The Division of Germany What to do with Germany? Stalin opposed a unified Germany-preferred to divide and conquer. Harsh Soviet influence in eastern part of Germany. Germany divided into four zones of occupation. West Germany was allowed to unify with democratic governments. The Soviet Union took East Germany.

World War II Allies to Enemies… Although the U.S. and U.S.S.R. did not fully trust each other, they were Allies during World War II against Germany. (Remember Germany and the Soviet Union had signed a non-aggression pact in 1939 which Hitler broke). After World War II, it became clear that the only common ground shared by the two countries was the defeat of the Axis powers. The Soviet Union was viewed as a grave threat to the security of the noncommunist world. To defeat Germany, the Soviets had moved troops into the nations of Eastern Europe and after the war, the Soviets supported Communist governments in those nations, while the U.S. did not.

The Cold War: The continuing state of tension and hostility between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that lasted from 1945 until 1991. The two superpowers had different political and economic philosophies.

Influenced by two factors: Containment: The U.S. policy after World War II of trying to keep the Soviet Union from expanding its area of influence and dominance. The idea was to confine communism to the area in which it already existed– the Soviet Union and Eastern European nations. Influenced by two factors: The willingness of the U.S. to become involved in international peacekeeping efforts Its determination to prevent the spread of communism

The “Iron Curtain” Speech In a 1946 speech at Westminster College, in Fulton, Missouri British Prime Minister Winston Churchill cautioned the world about the threat of communist expansion. He warned that an “iron curtain” had descended across the European continent. The division caused by the “curtain” represented a postwar world division between the free Western Europe and communist Eastern Europe. Video: Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" Speech The Iron Curtain is the imaginary line through Europe that divided democratic countries of the West from the communist countries in the East.

Iron Curtain

Truman Doctrine The Soviets began supporting Communist rebels in their attempt to topple the government of Greece so the U.S. wanted to contain communism in the Mediterranean. On March 12, 1947, President Truman asked Congress for $400 million in aid to Turkey and Greece. This policy of economic and military aid became known as the Truman Doctrine. The president called on the U.S. to support free peoples and that if the U.S. failed to act, it would endanger the nation and the free world.

The Marshall Plan Much of Europe was left in ruins after World War II. Survivors struggled to find food, shelter and clothing. Dissatisfaction grew rapidly and in many war-torn countries, the Communist party seemed to offer solutions to such problems. Secretary of State George Marshall proposed a new economic aid program called the Marshall Plan. On June 5, 1947, Marshall announced the U.S. was against “hunger, poverty, destruction, and chaos”. Between 1948 and 1952, $13 billion in economic aid was given to rebuild Europe. The largest amounts went to Great Britain, France, Italy, and West Germany. Both Western Europe and the U.S. believed that with stabilized and improving economies, communist expansion would be halted.

Berlin Blockade: June 24, 1948 The U.S., France, and Great Britain cooperated in governing West Germany and established the Federal Republic of West Germany in 1949. Berlin was the capital city of Germany and was divided into four sections, each controlled by one of the Allies. The Soviets were opposed to the establishment of a separate government and cut off all access to West Berlin by blockading all roads leading into the city, all of which had to go through the Soviet-controlled sector of Germany. The Soviets hoped the blockade would force western powers out of Berlin.

The Berlin Airlift The U.S., Soviet Union, and Great Britain did not give in to Soviets. Recognizing that West Berlin could not get supplies by road, the western powers began to airlift food and other necessities into the city. On May 12, 1949, the Soviets recognized their defeat and ended the blockade. Shortly thereafter, the Soviets announced the formation of the German Democratic Republic – East Germany.

Forming Alliances The U.S. and other Western European nations as well as the Soviet Union and Eastern European nations formed alliances. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): was formed by the U.S. and 11 western European nations. The agreement bound nations to act together for their common defense. Members pledged that an attack on one would be an attack on all. The alliance fought the spread of communism. The Soviets also formed an opposing alliance with seven Eastern European nations called the Warsaw Pact.