USSR misjudgements and misperceptions

Question 1

What did the USA interpret as a threat of war and why?

Answer 1

Stalin’s 1946 speech to the Supreme Soviet of a possible future war against capitalism, because it lacked clarity and the goals were amigious

Question 2

Why did Stalin make the speech in 1946?

Answer 2

To justify the introduction of further Five-Year Plans

Question 3

How did the Kremlin interpret the Marshall Plan?

Answer 3

As a calculated attempt to weaken Soviet security interests

Question 4

How did the USA interpret COMECON (response to Marshall Aid)?

Answer 4

A deliberate attempt to spread the Soviet economic model as part of world communism

Question 5

What made Stalin suspicious of western motives?

Answer 5

American military spending, convinced Stalin that USA would attack USSR
American reluctance to share nuclear technology, increased Soviets’ sense of vulnerability

Question 6

What happened to Stalin from the 1930s onwards?

Answer 6

Showed growing signs of paranoia and became intensely suspicious. He was not necessarily able to assess post-war international events accurately

Question 7

What US decisions were seen as legitimate?

Answer 7

Ending lend-lease once the war was over

American unwillingness to see the German economy asset stripped in order to provide Soviet reparations

Question 8

How did Stalin view legitimate US decisions?

Answer 8

As deliberate attempts to weaken the USSR