History essay 2: tension
To what extent should the USSR be blamed for escalating Cold War tension in
Europe between 1945 and 1961?
The USSR can be blamed for escalating Cold War tension in Europe between 1945 and 1961
but only to a certain extent. Although the USSR caused Cold War tension through the Berlin
crises, the Berlin Wall, the Warsaw pact and the Cuban missile crisis, the US was also
responsible for creating Cold War tension through the atomic bomb, the Truman doctrine, the
formation of NATO as well as the Cuban missile crisis. Overall, the Cold War tension can be
seen as a result of mistrust, suspicion and ideological differences on both sides. Therefore the
USSR can only be blamed for the tension between 1945 and 1961 to a certain extent.
After The Potsdam Conference in 1945, the Cold War tension was immediate due to ideological
differences between the US and USSR. Stalin wanted Germany to be punished and pay
reparations, where Truman was against this and believed it would create a bitter Germany.
During the Yalta conference in February 1945, the leaders had agreed that Eastern European
states should be allowed to have democratic elections. However, after the Potsdam
Conference, the Soviet army was in control of much of eastern Europe and had already set up
communist governments in Poland, Hungary Bulgaria, Romania and East Germany. This
created a divide between the east and the west, known as an “ iron curtain”, causing tension
between the US and USSR. The different view for Germany immediately created tension
between the two superpowers and was then escalated by USSR going against the Yalta
Conference agreement. Therefore, in this situation, the USSR can be blamed for escalating
Cold War tension.
The Berlin blockade and Berlin wall are also examples of tension created by the USSR. in June
1948 the USSR closed all land routes from West Germany to West Berlin, such as roads,
railways and canals, cutting off 2,5 million West Berliners. This was done in order to try and
force the US to give up control of West Berlin. This caused tension because the US and her
allies saw it as an attempt by Stalin to try to extend communism. In 1960 tension reached its
highest point when the Soviets try to negotiate the hand over of West Berlin and these talks
were cancelled. In August 1961, the construction of the Berlin Wall began around West Berlin.
The wall was constructed to keep people moving from the communist East Berlin to the
capitalist West. This wall then became the physical symbol of the tension between the two
superpowers. Therefore, the USSR can be blamed to a certain extent for escalating tensions as
they created a physical divide between the east and the west.
The USSR can also be blamed for escalating tension in the cold war during the Cuban missile
crisis. After the Cuban revolution, Cuba and the USSR became Soviet allies. The USSR sent
weapons, vehicles, ammunition and other supplies to Cuba. This already created tension
because, before this, the US and Cuba were allies. Tensions then became heightened when a
u2 spy plane captured photos of nuclear missile bases being built in Cuba by the soviets, with
To what extent should the USSR be blamed for escalating Cold War tension in
Europe between 1945 and 1961?
The USSR can be blamed for escalating Cold War tension in Europe between 1945 and 1961
but only to a certain extent. Although the USSR caused Cold War tension through the Berlin
crises, the Berlin Wall, the Warsaw pact and the Cuban missile crisis, the US was also
responsible for creating Cold War tension through the atomic bomb, the Truman doctrine, the
formation of NATO as well as the Cuban missile crisis. Overall, the Cold War tension can be
seen as a result of mistrust, suspicion and ideological differences on both sides. Therefore the
USSR can only be blamed for the tension between 1945 and 1961 to a certain extent.
After The Potsdam Conference in 1945, the Cold War tension was immediate due to ideological
differences between the US and USSR. Stalin wanted Germany to be punished and pay
reparations, where Truman was against this and believed it would create a bitter Germany.
During the Yalta conference in February 1945, the leaders had agreed that Eastern European
states should be allowed to have democratic elections. However, after the Potsdam
Conference, the Soviet army was in control of much of eastern Europe and had already set up
communist governments in Poland, Hungary Bulgaria, Romania and East Germany. This
created a divide between the east and the west, known as an “ iron curtain”, causing tension
between the US and USSR. The different view for Germany immediately created tension
between the two superpowers and was then escalated by USSR going against the Yalta
Conference agreement. Therefore, in this situation, the USSR can be blamed for escalating
Cold War tension.
The Berlin blockade and Berlin wall are also examples of tension created by the USSR. in June
1948 the USSR closed all land routes from West Germany to West Berlin, such as roads,
railways and canals, cutting off 2,5 million West Berliners. This was done in order to try and
force the US to give up control of West Berlin. This caused tension because the US and her
allies saw it as an attempt by Stalin to try to extend communism. In 1960 tension reached its
highest point when the Soviets try to negotiate the hand over of West Berlin and these talks
were cancelled. In August 1961, the construction of the Berlin Wall began around West Berlin.
The wall was constructed to keep people moving from the communist East Berlin to the
capitalist West. This wall then became the physical symbol of the tension between the two
superpowers. Therefore, the USSR can be blamed to a certain extent for escalating tensions as
they created a physical divide between the east and the west.
The USSR can also be blamed for escalating tension in the cold war during the Cuban missile
crisis. After the Cuban revolution, Cuba and the USSR became Soviet allies. The USSR sent
weapons, vehicles, ammunition and other supplies to Cuba. This already created tension
because, before this, the US and Cuba were allies. Tensions then became heightened when a
u2 spy plane captured photos of nuclear missile bases being built in Cuba by the soviets, with
