Allon Posen

Origins of
the Cold
War Progress
Publishers
(1945-1989) 1936, by this
West printed pro-
time the Soviet books in
Suspicious
Soviet Union foreign
of the
was the same languages for
Soviet
size as export to western
Union
Europe. This countries
Soviet
made
Union
Western
Suspicious
countries fear
of the West
1945, Harry that the
Truman, not a Communists 1953; The Soviet
Soviet were building Union exploded 1960, the Soviet
sympathizers, a powerful its first H-Bomb Union started
becomes US new empire and started giving money and
1945, Truman building large-
President in the East. arms to the new
protests at Soviet range missiles anti-American
attempts to set up
government of
a pro-Soviet
Cuba
government in
1947, Truman
Poland
announces the
"truman
Doctrine" of
containing 1945, The
communism Second World
Soviet forces
War ends with
The western Allies 12 million in Romania
set up a pro-
introduce a new currency Soviet soldiers
into their occupation occupying Soviet
government
zones in Germany. Eastern Europe
there
Stalin alarmed because
1949, The western he believed if Germany
Allies form a military became rich and strong
defense organization, they be be able to
NATO (North threaten the Soviet
Union in the future. 1945, The Potsdam
Atlantic Treaty
Conference fails to 1948,
Organization) If any
agree on the frontier Stalin
one of them were
between Germany blockades
attacked by the Soviet
The and Poland, or on the
Union, they would
1952, The "Voice of democratic elections western
join forces and fight
USA test- America" in Eastern Europe sectors of
the Soviets
radio Berlin
explodes
the first station
atomic broadcast
bomb pro-
American
programs
to the 1947, Stalin did not allow
1984, the Soviet
Soviet East European counties to
Union boycotted
Union accept aid from America,
1948, Start of the Los Angeles
Olympics though he tightened his grip on
Marshall Aid to
fears for Soviet them by setting up a
help European
athletes' safety in "Communist Information
countries repair
USA Bureau" (Cominform) It
war damage. USA
co-ordinate the activities
gave $16 billion of
of the communist parties
aid in order to stop
in Europe, thus
the spread of
strengthening Soviet
communism in
power and influence
Western Europe
Origins of the Cold War (1945-1989)

I. West Suspicious of the Soviet Union

A. 1936, by this time the Soviet Union was the same size as Europe. This made Western
countries fear that the Communists were building a powerful new empire in the East.
1. 1945, Truman protests at Soviet attempts to set up a pro-Soviet government in
Poland
a. 1945, The Second World War ends with 12 million Soviet soldiers occupying
Eastern Europe
(1) 1945, The Potsdam Conference fails to agree on the frontier between
Germany and Poland, or on democratic elections in Eastern Europe
(a) 1947, Stalin did not allow East European counties to accept aid from
America, he tightened his grip on them by setting up a "Communist
Information Bureau" (Cominform) It co-ordinate the activities of the
communist parties in Europe, thus strengthening Soviet power and
influence
i) 1948, Stalin blockades the western sectors of Berlin
(1) Soviet forces in Romania set up a pro-Soviet government there
(a) 1953; The Soviet Union exploded its first H-Bomb and started
building large-range missiles
i) Progress Publishers printed pro-Soviet books in foreign
languages for export to western countries
(1) 1960, the Soviet Union started giving money and arms to the
new anti-American government of Cuba
II. Soviet Union Suspicious of the West
A. 1945, Harry Truman, not a Soviet sympathizers, becomes US President
1. 1947, Truman announces the "truman Doctrine" of containing communism
a. The western Allies introduce a new currency into their occupation zones in
Germany. Stalin alarmed because he believed if Germany became rich and
strong they be be able to threaten the Soviet Union in the future.
(1) 1949, The western Allies form a military defense organization, NATO
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization) If any one of them were attacked by
the Soviet Union, they would join forces and fight the Soviets
(a) 1952, The USA test-explodes the first atomic bomb
i) The "Voice of America" radio station broadcast pro-American
programs to the Soviet Union
(1) 1984, the Soviet Union boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics
though fears for Soviet athletes' safety in USA
(a) 1948, Start of Marshall Aid to help European countries repair
war damage. USA gave $16 billion of aid in order to stop the
spread of communism in Western Europe
 Allon Posen

The following are a list of events that were long-term causes of the Cold War
• Stalin did not allow East European counties to accept aid from America, he tightened his grip on
them by setting up a "Communist Information Bureau
• Progress Publishers printed pro-Soviet books in foreign languages for export to western countries
• 1949, The western Allies form a military defense organization, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
Organization) If any one of them were attacked by the Soviet Union, they would join forces and fight
the Soviets
• The "Voice of America" radio station broadcast pro-American programs to the Soviet Union

I think that equally both the Soviet Union and the West were responsible for causing

the Cold War. Both sides were unable to trust each other and therefore both sides

were cold to one another. Even when the Soviet army and U.S. army met in Berlin

during World War II, both sides were unsure whether to attack each other or not

because initially the Soviet Union was on the German side. When World War I ended,

the United States was the undisputed superpower of the world, however, by the end

of World War II there was no clear winner of which of the two countries was the

world’s superpower. As a result, both countries tried to outdo each other in many

aspects, such as their space programs, the Olympics, the military etc.