Post World War II, and the division of Germany
Imperial Japan and Hitler's Germany surrender to the allies.
The former Germany is divided by U.S., British, French, Russian, and Polish forces.
The occupation was split between the Soviet Union in the East, and the other countries in the West.
The Russians quickly dismantle German industry in the eastern zone, and instill an act of utter dismemberment.
Americans do not dismember, as they see that they would have to help Germany economically if they did so.
Churchill also fears control of Eastern and Central Europe and also opposes dismemberment.
Berlin, as well as Vienna, is governed by four separate nations.
Germany is therefore restored, and made self-sufficient.
Tensions arise between East and West
Russians fear a re-stabilized Germany, and therefore demand all industrial equipment in all zones.
Americans resist the demands of the Russians.
The Berlin Blockade
Western powers agree to go forward with a separate constitution for western sectors of Germany in 1948.
As a result, the Soviets walk out of the joint Allied Control Commission.
A new currency is introduced by the Western Nations.
Soviets fear the new currency, as it circulates than their own currency does in Berlin.
Soviets seal off the city by closing down all railroads and highways, in attempt to rid themselves of Western powers in the city.
The Western Allies quickly respond
Supplies are airlifted in by allied air forces on a daily basis.
Russians then re-open Berlin after almost a year.
Germany is formally split
West Germany formally becomes the German Federal Republic in September 1949.
East Germany formally becomes the German Democratic Republic a month later.
The two different Germanys, with a divided Berlin, would remain the same geographically until 1989.
The Seizure of Eastern Europe
Soviet Reasons for Eastern-European Domination
Russia is invaded twice in th3 19th century, by Napoleon as well as in the Crimean war.
Russia is invaded twice more in the twentieth century, one of which is by the Nazis.
Stalin sees a need to establish a buffer zone of satellite countries, that would slow down another Western attempt to invade Russia.
Stalin's suspicions, and reactions
Stalin views containment as a renewed Western attempt to isolate and encircle the U.S.S.R.
Stalin responds by calling a meeting of all communist parties in Warsaw.
It is in this conference that the Communist Information Bureau (Cominform) is established.
Cominform put and end to the era of popular front during which communists cooperated with non communists.
Replacement and Domination in Eastern Europe
All communist leaders in the West who favor collaboration and reform are replaced by leaders who support the Soviet line on every issue.
In 1948, in Prague, all off the democratic members of the coalition government are removed, and Jan Masaryk, the Foreign Minister is murdered.
Russia requires submission of other Eastern countries
Russia imposes Stalinist policies, including one-party systems.
Close military cooperation with the Soviet Union, the collectivization of agriculture, the Communist Party domination of education and attacks on the churches are also imposed on the Eastern satellite countries.
NATO and the Western response to the Warsaw Pact
NATO is formed in the West.
Western European nations draw closer together, as the Marshall Plan encourages international cooperation.
In March 1948, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and Britain sign the treaty of Brussels.
In 1949 these nations, joined with Italy, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Iceland sign a treaty with the United States and Canada.
As a result the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO, is formed, soon to be joined by West Germany, Greece and Turkey.
The United States pledged to defend allies outside the Western Hemisphere, should the Soviet Union start problems with the West.
The Warsaw Pact is formed in the East
A series of treaties are signed between the Soviet Union and the other Eastern countries.
In 1949, these states form COMECON, who unlike NATO, the Soviets directly dominated their Eastern Alliance.
In May 1955 the Warsaw Pact is signed, forming an alliance of the Soviet Union, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
Europe was now clearly divided between the two alliances.
Khrushchev and the U.S.S.R's emergencies
Khrushchev rises to power at the death of Stalin.
Stalin dies March 6, 1953.
Presidium resides in U.S.S.R. for a short duration of time, also known as collective leadership.
Nikita Khrushchev who was party secretary in 1953, rises to power as premier, ending the idea of collective leadership.
The Suez intervention
In July, 1956, the Suez canal was lost by England and France, and is nationalized by Egypt.
As a war between Egypt and Israel breaks out, Anglo-French forces leap at the chance to seize the canal back.
Russia protests vehemently, and U.S. does not send aid to English and French forces, so the Anglo-French forces withdraw.
This is a sign that without the U.S. the western European countries cannot stand up to the East.
