Question (3c)
Study Interpretation D.
Do you think this interpretation is a fair comment on
who was to blame for the start of the Cold War? Use
your knowledge and other interpretations of the early
stages of the Cold War to support your answer.
[25]
From the time of their seizure of power in 1917 the Russian
communists have always been characterised by their
extraordinary ability to cultivate lies as a deliberate weapon of
policy. …. They have always lied to us and lied about us.
An extract from a series of 6 lectures by US historian and
former government official George Kennan broadcast by the
BBC in 1957.
This interpretation specifically argues that Russia was solely to
blame for the start of the Cold War. This interpretation was known
as the Orthodox View as this opinion was held by the majority of
people, approximately between the 1940s and the early 1960s.
This view was held mostly by Americans, and we can see that this
interpretation was written by an American historian, in fact it was
written by George Kennan. In 1946, Kennan had written a
telegram to Washington, ultimately saying that the USSR could
not be trusted as they were heavily armed and their determined
intention to expand communism. Therefore, Kennan was stating
that there could not be a peaceful co-existence between the USSR
and the USA, as he believed that ‘they have always lied to us and lied
about us’. The policy of Containment was introduced for this
reason. Kennan wasn’t the only one to question Russia’s trust, as
Winston Churchill had also made his judgement in his ‘Iron
Curtain’ speech in 1946.
In some ways this is fair because Stalin had caused himself to be
seen as untrustworthy. Another interpretation that would partly
agree with interpretation D would be the Post-Revisionist View.
This stated that both Russia and the USA had blame to share as
they overreacted to each other, causing misunderstanding and
mistrust. This view was held in the 1970s to 1989. For example,
Stalin had broken his promise made at Yalta to hold free elections
in East-Europe, and in retaliation to Truman’s policy of
Study Interpretation D.
Do you think this interpretation is a fair comment on
who was to blame for the start of the Cold War? Use
your knowledge and other interpretations of the early
stages of the Cold War to support your answer.
[25]
From the time of their seizure of power in 1917 the Russian
communists have always been characterised by their
extraordinary ability to cultivate lies as a deliberate weapon of
policy. …. They have always lied to us and lied about us.
An extract from a series of 6 lectures by US historian and
former government official George Kennan broadcast by the
BBC in 1957.
This interpretation specifically argues that Russia was solely to
blame for the start of the Cold War. This interpretation was known
as the Orthodox View as this opinion was held by the majority of
people, approximately between the 1940s and the early 1960s.
This view was held mostly by Americans, and we can see that this
interpretation was written by an American historian, in fact it was
written by George Kennan. In 1946, Kennan had written a
telegram to Washington, ultimately saying that the USSR could
not be trusted as they were heavily armed and their determined
intention to expand communism. Therefore, Kennan was stating
that there could not be a peaceful co-existence between the USSR
and the USA, as he believed that ‘they have always lied to us and lied
about us’. The policy of Containment was introduced for this
reason. Kennan wasn’t the only one to question Russia’s trust, as
Winston Churchill had also made his judgement in his ‘Iron
Curtain’ speech in 1946.
In some ways this is fair because Stalin had caused himself to be
seen as untrustworthy. Another interpretation that would partly
agree with interpretation D would be the Post-Revisionist View.
This stated that both Russia and the USA had blame to share as
they overreacted to each other, causing misunderstanding and
mistrust. This view was held in the 1970s to 1989. For example,
Stalin had broken his promise made at Yalta to hold free elections
in East-Europe, and in retaliation to Truman’s policy of
