Question
hen the Allied powers met at
W Yalta and Potsdam to shape
postwar Europe (see p.397).
Stalin's insistence that Soviet borders be extended to cover eastern Poland and the Baltic states raised anxieties about his expansionist ambitions. Between 1945-47, the Soviets gained in influence as communist governments were founded in other Eastern
European states (jointly known as the Eastern Bloc). With Britain's status as a world power damaged by six years of war, it became clear that the only Western power with comparable strength to the Soviet Union was the United States. In 1947 the British prime minister, Winston Churchill, had to request US support in Greece, where a civil war was raging between the royalist government and communist
After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones, each separately administrated by the US, France, Britain, and the Soviet Union. The German capital. Berlin, was situated deep in the Soviet zone and was split into four allied sectors. In 1948 the
Western allies planned a separate West German state, uniting the US, French, and British zones. The Soviets tried to stop this by cutting off land routes into the Western sectors of Berlin, leaving only air access. For the next year, as diplomatic battles raged, the Berlin Airlift (see below) brought supplies to besieged Berliners. By 1949 division of Germany appeared to be inevitable. The German Democratic Republic was created in East Germany and the Closely read the selection from Smithsonian's History (Pages 406 to 407, 426 to 427, and 448 to 449).
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The text you've provided outlines key events and tensions that shaped the post-World War II landscape in Europe, particularly focusing on the division of Germany and the emerging tensions between the Soviet Union and Western powers.
1. **Yalta and Potsdam Conferences**: The meetings between Allied powers at Yalta and Potsdam were pivotal in determining the postwar order in Europe, especially regarding borders and spheres of influence. Stalin's push for territorial expansion raised significant concerns in the West about Soviet intentions.
2. **Expansion of Communist Influence**: The establishment of communist governments in Eastern Europe solidified the Eastern Bloc, amplifying fears in the West about Soviet expansionism and the threat it posed to democratic governments and capitalism.
3. **The Role of the United States**: As Britain’s global power waned due to the aftermath of the war, the U.S. emerged as the principal Western power that could counterbalance the Soviet Union. This shift is exemplified by Churchill's request for U.S. assistance in the Greek civil war, highlighting the U.S.'s growing involvement in European affairs.
4. **Division of Germany**: Germany’s division into four occupied zones by the Allied powers reflected the geopolitical rifts that were developing. The plan by the Western allies to unify their zones into West Germany led to rising tensions with the Soviet Union, which responded by blockading Berlin.
5. **Berlin Airlift**: The blockade by the Soviets aimed to undermine the Western powers’ efforts to establish a separate West German state. The Berlin Airlift became a critical moment of Cold War history, illustrating the West's commitment to sustain the population of West Berlin against Soviet pressure.
6. **Formation of Two German States**: The eventual establishment of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) in 1949 formalized the division of Germany and represented the broader ideological divide between East and West that characterized the Cold War.
This selection highlights not only the immediate postwar crises but also the long-term divisions that would shape global politics for decades to come. If you have specific questions about the content or would like more detailed information on any aspect, feel free to ask!
1. **Yalta and Potsdam Conferences**: The meetings between Allied powers at Yalta and Potsdam were pivotal in determining the postwar order in Europe, especially regarding borders and spheres of influence. Stalin's push for territorial expansion raised significant concerns in the West about Soviet intentions.
2. **Expansion of Communist Influence**: The establishment of communist governments in Eastern Europe solidified the Eastern Bloc, amplifying fears in the West about Soviet expansionism and the threat it posed to democratic governments and capitalism.
3. **The Role of the United States**: As Britain’s global power waned due to the aftermath of the war, the U.S. emerged as the principal Western power that could counterbalance the Soviet Union. This shift is exemplified by Churchill's request for U.S. assistance in the Greek civil war, highlighting the U.S.'s growing involvement in European affairs.
4. **Division of Germany**: Germany’s division into four occupied zones by the Allied powers reflected the geopolitical rifts that were developing. The plan by the Western allies to unify their zones into West Germany led to rising tensions with the Soviet Union, which responded by blockading Berlin.
5. **Berlin Airlift**: The blockade by the Soviets aimed to undermine the Western powers’ efforts to establish a separate West German state. The Berlin Airlift became a critical moment of Cold War history, illustrating the West's commitment to sustain the population of West Berlin against Soviet pressure.
6. **Formation of Two German States**: The eventual establishment of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) in 1949 formalized the division of Germany and represented the broader ideological divide between East and West that characterized the Cold War.
This selection highlights not only the immediate postwar crises but also the long-term divisions that would shape global politics for decades to come. If you have specific questions about the content or would like more detailed information on any aspect, feel free to ask!