Before the Cold War
During World War Two, the Soviets were allied with the United States, to defeat the common enemy; the Nazis (Chicco M, Schnabel, O. online). As the war came to an end the powers’ common goal was resolved with the fall of the Nazi regime and underlying ideological and political distinctions began to resurface. Jones, a specialist of 20th century history suggests that “the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 cleared the stage for the expansion of American-Soviet ideological conflict into a global cold war.” (Jones, 2004.) The Soviet Union’s Communist ideology conflicted with American Capitalism and Liberalism. Engerman, a professor of international and intellectual history of the Cold War describes the mutual opposition by outlining the popular belief held by each state about the other’s ideologies - “Americans understood Soviet expansion as a direct blow to the gradual spread of freedom, while Soviet observers saw American expansion as proof that the final crisis of capitalism was near.” (Engerman, D. 2012) These conflicting beliefs and systems of government, as outlined in the infographic below demonstrate the reasons for growing divide between the two powers. It became clear by the end of World War Two that diverging beliefs, political systems and disagreements about how Germany would be governed in the future, made the vision of a unified Germany impossible. (Jones, C, B. 2004.) Engerman corroborates with Jones by affirming that “American and Soviet ideologies were set in direct opposition to each other [which] ensured disagreement between the two countries.” (Engerman, D. 2012.)
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At the end of the war in 1945, a distinct division between Eastern Communism and Western Capitalism occurred; both perceiving one another as a threat, each power endeavoured to extend their ‘sphere of influence,’ throughout Europe (Harrison, H. 2003) whilst limiting the expansion of the other power, which endured throughout the course of the Cold War. An key example of this is the United States containment policy, which aimed to “limit the spread of Soviet power and Communist ideology” (Leffler, M. online). George Kennen, an American diplomat outlined this policy in a 1947 article:
“It is clear that the United States cannot expect in the foreseeable future to enjoy political intimacy with the Soviet regime. It must continue to regard the Soviet Union as a rival, not a partner, in the political arena… the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.” (Kennen, 1947, cited in Digital History)
This political attitude guided the powers towards the Cold War, and undermined its actions throughout. The Policy of Containment and Soviet expansionism founded several conflicts in Berlin, notably when the Soviets threatened and attempted to expand their influence in Berlin several times, particularly through the Berlin Blockade and Berlin Crisis during the Cold War. Berlin’s tenuous division, which resulted from the breakdown of the Soviet- American alliance would position this city at the centre of conflict between these opposing powers.
“It is clear that the United States cannot expect in the foreseeable future to enjoy political intimacy with the Soviet regime. It must continue to regard the Soviet Union as a rival, not a partner, in the political arena… the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.” (Kennen, 1947, cited in Digital History)
This political attitude guided the powers towards the Cold War, and undermined its actions throughout. The Policy of Containment and Soviet expansionism founded several conflicts in Berlin, notably when the Soviets threatened and attempted to expand their influence in Berlin several times, particularly through the Berlin Blockade and Berlin Crisis during the Cold War. Berlin’s tenuous division, which resulted from the breakdown of the Soviet- American alliance would position this city at the centre of conflict between these opposing powers.