What are some factors that contributed to rising tensions between the East and the West at the start of the Cold War?

What are some factors that contributed to rising tensions between the East and the West at the start of the Cold War? Division of Germany and Berlin: regions treated

differently by occupying powers Truman Doctrine: policy of containment,

attempted to limit communism to areas already under Soviet control

Marshall Plan: aid package offered by the United States to strengthen democratic governments, gave food and economic aid to European countries

Berlin Blockade and Airlift: growing suspicion Alliances: NATO and Warsaw Pact

Following World War II, two superpowers remained: United States: West Soviet Union: East

Each side formed alliances: NATO: West (formed 1949) Warsaw Pact: East (formed 1955)

Continuing tension

Former capital of Germany located within the Soviet zone

Divided among four powers West Berlin: democracy,

occupied by West (U.S., Britain, France – jointly)

East Berlin: socialist, occupied by Soviets

At first, Berlin's citizens could move freely between the zones to work or visit family and friends.

1949 - West and East Germany formed separate governments.

1950s - the West-East gap continued to widen. West Berlin and West Germany - rebuilding boomed, economy was

prospering. East - food and housing were scarce.

People began "voting with their feet“: fleeing to the West. "I no longer had any reason to stay on in what I had

considered my homeland," said Walter Kocher, after his East Berlin business had been seized by the government.  

More than 3 million people left East Germany for the West. By 1961, East Germany knew it had to stop the exodus.

1961 – East Germany built a wall around West Berlin Massive

concrete barrier topped with barbed wire, patrolled by guards

1 - East Berlin2 - Border area3 - Backland Wall4 - Signal fence5 - Different kind of barriers6 - Watch towers

7 - Lighting system8 - Column track9 - Control track10 - Anti-vehicle trenches11 - Last Wall, known as the "Wall"12 - Border13 - West Berlin

The West Germans called it Schandmaur, the "Wall of Shame."

It was rebuilt at least three times – each time bigger and stronger.

Towers, guards, and dogs guarded the territory.

A pipe that was too large in diameter for a climber's grip ran along the top of the wall.

"Forbidden zones" were created behind the wall. No one was allowed to enter the zones. Anyone trying to escape was shot on sight.

10,000 attempted to escape. 5,000 succeeded A family floated over the wall in a hot air balloon A group dug a145-yard tunnel from the cellar of a

former West Berlin bakery to an outhouse on the eastern side. They freed 57 East Berliners. The escape ended when East German soldiers sprayed the tunnel with machine-gun fire.

A W. German woman made a U.S. Army uniform, got badges from U.S. soldiers. Drove into East Berlin and left with two friends.

246 died at the wall

West Berlin side - covered with graffiti and drawings showing how residents feel about their divided city.

East Berlin side - unmarked. East Berliners were not allowed near the wall, for fear that they might escape.

In response to Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech Stalin said: "The Soviet Union's loss of life [during World War II] has been

several times greater than that of Britain and the United States of America put together. . . And so what can be so surprising about the fact that the Soviet Union, anxious for its future safety, is trying to see to it that governments loyal in their attitude to the Soviet Union should exist in these countries?”

Churchill: Moscow "controlled" residents behind the Iron Curtain.

Stalin: spoke about people being "loyal" to the Soviet Union.

Two different viewpoints: West: people were being held captive by the Soviet Union. Soviet Union: its citizens were safer because of more secure

borders.

At first, the U.S. was the only nuclear power

By 1949 the USSR had nuclear weapons as well

1953 – Both had hydrogen bombs

Each side wanted to deter the other from using their weapons

Both wanted to match and exceed the others’ nuclear arsenal

MAD – mutually assured destruction Deterred both

sides from launching nuclear weapons

Most of the world lived under constant fear of nuclear war

Both sides met periodically to discuss disarmament, but mutual distrust made it difficult

1969 – SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) Treaties signed in 1963, ‘72, ‘79, ’91 Limited ABMs – anti-ballistic missiles

Could shoot down other missiles, might encourage an attack

“Star Wars” – defense against nuclear attack 1980s under Reagan Some saw it as a violation of ABM treaty

By the late 60s several other countries had nuclear weapons Britain, France, China 1968 – NPT: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Agreement to not develop weapons and to stop the proliferation (spread) of nuclear weapons

The arms control agreements led to détente in the 1970s

Americans tried to restrain communism through diplomacy instead of military means

IDEOLOGICAL STRUGGLESoviet &

Eastern Bloc Nations[“Iron

Curtain”]

US & the Western

Democracies

GOAL spread world-wide Communism

GOAL “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world.

METHODOLOGIES:

Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]

Arms Race [nuclear escalation]

Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist economy] “proxy wars”

Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]