Postwar Outcomes The end of WW II found Soviet forces occupying most of Eastern and Central Europe. Germany was broken into East (communist) and West Germany (democratic). West Germany was divided up among the US, Great Britain, and France. Berlin itself was also divided. Japan was occupied by US forces. It soon adopted a democratic form of government, and became a strong ally of the US. The Marshall Plan was instituted in Europe.

The Marshall Plan This was a program designed to “contain” Communism. This plan would give economic aid to European nations to help rebuild the economies. The plan was developed by Secretary of State George C. Marshall. The Soviets launched their own economic programs to maintain their control in Eastern and Central Europe.

The Cold War Begins This was a competition between two very different ways of organizing government, society, and the economy. This would set the stage for global politics and conflicts for the next 45 years. The US policy of containment in Asia led to America’s involvement in the Korean and Vietnamese Wars. The Cold War lasted from the end of WW II until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989.

The Truman Doctrine This was the policy of “containment” itself. The doctrine hoped to limit communism to the places where it already existed. It was not a policy to interfere with communism in the countries where it had already been established. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed as defense alliance among the US and Western European countries to prevent a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. Soviet and Eastern European countries formed the Warsaw Pact to prevent the same crisis and for nearly 50 years both sides kept large militaries.

Communist Takeover of China The communist takeover in China after the war increased American fears of communist aggression. Instead of becoming allies, however, the communist nations of China and the Soviet Union competed for territory and diplomatic influence. A split in which President Nixon would exploit in the 1970s. After the Soviet Union matched the US in nuclear weaponry in the 1950s, the threat of a nuclear war became very clear. Under President Eisenhower, the US adopted a policy of “massive retaliation” to deter any strike.