemy during World War II, the Soviets and the US were willing to put aside their differences for the time being in order to fight for the freedom of the world. Despite neither country entering into the war by choice, both countries would team up in order to win World War II against Germany and Japan through multiple meetings in neutral countries. “They achieved complete agreement on the questions relating to the conduct of the war and on the most important problems of the postwar world order. All the peace loving peoples awaited this meeting with hope.” (Doc #5) Through a meeting in Tehran, the US, UK, and Soviet Union were able to agree on a plan which would bring unity and peace during, and after, the war in order to maintain the success which the three countries were having in defeating Hitler. Document 7 maps out the communicated advances towards Axis controlled territory by the Soviets and the US in order to defeat the Nazis. The Soviets and the US were working together peacefully in order to triumph over a common enemy. They were not completely allies, but were able to work out their differences to defeat a single enemy and a address larger world issue. By the end of the Second World War the US and its allies controlled most of the Western part of Europe and the Soviet Union influenced most of the Eastern part of Europe. After working together during the war, the two countries were now divided more than ever before and their political differences would lead to a new conflict known as the Cold War.
The USSR was so opposed to the US and their way of life that they would refuse US aid to Europe. While attempting to convert some nations to communism. By this point, the Soviets had many allies throughout Eastern Europe which were all influenced by the Soviet Union, whereas the US had many allies in the western part of Europe, though they had little influence on the nations. The US proposed a funding plan to help the war-torn countries of Europe. However, “Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav M. Molotov walked out, stating that the Soviet government "rejects this plan as totally unsatisfactory." (Doc #18) This demonstrates that the Soviets rejected an attempt by the US to help stabilize Europe after the war, showing a clear intention by the Soviets to stop other countries from recovering economically so that they could have more influence and control. Although the Soviets may have believed the US was attempting to influence European nations, it was simply an effort to help the entirety of Europe achieve its former glory. Meanwhile, the USSR took advantage of the post-war situation to pressure the Czech Republic to become communist. “Under pressures from Stalin, the Soviet army, and Czech communists, the Czech government refused Marshall Plan aid. The Communists later seized control of the government.” (Doc #24) This establishes the idea that the Soviets were influencing nations other than their own to become communist, even though they were accusing the US of doing the same thing by spreading capitalism. This was an act of aggression against capitalism and democracy because they forced their own ideology upon the Czech Republic. Due to the actions of the Soviet Union, the Cold War between the US and the USSR grew, leading the two countries closer to complete conflict.
The Soviets also put millions of people’s lives at risk during the Berlin Blockade, an issue which could have been resolved through other methods. Germany had been divided up into multiple sections with one side controlled by the Soviets and the other controlled by the US and UK. However, Berlin, which was in the Soviet zone, was also divided between nations. The Soviets felt entitled to Berlin because they noticed that it was clearly in the Soviet Zone. The US believed that since Berlin was the city with the most influence, it should be divided between nations. This led to the Berlin Blockade. “There are disturbing rumors of plans to evacuate Berlin because of the Russian blockade against German civilian supplies. Essential supplies for the German population can be delivered by air and if necessary must be at whatever cost.” (Doc #25) The Soviets had blockaded a section of Berlin so supplies could not make it to this section of the city which put millions of innocent lives at risk. Through doing this the Soviets had hoped that they could make a political point, which meant that they simply did not care about anybody except themselves. In this manner the Soviets were similar to Nazi Germany because they had little regard for human life. “The Government of the United States declares that the temporary measures put into effect by the Soviet Command for the restriction of transport communications between Berlin and the western zones have created difficulties in supplying the Berlin population of the western sectors.” (Doc #26) The people in charge of the Soviets continued to blockade Berlin, leading to drastic consequences and even some deaths. There is some evidence that the Soviets even admitted what they were doing was wrong and continued to do it, which showed a clear malicious intent behind their actions. Through the blockading of Berlin, the Soviets showed that they did not care about the lives of others and rather only cared about the amount of power that they had. The Berlin Blockade nearly entirely fractured the relationship between the US and USSR, leaving very little hope of resolving the Cold War without an actual war breaking out.
The pivotal action the USSR took which finally resulted in the Cold War was influencing North Korea to declare war on South Korea. The Soviet Union would stop at nothing to attempt to take down capitalism and democracy. Korea, much like Germany, was split into two halves: the south controlled by the US and the north controlled by the Soviets. “In my opinion, we [the Soviet Communist bloc] will be stronger than the USA and England…if a war is inevitable, then let it be waged now and not in a few years.” (Doc 28) This message directly from Stalin to North Korea clearly shows an attempt to wage war with the United States, an act which would be unforgivable and a direct declaration of war against a nation protected by U.N. The act of war carried out in Korea would make this relationship irreparable. The tension between the US and Soviet Union was now at an all time high and would not be brought down by any interference. The actions of the Soviet Union had brought the Cold War to the edge of an actual war, and the terror of nuclear war seemed nearly inevitable.
The Soviets caused the dispute known as the Cold War by refusing US aid, while spreading communism throughout Eastern Europe, creating the Berlin Blockade, and beginning a war in North Korea. Some might argue that the United States caused the Cold War because the Marshall Plan was bribery in order to influence other nations to become democratic. However, the US was only attempting to assist Europe with rebuilding after the war, which was something countries in Europe needed. As a result of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union, the entire world would be pulled into an era of uncertainty, conflict, and fear. The war in North Korea was just the first of many proxy wars in Asia, such as Vietnam and Afghanistan. In addition, citizens of the world would live in fear of a possible nuclear Armageddon for decades to come due to the actions of the Soviet Union, which ultimately influenced the course of world history.
Do you ever wonder who's at fault for the tension between the U.S and Soviet Union after WWII? Although the United States and the Soviet Union were complete opposites. One wanted a communist world and the other wanted a capitalist government. They still both worked very well together during the fall of hitler. They both had the same goal which was to bring peace. The distrust shown by the Soviet Union toward the United States, because they tried to turn not only the people of Russia but also the people outside of their borders communist. Including the U.S and the czechs. The soviet union is to blame because the czechs wanted to keep a western style government, and stalin pressured them into a communist government, and it's also still the soviet union's fault for the korean conflict. Stalin used the fact that Koreans already don't really like the U.S to start a war. So this demonstrates that the Soviet Union was more at fault for starting the Cold War.
Both the U.S and U.S.S.R wanted to work together to bring peace and to destroy hitler. The U.S. and the soviet union were allies during WWII and the alliances worked so well because they both had the same motives. They both wanted to take down hitler; but it wouldn't last because they had no real loyalty towards each other, and nothing in common other than taking down hitler. Both the U.S. and Soviet Union were deciding to work together to stop hitler, but their alliance wasn't out of any type of loyalty, they said, “We express our determination that our nations shall work together in war and in the peace that will follow. As to war—our military staffs have joined in our round table discussions, and we have concerted[1] our plans for the destruction of the German forces”(Doc #3). This shows that they work well together because they both have the same motives and want to cause the fall of the german forces. The U.S. has a little more understanding and a little more reasoning for the Soviet Union than they did before now that they are allies. “I do not believe that Soviet Russia desires war. What they desire is the fruits of war and the indefinite expansion of their powers and doctrines…from what I have seen of our Russian friends…I am convinced that there is nothing they admire so much as strength.”(Doc #3) Basically the U.S. understands their point of view “better”.This once again shows that the soviet union and U.S we're gonna work well together because they tried to show more understanding and reasoning for their new alliance.
The U.S.S.R is at fault because they tried to turn not only the people of russia communist but also the people outside of their borders. Not only that but they didn't trust the U.S’s Marshall plan causing the fall of their alliance. Showing a distrust towards the U.S. After WWII the U.S. started a plan called “The marshall plan”. This was when they basically gave money and aid to all of Europe. In return that would make Europe a very good trading partner, but the soviet union was against it because they believed the U.S. was basically just trying to bribe most of Europe into being a part of the non-communist party. So the soviet union would not accept the help from the U.S.Stalin believed that the US was bribing and trying to stop European recovery by passing the marshall plan. The Soviet Union would view the Marshall Plan with suspicion….Its goal was to encourage cooperation with the Soviet Union (rather than the U.S. and Western Europe) and to strengthen the international relationships at an economic level with the smaller states of Central Europe…”(Doc #14). He didn't trust the U.S, and wanted nothing to do with the marshall plan. This shows that Stalin had no trust in the U.S whatsoever. He believes that what they are doing isn't to help Europe but to stop the growth of europe.
The soviet union is once again at fault because the czechs wanted to keep a western-style government, but stalin pressured them into a communist government. The Czech government favored the aid they were getting from the U.S. but pressure from Stalin caused them to refuse the marshall plan.Czechoslovakia tried to achieve a non aligned policy by aligning a foreign policy with the soviet union. Once that happened the communist party tried to seize the government, “The Communist coup…may…have political repercussions in western Europe. In France, Italy, and Germany, the existing political divisions probably will intensify because non-Communists will be more determined to prevent Communist participation in the government of these countries…”(Doc #24). Even though the Czechs wanted to still keep the western-style democracy. Czechoslovakia also wanted nothing to do with the marshall plan because they believed the U.S was trying to stop European growth. But they still wanted to keep their western- style government. The only reason that changed was because Stalin wanted the Czechs to have a communist government.
Once again the U.S.S.R is trying to turn Korea even more against the U.S. to ensure that Korea doesn't become a capitalist government. The Korean war was caused by the U.S.S.R. Stalin used the fact that the Koreans already don't like the Americans and made the situation worse. Stalin is an instigator. Stalin is trying to convince Korea that the U.S is just trying to take over the Japanese military. ‘’…then let it be waged now and not in a few years when Japanese militarism will be restored as an ally of the USA and when [they] will have a ready-made bridgehead[1] on the continent…of the entire Korea…”(Doc #28)Stalin is instigating a war between the U.S and korea, by using the fact that korea already doesn't really like the U.S. So it wouldn't take a lot of convincing from Stalin to make the Korean conflict happen.
Although the United States and the Soviet Union were complete opposites. One wanted a communist world and the other wanted a capitalist world. They still both worked very well together during the fall of hitler. They both had the same goal which was to bring peace. The distrust shown by the Soviet Union toward the United States, because they tried to turn not only the people of Russia but also the people outside of their borders communist. Including the U.S and the czechs. The soviet union is to blame because the czechs wanted to keep a western style government, and stalin pressured them into a communist government, and it's also still the soviet union's fault for the korean conflict. Stalin used the fact that Koreans already don't really like the U.S to start a war. So this demonstrates that the Soviet Union was more at fault for starting the Cold War. Socially, the intensive brainwashing of the American people led to a regression of social reforms. Economically, enormous growth by industries related to war was aided by heavy government expansion.
The lives of Americans were changed as the Cold War began, leading to a new normal. The lives of the people who were strongly touched by the effects after World War II. The question is who is to blame for the tensions heightening and increasing after World War II. There is no more to say than the Soviet Union and it’s allies were to blame for the tensions heightening and increasing. As the tensions were enlarging there was nothing that could have made Joseph Stalin happy.
This phase mostly showed there was a small time where The Soviet Union and The United States were somewhat mutual. The four days of November twenty-eighth to December first, 1943 were the days The Big Three met. There they discussed their goals upon each other and their allies. Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, and Winston Churchill of Great America came to an agreement that victory of the German forces will be theirs. With victory there will be peace and satisfaction. “The common understanding which we have reached guarantees that victory will be ours. “(Document 3) On July twenty-fourth there was another meeting with The Big Three. When President Harry Truman introduced the new technology of atomic weapons Stalin had already known about it because of the spies he had and he showed no interest as well. “ The Russian Premier showed no special interest” “Soviet spies had already informed Stalin of the bomb’s existence.” ( Document 8) After World War II Stalin's actions were deflected against the choices of what The United States made because of the rivalry between the two countries.
Stalin was trying to get in the way of the United States Marshall Plan and keep it away from his country and his allies. He did whatever he could to make himself better. Through June of 1972 to February twenty-seventh 1948 these periods of times when the Second World War came to an end with the defeat of Germany and Japan while the alliances began to split apart. A century ago Churchill gave a speech that changed the way people lived and they were there to thank the United States for starting it all. “We are gathered here at this ceremony to commemorate the speech with which George Marshall announced 25 years ago that plan which was to become one of the most formidable and at the same time successful achievements of the United States of America.”( Document 15) After the war the Czech Coup had been offered help from the Marshall Plan, Stalin had decided he did not want to participate and put the Czech Coup under pressure to not accept the help of the Marshall Plan. “However, under pressures from Stalin, the Soviet army, and Czech communists, the Czech government refused Marshall Plan aid and later seized control of the government.” ( Document 24) The differences between before the war and after the war were completely different. There were no agreements that were able to be arranged as the rivalry continued to increase between the two countries.
There was a continuation of Stalin trying to get in between the choices by the United States. The tensions of the two countries and their allies never left even after the war. With the Korean peninsula being a colony during WWII. There was a letter from Stalin to the new North Korean dictator that was a series of communiques between the Communist countries. The Soviet Union set up the blockade because it saw the U.S. was giving help to germany so they cut off all transportation. “The Government of the United States declares that the temporary measures put into effect by the Soviet Command for the restriction of transport communications between Berlin and the western zones have created difficulties in supplying the Berlin population of the western.” The tensions stayed the same as Stalin is addressing; he is better than the U.S.
In the letter Stalin writes to the Korean Dictator that he has to stick to his ground and keep his land. He has the say to resist what the United States was offering. Stalin is putting out to Kim II Sung that he believes The Soviet Union will be stronger than the U.S. and England. “ ...In my opinion, we [the Soviet Communist bloc] will be stronger than the USA and England…” The tensions between the two counties and their allies stayed the same throughout the years. Stalin suffered heightening the tensions.
Before, during, and after the war there are multiple cases with strong evidence that the Soviet Union and its allies were to blame for the growth and tension after WWII. There is no doubt that the Soviet Union was not to blame for the tensions between the two allies. Aside from the destruction around the globe, the cold war played a big role in society and the way things changed. New technologies were made as well as different alliances with different counties and some crashing.