THE COLD WAR USSR (RUSSIA) VS.THE UNITED STATES (OVER VIEW)

GCC Encore Fall 2011 Class One Adjunct Professor Joe Boisvert

Why Was the Cold War so Scary?On the Right Graph of Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles

Cold War Started at End of WW2

The war ended with the total victory of the Allies over Germany and Japan in 1945. World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world. The United Nations (UN) was established to foster international cooperation and prevent future conflicts

Major Players During the Cold War

Joseph McCarthy Strong Anti Communist

FDR Died at end of WW2

Major Players During Cold War

Dwight D Eisenhower Churchill, Truman, Stalin – Potsdam Conference

Cold War Players

John F. Kennedy – Berlin – Cuban Missile Crisis

Reagan/Gorbachev:

Roosevelt Was Taken in by Stalin

In the course of events including Big Three conferences, Roosevelt was focused on defeating Germany and was somewhat taken in by Stalin’s personality

Whereas Churchill looked beyond the defeat of Germany and to the containment of Communism.

What was the Soviet-American relationship in World War??

Answer The Soviet-American relationship in WWII was more of a "Shot Gun Wedding" in that neither side trusted the other, but both sides needed each other to defeat Hitler's Germany.

Officially and in propaganda relations were very warm. And when American and Soviet troops linked in Germany they kissed and hugged each other like brothers.

USSR War Deaths - 8,806,453 to over 10,500,000 and over 23,000,000 when you include Civilians -

Total USSR Army 168,524,000

End of WW2 US and USSR had same size Army in the Field – USSR Suffered Many More Causalities

US War Deaths - WW2 started in 1939. The U.S. joined in 1941. When the war ended in 1945, roughly 416,800 American military personnel had lost their lives around 1700 US civilians lost their lives.

Total US Army 131,028,00

“Iron Curtain" established by USSR over Eastern Europe• US announced Truman Doctrine to contain Communism all over the world. US commenced aid to Greece and Turkey.

• US commenced Marshal Plan aid to war-torn Europe in 1948. Soviets refused to cooperate.

• W. European economy began to recover, while E. European economy stagnated.

• Foundations built for prosperity in the Western economy.

• "Brain drain" through Berlin threatened E. European economy. Soviets tried but failed to re-open Berlin treaty arrangements which divided the city into occupied sectors.

• blockaded Berlin, they build the Berlin Wall. US and West countered with a successful airlift to W. Berlin.

Reasons for Cold War

The United States Developed the Atomic Bomb The United States and The Soviet Union

Emerged from WW2 as the Major Superpowers Stalin Occupied Eastern Europe and took

everything back to USSR Stalin Occupied Eastern Germany including

much of Berlin Hatred and Suspicion on Both Sides All lesser powers greatly weakened by

the war.

Confrontation in Europe:Perceptions of a military threat:(1) US has a monopoly on atomic weapons, continues nuclear testing, and targets Russian cities.(2) Soviets maintain largest army in the world, occupying Eastern Europe. Soviets Develop Atomic Bomb 1949b. Once the war was over, each distrusted the other and further agreements were very difficult. (1945-1946) – Reality Neither can Attack the Other With Conventional Military

Why We Could Not Have Full Out War With the USSR

US Tanks Faced Off in Europe Against Soviet Tanks During Cold War

US Tanks After WW2

Russians Tanks Pour into Berlin

US Tanks Face off Against Soviet Tanks 1961 Check Point Charlie - Berlin

Berlin Confrontation Before the Wall

Rusting T-62 Soviet battle tanks sit in a battle tank Grave Yard

The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War, which lasted for the next 46 years. 

Soviet empire 1960

Reagan and Gorbachev hold discussions