The wartime relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States, tenuously compromised and founded upon the necessity of the immediate pragmatism instigated by Hitler’s Operation Barbarossa, was doomed to inevitably disintegrate once both parties ceased to confront a common belligerent. There are two significant factors within the breakdown of United States – Soviet relations following World War II. First is the ideological incongruence within the communist – capitalist dichotomy. Evangelical in nature, both powers aspired toward the proliferation of their political model (Class Lecture, Slide 2). Similarly, Stalin’s narrative of the bourgeoisie’s desire to undermine Soviet progress only furthered the rift between the two systems (“Comrades”, …show more content…
Specifically, Stalin recognized the possibility of unilateral Soviet action following Chamberlain’s appeasement to Hitler in Munich (“Comrades”, CNN), delays in opening a western front in Europe (“Comrades”, CNN), perceived secret agendas following the preservation of the Ludendorff Bridge (Judge & Langdon, 26), and ultimately the west’s disinclination to receive the surrender of Nazi forces in Italy (Judge & Langdon, 26). From the western point of view, the most significant turning point for United States – Soviet relations during World War II was the comprehension of the Soviet abandonment of the Polish Home Army during their resistance against the Nazis in Warsaw. The Nazis decimated these 20,000 Poles, who until the approach of the Red Army had remained in hiding (Judge & Langdon, 20). The inaction of the Soviets outraged their partners, and establishing, potentially, the most volatile period during the tenuous alliance (“Comrades”, …show more content…
The first was the Yalta Conference. The “Big 3” met at Yalta to frame the military strategy for the remainder of the war in Europe, devise plans for post-war occupation, continue the continue to build foundation of the United Nations, confirm the borders of Poland, and ensure Soviet entry into the Pacific theater (Judge & Langdon, 22-25). However, Stalin viewed the outcome of the conference as a significant advantage, and believed he had carte blanche not only to act as he pleased in Poland, but also to advance “as far to the west as possible while Germany collapsed” in an effort to attain as much territory as possible (Judge & Langdon, 27). The final turning point was the American decision to employ nuclear weapons in anger against a foe. The apocalyptic actions, regardless of intent specific to World War II, expanded the scope of the American – Soviet rivalry, while reducing the margin for error (Judge & Langdon,
During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union created an alliance to prevent Nazi Germany from spreading their fascist and radical ideals, but after the war, it quickly became apparent that both countries had intentions to exploit their previously stable relationship. Shortly after World War II, the Soviet Union made it their primary goal to expand their communist policies across Europe (and eventually the world). Their communist policies heavily contradicted the reason why the United States joined World War II, contrasted American ideals, and placed American democracy in jeopardy. Although relations seemed healthy shortly after the war, the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union dwindled to war due to the United States’
Characterized by the ideological divergence of Communism and Capitalism as well as the intense economic rivalry when World War II came to an end, the political tension between the only two world’s superpowers, United States and Soviet Union, was inevitable. While both of these two nations were motivated by the ambition to expand their worldwide influence, Soviet Union carries more responsibility for instigating the Cold War and exacerbating its discord with United States. While critics argued that America initiated the war by carrying out the Marshall plan when there was no solid evidence about the threat of Communism posed on the United States, it is unassailable that Soviet’s aggression and expansionism prior to the Cold War led to America’s mindset about the nature and potential danger of Communism. The Telegram from Moscow clarified the
The Soviet Union’s communist attitudes made the U.S. suspicious of its intentions. After the Russian Revolution and the Bolshevik takeover,
During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union fought on the same side as Allied Powers. However, even though the two had fought together, there was a tension between both nations. Americans had always been wary about the Soviet Union and the spread of communism throughout the world. The Soviets, on the other hand, resented America’s refusal to see the Soviet Union as part of the international community. After the war ended, this wariness and resentment had caused a mutual distrust and hostility between the two nations.
It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.” When the war with Europe ended, President Truman, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, and British P.M. Winston Churchill met at the Potsdam Conference in July of 1945. The conference was meant to redraw Europe’s borders and for the three men to figure out what to do with Japan. At the end
During the Second World War, USA and the Soviet Union came together against a common enemy. It was the immediate events after the War which lead to renewed tensions between the superpowers. Many commentators attribute the Berlin Blockade crisis of 1948 to be the catalyst that sparked the beginning of the Cold War. The Cold War period was a state of political and military tension running parallel with the development of nuclear weapons between the United States and the Soviet Union. The ideological differences between these two Superpowers put massive strain on their relationship. USA was democratic, capitalist state. Their ideals were heavily based on a classist society, where the means for producing and distributing goods is owned by a small minority of people (World Socialist Movement 2016). The Soviet Union’s communist ideals were at the other end of the spectrum. Their ideas were based around communal management and public ownership of major production mediums (Richard Dagger 2014). It is obvious that these ideologies are extremely different. Over the next four decades the world came close to
First, in the Stalin speech in 1946, he stated “the only key to future world peace was for “monopoly capitalism” to be replaced by Communism around the world.” It became clear to the Supreme Court Justice William Douglas that Stalin was declaring another World War based in his ideology. (Fraser 697). Based on Stalin speech, the American embassy in Moscow, George Kennan sent the “Long Telegram”, which he explained his strategy of “containment” against Soviet Union, “a political force committed fanatically to the belief that with the U.S. there can be no permanent modus vivendi [agreement between parties that disagree]”; as a result, America’s only choice
After WWII, the USA and the Soviet Union faced a conflict as they competed for global power. Neighboring countries, like Afghanistan, were dragged into the conflict causing millions of people to die. Due in part to the high cost of waging this war the Soviet Union fell only four years after the conflict.
The traditional, orthodox interpretation places the responsibility of the Cold War on Stalin’s personality and on communist ideology. It claims that as long as Stalin and the authoritarian government were in power, a cold war was unavoidable. It argues that Stalin violated agreements that he had made at Yalta, imposed Soviet policy on Eastern European countries aiming at political domination and conspired to advocate communism throughout the world. As a result, United States officials were forced to respond to Soviet aggression with foreign policies such as the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Yet revisionists argue that there was “no proof of Stalin promoting communism outside Russia” and that Stalin’s decisions were first and foremost, pro-Soviet and not of communist intentions. Up until 1947, it is evident through Marshall Plan as well as statements and interviews made by Stalin that he was still thinking of cooperation with the United States, Britain and France. Despite post-war conflicts and instability of Soviet-American relations, the USSR’s initial embrace of the Marshall Plan at its announcement expressed
The Sources of Soviet Conduct, a highly influential article written by George Keenan in 1946, states that the US must pursue afirm and consistent opposition to the Soviet Union. In Keenan's argument for this, he explores the two factors of ideology and circumstance which shaped the Soviet Union. This is used in order to explain the behaviour of the Soviet Union. Thus, the most effective method for the US to counteract this behaviour is then explained.
Causes and Consequences of Operation Barbarossa On June 22nd 1941, German forces crossed the Russian frontier and began to fight their way into Soviet territory. Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's codename for the attack on Russia, had begun. In this essay I am going to describe the causes, events and consequences of Operation Barbarossa. What happened when the 'unbeatable' Hitler and Germany met the sheer determination and patriotism of Stalin and the USSR?
The Cold War, a period of sustained political and military tension between the USA and the USSR, resulted in various viewpoints concerning the cause of the tension emerging. Until today the question remains unresolved, even after the 1991 release of Soviet archives. The main point of disagreement relates to the roles that ideology played in the events between 1945 and 1949. Was it the strongly opposing ideologies, capitalism and communism, or power and material interest that drove both superpowers to the decades of struggle for global supremacy.
“The Cold War became a dominant influence on many aspects of American society for much of the second half of the twentieth century. It escalated due to antagonist values between the United States, representing capitalism and democracy, and the Soviet Union, representing communism and authoritarianism” (Tradshad, par. 1). This long lasting war had a lot of negative effects on the American people, but also helped many in a positive way of becoming free citizens. Although most people had feelings of hatred toward the Soviet Union, a sense of fear swept over the United States and many actions had to be taken to keep the enemy and their influences out. 4 done.
Relations between the United States and the Soviet Union have always been complicated. Over the entire 20th century they have been close allies to bitter rivals. The stark differences in each of their political systems prevented the USA and the USSR from maintaining a close political friendship and understanding, and even to the very edge of war.
The defeat of Hitler, it starts with a power driven man who ends in a fit of greed. Could he have dominated the World or did he end his success and his life.