History Module 9: Cold War origins and responsibility

Question 1

Why did communist countries agree to form the Warsaw Pact in 1955?

Answer 1

1. The formation of the Warsaw Pact was a response to the integration of West Germany into NATO in 1955, which communist countries perceived as a direct military threat. They sought to counterbalance NATO’s influence and ensure collective defence among communist states in Eastern Europe.
2. It aimed to consolidate Soviet influence over Eastern Europe, formalising the military alignment of the region’s communist states under Soviet leadership. This alignment was intended to strengthen political control and deter any challenges to Soviet authority within the bloc.

Question 2

Why were the Allies determined to defeat the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 2

1. Stalin sought control over Poland to create a buffer zone between the Soviet Union and Germany. After suffering massive losses during World War II, he aimed to ensure that any future conflict would not directly affect Soviet territory, using Poland as a protective barrier against potential Western aggression.
2. Establishing a communist government in Poland was crucial for expanding Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. Control over Poland allowed Stalin to solidify the Soviet Union’s dominance in the region, promoting the spread of communism and securing a friendly government on the USSR’s western border.

Question 3

Why did the blockade of Berlin fail?

Answer 3

1. The Berlin Airlift, organised by the Western Allies, successfully circumvented the blockade by flying in supplies to West Berlin. Over 200,000 flights delivered food, fuel, and other essentials over 11 months, demonstrating the Allies’ commitment to sustaining the city and rendering the blockade ineffective.
2. The blockade’s failure was also due to Soviet miscalculation of Western resolve. The USSR underestimated the logistical capability and determination of the Allies to supply Berlin by air. The sustained airlift effort without direct military confrontation showed the Soviet Union that the blockade would not force the Allies out of Berlin, leading to its eventual lifting.

Question 4

Why did Stalin want control over the government of Poland?

Answer 4

1. Stalin sought control over Poland to create a buffer zone between the Soviet Union and Germany. Given the history of invasions from the West, he wanted a friendly or puppet government in Poland to secure the Soviet Union’s western border and reduce the threat of future attacks.
2. Establishing a communist government in Poland was also part of Stalin’s broader aim to expand Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. Control over Poland would solidify the Soviet Union’s dominance in the region and promote the spread of communism, aligning with Stalin’s ideological goals.

Question 5

Why did the USSR oppose Marshall Aid?

Answer 5

1. The USSR viewed Marshall Aid as a tool for the US to spread its influence and establish economic dominance in Europe. Accepting the aid would potentially bring Eastern European countries under Western influence, undermining Soviet control in the region.
2. Accepting Marshall Aid came with political strings attached, requiring economic transparency and reforms that would challenge Soviet-style planned economies. The USSR opposed these conditions, fearing they would erode the ideological and economic foundations of its satellite states.

Question 6

Why did the USSR and the West disagree about what to do with Germany after the end of the war?

Answer 6

1. The USSR wanted to keep Germany weak and economically limited to prevent any future threats, advocating for heavy reparations and deindustrialisation. This approach was rooted in security concerns, given the Soviet Union’s devastating losses during the war.
2. The West, particularly the US and Britain, sought to rebuild Germany as a stable, democratic state to prevent the spread of communism and foster economic recovery in Europe. This included opposing excessive reparations that could destabilise Germany and the region.