International Relations in the 1940s....

I would be much grateful if you could read my argument for the breakdown of relations in the 1940s and suggest ways for me to improve it.

The period between 1943-56 saw relations between the USSR and the USA worsen. It is argued that the primary reason for this is the change in American presidents in 1945. Following this change in presidency, relations continued to worsen even more with the Truman Doctrine and Berlin.

Truman’s attitude towards communism and Stalin was the initial and most significant cause for the change in relations from 1943-56. Prior to 1945 relations between the USSR and the USA had been smooth – both nations had made agreements at the Tehran and Yalta conferences. However, in 1945 American president Franklin D. Roosevelt died and was replaced by Harry S. Truman. Truman believed that Roosevelt’s approach to communism had been too relaxed and that a firmer hand was needed on dealing with it. This was exactly what Truman had. In August 1945 Stalin and Truman met at Potsdam. The conference, unlike the two previous to it, was a failure because Truman took an aggressive attitude towards Stalin – continuously disagreeing with his proposals and even telling him what to do. This enraged Stalin and caused a personality clash which worsened relations from then onwards. The fact that relations worsened at Potsdam is linked to the fact that only one proposal was agreed there.

In 1947 the Truman Doctrine only proved to worsen relations further causing arguably the lowest point in superpower relations between 1945 and 1956. The doctrine, which promised economic aid and military protection to European countries threatened by communism, totally undermined Stalin’s influence and power in Eastern Europe. The threat of American influence in the Soviet sphere – which Soviet leaders knew would sway communist countries to turn capitalist - angered Stalin further. The formation of Cominform, which forbid Eastern European countries from applying to receive Marshall Aid, is an example which shows how angered Stalin was.

Another reason why relations worsened was because of the agreements made between the Western nations about West Germany. In 1948 the USA, UK and later France agreed that Western Germany (which was split in to three zones, between the three nations) should be unified as one zone. It was furthermore agreed that the zone would be controlled by an assembly of officials and would have a currency, the Deutschmark. However, Truman made clear that he did not want Stalin involved and so Stalin was left out. For Stalin the thought of a new constitution in West Germany that would have no influence from him was highly concerning. He, therefore, decided to blockade Berlin, stopping all entry to and from the city via land - Berlin being in his zone of Germany - in the hope that by cutting the Western nations off from their hub, he would stop their plans. Publicly, the blockade was a disaster for Stalin because it presented him as a controlling dictator, but a triumph for Truman who calmly overcome the problem by airlifting supplies to the city - thus avoiding war. Between 1948 and 1949 Truman had, in effect, humiliated Stalin to the world. It is clear that this worsened relations further because just months later the USSR started to build up its military inflicting an arms race.

The era of 1943-56 saw relations worsen dramatically. Although relations were clearly worst off after the Truman Doctrine and Berlin incident, than immediately after Truman took office, it is argued that Truman's entry was the most significant point of the era. The main points which led to a breakdown in tensions were all inflicted by Truman and so it is not unreasonable to argue that if Truman had not replaced Roosevelt then relations would not have worsened as dramatically as they did.

Reply 1

pol pot noodles

The USA and Soviet Union were never going to be buddies post WW2 no matter who the POTUS was. Relations were only smooth during the War because the Americans needed the Soviets to soak up German manpower, and the Soviets needed the Western Allies to open up the second front.
I also don't think it's fair to say that Truman alone was responsible for ramping up the Cold War.
The British drew up Operation Unthinkable, a plan to attack the Soviet Union right after WW2, and were also the first to actively engage against Communists when they intervened in the Greek Civil War. Winston Churchill was outspoken in his opposition to the Soviets, and Charles de Gaulle had no love for them either.
It also takes two to make an argument, and Stalin attempted to shaft the Western Allies at every turn possible. In 1945 he told Germany's communist leaders that he would actively undermine Britain's control over it's zone, and messages between Stalin and Tito showed that he beleived that all of Germany should be communist.
Ultimately Truman's doctrine of tough love was sensible and put the Soviets in line.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 2

Will Lucky

Original post by pol pot noodles

Yeah, can't exactly help that the Americans didn't open the Second Front until 1944. Many of the Soviets including Stalin thought the Americans purposely delayed opening the Second Front until 1944 in order to drastically affect the German and Soviet Manpower as much as possible. The Soviets were under the impression D-Day was going to happen in 1943 and when it didn't happen they thought the Americans were doing so to there own benefit.

Reply 3

pol pot noodles

Original post by Will Lucky

To be fair on the Western Allies 1944 was pretty much the earliest date possible for opening the 'main' second front. The most important item for the invasion were the landing craft, and with the British and Americans also involved in East Asia and the Pacific the European theartre simply did not have enough craft untill 1944.
Also here is a little known fact: Over half of all personnel and equipment involved in D-Day were British Empire and Commonwealth. The British and Canadians attacked 3 of the 5 beaches and the Royal Navy provided the vast majority of the Warships. The Americans might have poured in and taken command later on, but the British were pivotal in the actual invasion itself.
The Americans did actually want to open the second front in 1943 but Churchill opted for wrapping up the Mediterranean first, so if the Soviets are going to be fuming at anybody they should be fuming at the British. (Then again from the Allies perspective, the Americans and British sent over billions of dollars of aid to the Soviets, so swings and roundabouts really.)