World War II left devastation and human turmoil in its wake. However, not long after the last shot was fired in one war a new kind of war was born. One that had no bombs surging down from the skies, yet still instilled fear into citizens of several countries. A war with undeniable boundaries made up of barbwire and guards. Each side professing the other’s weakness and oppression; neither willing to act on their threats in fear of retaliation. This was the Cold War. A political war between the Western nations and the Eastern Bloc. As Soviet power rapidly grew in the Eastern territories, the Western nations became evermore concerned for their own governments. In order to avoid being taken over by Communist forces, the Western countries joined
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Berlin is one of these better known sites of these conflicts. In an attempt to keep East Germans from escaping to the West in search of greater freedoms and a higher standard of living, the Soviet Union constructed a literal wall through the capital city of Berlin. Even though, Western nations such as England and America openly criticized the Wall, no effort was made to demolish it. What the wall represented was far more alarming to the Western authorities than its actual function. Fundamentally, the Berlin wall was Russia’s way of exhibiting its domination over the Eastern states. It was no secret that the Russian Soviet soldiers, commonly known as the Red Army, were brutal to the citizens of occupied cities, “Individual Soviet soldiers went on a rampage of rape and pillaging…” (Paxton 448). During this time, Russian leader Joseph Stalin used aggressive policies to grow his empire. Mindful of the Western powers, Stalin set out to create a buffer between the opposing sides. Since many of the Eastern countries had been occupied by the Red Army during the war, local communist parties, assisted by the Soviet Union, took over governments. Contrary to the Communists’ claims of maintaining democracy, their goal was one of control. Stalin allowed free elections, however, “…elections were conducted in a climate of massive intimidation or, in a few cases, …show more content…
Though the Western powers could do nothing to end solidification of Soviet influence in that region short of going to war. The Western world decided that the only way to avoid unlimited soviet expansion was to contain it, and “The Western European countries were willing to consider a collective security solution” (Office of the Historian). Several of Western Europe gathered together to discuss a military treaty that would act as a defense against the Communist movement. Since, “The primary aim of the North Atlantic Treaty was to create a pact of mutual assistance to counter the risk that the Soviet Union would seek to extend its control of Eastern Europe to other parts of the continent” (NATO), Article Five as outlined in the treaty plays a vital role in protecting the participating nations. The Article provides that when a NATO ally is the recipient of an armed attack, all other Alliance members will consider it to be an act of violence against them as well and take action. Each country is left to their own discretion as to what actions are deemed necessary for a particular circumstance. That is to say, not all actions taken against an aggressor or in aid of an ally needs be military in nature. Creating solidarity between the nations was crucial to preventing Soviet
Berlin is one of these better known sites of these conflicts. In an attempt to keep East Germans from escaping to the West in search of greater freedoms and a higher standard of living, the Soviet Union constructed a literal wall through the capital city of Berlin. Even though, Western nations such as England and America openly criticized the Wall, no effort was made to demolish it. What the wall represented was far more alarming to the Western authorities than its actual function. Fundamentally, the Berlin wall was Russia’s way of exhibiting its domination over the Eastern states. It was no secret that the Russian Soviet soldiers, commonly known as the Red Army, were brutal to the citizens of occupied cities, “Individual Soviet soldiers went on a rampage of rape and pillaging…” (Paxton 448). During this time, Russian leader Joseph Stalin used aggressive policies to grow his empire. Mindful of the Western powers, Stalin set out to create a buffer between the opposing sides. Since many of the Eastern countries had been occupied by the Red Army during the war, local communist parties, assisted by the Soviet Union, took over governments. Contrary to the Communists’ claims of maintaining democracy, their goal was one of control. Stalin allowed free elections, however, “…elections were conducted in a climate of massive intimidation or, in a few cases, …show more content…
Though the Western powers could do nothing to end solidification of Soviet influence in that region short of going to war. The Western world decided that the only way to avoid unlimited soviet expansion was to contain it, and “The Western European countries were willing to consider a collective security solution” (Office of the Historian). Several of Western Europe gathered together to discuss a military treaty that would act as a defense against the Communist movement. Since, “The primary aim of the North Atlantic Treaty was to create a pact of mutual assistance to counter the risk that the Soviet Union would seek to extend its control of Eastern Europe to other parts of the continent” (NATO), Article Five as outlined in the treaty plays a vital role in protecting the participating nations. The Article provides that when a NATO ally is the recipient of an armed attack, all other Alliance members will consider it to be an act of violence against them as well and take action. Each country is left to their own discretion as to what actions are deemed necessary for a particular circumstance. That is to say, not all actions taken against an aggressor or in aid of an ally needs be military in nature. Creating solidarity between the nations was crucial to preventing Soviet