World War II, the bloodiest and most detrimental war in all of human history, was over. With the decease of Hitler and the surrender of the Japanese army, there came a time of rejoicing for both the world superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States of America, who had allied with each other to fight this tough battle. Unfortunately, this ecstasy and harmony between the two countries was ephemeral. The many differences between the two countries were the roots of the Cold War, and the dissimilarities created hostility and aversion between each other. The greatest contrast between the two was the arrangement of their societies (Background Essay). The Soviet Union was governed by a communist government which was a system where no private
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At the Potsdam Conference, Germany and its capital, Berlin, were divided up between the four major allies: Britain, United States, France, and the Soviet Union. The Western section of Germany which was under the authority of Britain, France, and the United States united to form the Federal Republic of Germany. The territory of Germany under Soviet domination was titled The German Democratic Republic. Berlin, divided among each of the Allies in a similar way, was located deep inside Soviet territory. Hence, the citizens of the capitalistic West Berlin depended on the French, British, and American supplies considering that West Berlin was a democratic, capitalistic city in a sea of communism. Troubled with the division of Germany, the leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, desired to assess the Westerners of their commitment to containing communism by blockading all the shipments coming into West Berlin (Doc. B). Stalin blockaded all the supplies including food and clothing from entering West Berlin because he longed for the capitalistic city to surrender to communism for West Berlin was like a thorn in his side. However, the city of West Berlin was not compelled to surrender to communism due to the celerity of the Americans and the British. Known as the Berlin Airlift, America and its allies made haste to support West Berlin by flying in tons supplies for over two million people for nearly an year (Doc. B). The Berlin Blockade and Airlift demonstrates how the Americans made a successful effort to prevent the spread of Communism to West Berlin by giving all they could, including food and supplies, without starting a war with the Soviet Union. No matter what the cost, the United States flew great distances to limit the spread of communism. However, it was not long before the American’s dedication to containing communism would be tested
At the Potsdam Conference, Germany and its capital, Berlin, were divided up between the four major allies: Britain, United States, France, and the Soviet Union. The Western section of Germany which was under the authority of Britain, France, and the United States united to form the Federal Republic of Germany. The territory of Germany under Soviet domination was titled The German Democratic Republic. Berlin, divided among each of the Allies in a similar way, was located deep inside Soviet territory. Hence, the citizens of the capitalistic West Berlin depended on the French, British, and American supplies considering that West Berlin was a democratic, capitalistic city in a sea of communism. Troubled with the division of Germany, the leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, desired to assess the Westerners of their commitment to containing communism by blockading all the shipments coming into West Berlin (Doc. B). Stalin blockaded all the supplies including food and clothing from entering West Berlin because he longed for the capitalistic city to surrender to communism for West Berlin was like a thorn in his side. However, the city of West Berlin was not compelled to surrender to communism due to the celerity of the Americans and the British. Known as the Berlin Airlift, America and its allies made haste to support West Berlin by flying in tons supplies for over two million people for nearly an year (Doc. B). The Berlin Blockade and Airlift demonstrates how the Americans made a successful effort to prevent the spread of Communism to West Berlin by giving all they could, including food and supplies, without starting a war with the Soviet Union. No matter what the cost, the United States flew great distances to limit the spread of communism. However, it was not long before the American’s dedication to containing communism would be tested