NATO and the Warsaw Pact

Question 1

Background: NATO

Answer 1

BACKGROUND: the Berlin Crisis:
(i) confirmed Truman’s commitment to containment (i.e. not allowing USSR influence to expand further in Europe).
(ii) highlighted the Soviet threat to Western Europe.
(iii) had shown that the Wn. European countries needed the formal support of the USA against Soviet threats.

Question 2

Treaty: NATO

Answer 2

TREATY: the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was signed in April 1949.

Question 3

Purpose: NATO

Answer 3

PURPOSE: it was stated to be a defensive alliance (= members stand together if attacked) BUT main purpose was to prevent Soviet and communist expansion.

Question 4

Difference from Marshall Plan: NATO

Answer 4

DIFFERENCE FROM MARSHALL PLAN: the Marshall Plan had created a trading alliance. NATO was a military alliance.

Question 5

What were the NATO members?

Answer 5

NATO MEMBERS:
1949: United States
United Kingdom
Canada
France
Belgium
Denmark
Iceland
Italy
Norway
Portugal
Netherlands
Luxembourg
1952: Greece, Turkey
1982: Spain

Question 6

Background: Warsaw Pact

Answer 6

BACKGROUND:
Stalin saw NATO as an “aggressive alliance” aimed against USSR.
USSR set up its own rival organisation: the Warsaw Pact.

Question 7

Pact: Warsaw Pact

Answer 7

PACT: set up in 1955. A military alliance of 8 Eastern European nations headed by USSR. A joint command structure was set up under the Soviet Supreme Commander.

Question 8

Purpose: Warsaw Pact

Answer 8

PURPOSE: to counter the threat of NATO. Members were to support each other if attacked.

Question 9

What were the Warsaw Pact members?

Answer 9

WARSAW PACT MEMBERS

1955: Soviet Union
Albania
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
East Germany
Hungary
Poland
Romania