Cold War After the End

¶ … Cold War after the end of World War II and how Europe and the world were divided by two super powers. The Cold War broke out after the end of World War II between the Soviet Union and the United States. It was based on disagreements between the two countries' policies, and the American possession of the atomic bomb. It lasted until the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, and drove a wedge between the two countries that is not easily forgotten.

The Cold War began shortly after the end of World War II in 1945. One historian writes, "The great turning point in the course of postwar Russian-American relations came during the period between September 1945 and the summer of 1947" (Whitcomb 66). Essentially, the United States and Russia grew increasingly at odds over the Russian policies in the countries they occupied after the war, including Bulgaria and Romania. Washington wanted the Soviets to create democratic elections in the countries, among other things, and the Soviets initially agreed and then refused, which created tension between the countries. This tension escalated when Soviet leader Joseph Stalin reassured his people that the Soviets would develop their own nuclear technology, surpassing the West, and many experts believed the Soviets were setting the stage for war (Whitcomb 70-71).

Thus, the stage was set for the Cold War. In actuality, there was no real "war" with the Soviets, but there was mutual distrust and fear. The Soviets did eventually develop their own atomic capabilities, and a buildup of weapons and nuclear weapons occurred on both sides. The entire situation was called the Cold War because hostilities never broke out between the two countries, but they were not allies, either. The White House first referred to the "Cold War" in a document in 1948, after the Soviets clamped down on Czechoslovakia after a coup. The Soviets wanted to dominate Europe (and perhaps the world), and the United States felt it was their duty to stop them. The U.S.S.R. played a key role in the development of the Cold War because they began systematically repressing the countries they occupied after the war ended, and turned those countries into Communist satellites, under their control. Historian Whitcomb continues, "The key to an understanding of current Soviet foreign policy,' the report stated, 'is the realization that Soviet leaders adhere to the Marxian theory of ultimate destruction of capitalist states by communist states'" (Whitcomb 75). This was part of a report on Soviet/U.S. relations commissioned by President Truman in 1946, and it indicates the key differences between the two countries and their policies.

The Truman Doctrine was a plan conceived to help nations threatened by Communism. The Truman Doctrine initially began with aid to Turkey and Greece in 1947, and continued in one form or another throughout the Cold War. It was a global, all encompassing effort to control Communism, and of course, the Soviets protested it. Many other nations did too, and it served to strain U.S. And foreign relationships greatly during the Cold War. In fact, many people believe it was the final factor that led to disintegration of Soviet/U.S. relations, and directly led to the failure of the Moscow Conference of foreign ministers in March 1947. The conference had been convened in an attempt for the two powers to come to an agreement about situations in Europe, including whether or not to unify the German state, but with its failure, relations between the two countries became even more strained.

The Marshall Plan followed the Truman Doctrine in 1947, and was an attempt to boost the European economy after the war. Historian Whitcomb writes, "The Marshall Plan was conceived as a 'counter-offensive' to Moscow's moves in Eastern Europe and as a reaction to Stalin's decision, registered at the Moscow Conference, to rebuff all gestures of compromise looking toward settlement of the problems dividing Europe" (Whitcomb 84). It was an attempt to rebuild Europe instead of just giving monetary relief, and did not single out any one country for aid. In fact, it was an attempt to help all of Europe recover from the war. The Soviets, however, thought the plan was an attempt by the U.S. To gain control of countries in Europe, and so, they refused to participate in the plan, which meant that the countries under their influence did not participate, either.