demands them Occupation Zones of Germany, Post World War II
Germany and Berlin are
divided into four sectors
Inside the Soviet Sector,
the city of Berlin is divided into between the Allies and the Soviets. Soviets Tighten Their Grip On Eastern Europe
Soviet psyche is one of
paranoia and mistrust; 20M+ deaths in WWII
Soviets felt justified in their
claim to Eastern Europe
By dominating this region,
the Soviets had a buffer zone they felt would protect against future invasions from the west.
Stalin establishes “Satellite
Nations”; in 1946 announces that communism and capitalism are incompatible George F. Kennan and the Long Telegram
Kennan outlines Soviet intentions for
expansion of communism in an 8,000 word memorandum;
Proposes that US should adopt a
policy of “Containment” to counter Soviet ambitions
Goal is to prevent further communist
expansion into other countries
Containment guides Truman’s
approach to the Soviets and becomes the de-facto guide to US cold war foreign policy with respect to spread of communism for the next 40 years. The Truman Doctrine “It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation Paired with Containment, and intended to counter Soviet by armed minorities or geopolitical expansion, the Truman Doctrine becomes the cornerstone of US Foreign Policy for the remainder of the by outside pressures...” Cold War
Truman puts the doctrine to work with an infusion of
$400M to Turkey and Greece to help resist Soviet influence and prevent a communist take-over. The Marshall Plan Winter of 1946-47: Bitterest in centuries. Factories looted or bombed; millions of refugees, homeless starvation is imminent
Western Europe in danger of descending into
chaos. Communism looks like a solution
George Marshall proposes US provide aid to all
countries who need it
Over the next four years, 16 countries receive
more than $13B in aid
By 1952, Western Europe flourishes, communism
loses its appeal Soviet Blockade
Soviets oppose Allies intention to
reunify Germany.
June 1948: US, French and
Americans combine to form new nation of West Germany.
Soviets refuse to end their
occupation of Germany
Stalin sees an opportunity to take
all of Berlin and eliminate the Allied presence. He closes all road and river access to Berlin.
2.1M residents only have a few
weeks of food supplies Berlin Airlift Americans and British start the Berlin Airlift to bring food and fuel to Berlin residents.
277,000 round the clock flights
bring 2.3M tons of supplies over the course of 327 days.
American attempt to save Berlin
boosts its prestige worldwide
May 1949: Soviets realize they
are beaten and lift blockade NATO Berlin blockade increases Western fear of Soviet aggression
April 1949 - Ten Western European
nations join the United States and Canada to form a defensive alliance
Known as NATO: North Atlantic
Treaty Organization. 500K troops, thousands of airplanes, tanks, other equipment
The Cold War ends any hopes of US
return to a policy of isolationism 1957 - NATO jets fly 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle, on guard against Soviet bomber threat