TO WHAT EXTENT WAS THE SOVIET UNION'S EXPANSION INTO EASTERN EUROPE THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE INTENSIFICATION OF THE COLD WAR IN THE YEARS 1945-1956?

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• TO WHAT EXTENT WAS THE SOVIET UNION'S EXPANSION INTO EASTERN EUROPE THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE INTENSIFICATION OF THE COLD WAR IN THE YEARS 1945-1956?

1) SOVIET EXPANSION

• Evidence of Eastern European countries 'falling' to Communism
• influence of Stalin - Soviet role in expansion (ignoring Yalta and Potsdam agreements by manipulating elections etc.)
• Leads to Cold War because --> tension in ideology
• The US fear the spread of Communism

2) US'S REACTION - PERCEPTION

• It was perceived that Stalin was doing it because of ideological motivation
• This was suggested by Marx, Truman was also told this by Kennan and Churchill
• THEREFORE creating a Cold War

3) SUPPORTED BY FURTHER EVENTS

• Czech Coup
• Berlin Blockade
• Cominform

4) PERCEPTIONS AND REACTIONS

• US policy in response embedded the Cold War
• Containment - Marshall Plan
• Truman Doctrine
• Division of Germany
• 1949: NATO

HOWEVER 5) STALIN WAS DEFENSIVE

• Need for a buffer zone / security concerns / lost so much in the war
• Stalin was involved in Greece as the US thought
• Berlin Blockade was in response to the new currency brought in by the US
• Cominform/Comecon was a response to Marshall Aid

6) US ECONOMIC MOTIVATIONS

• Wanted to retain their superpower status
• Had a desire to retain good economy - had to have a capitalist Europe to buy their products
• IMF and World Bank based on the dollar
• Marshall Aid conditions
• Military plan assistance in NATO boosted American military

7) FAR EAST INTENSIFICATION

• Mostly from 1949 onwards
• USSR gained the atomic bomb
• Warsaw Pact
• Expansion into Korean War
• Militarised containment