Attitudes of main powers to situation in Europe in 1945

Attitudes of main powers to situation in Europe in 1945

1. SOVIET ATTITUDES

   • Stalin's main aim: safeguard & rebuild USSR after devastation of WWII
     • 20 million dead
   • traditional-believed what USSR got after 1945 should be determined by degree of what it had suffered
     • Expected economic assistance from USA
   • foreign policy based on taking advantage of military situation in Europe & prevent invasion from West
     • occupied as much of E. Europe as possible (buffer zone)
   • Stalin's aims would result in domination over large parts of Europe
     • unacceptable to USA (dvlpd. own foreign policy to account for this in 1945)

2. US ATTITUDES

   • 1945: Truman replaced Roosevelt: moved from accomodation to confrontation
     • policy of contaiment
     • 'Iron Fist' approach as a reaction against policy of appeasement
   • wanted to revive economy
     • spread of communism and subsequent closure of free markets needed to be avoided
   • Failed to understand Soviet demands for security
     • saw it as attempt to spread communism
   • Much of US public favoured isolationism
     • US foreign policy in the balance in 1945

3. BRITISH ATTITUDES

   • 1946: Attlee replaced Churchill
     • foreign policies of GB & USA more in step with need to stand firm against USSR
   • war produced tripling of national debt & bankrupt economy
     • impossible to limit Soviet influence in Europe without USA
   • US=isolationist
     • little West could do to prevent Stalin acting as he wished
       • hope that personal agreement with Stalin might limit his actions