Was the USSR a fully established superpower by 1953?

Question 1

What would your overall conclusion be in an essay on wether the USSR was a superpower by 1953?

Answer 1

I would argue that by 1953 the soviet union was certainly transformed but it was by no means a superpower when analysed in terms of its competitors such as USA + the power and influence that the US had successfully consolidated. The soviet union was certainly transformed which is mimicked in the western reaction to growing soviet influence ie churchill’s iron curtain speech and the long telegram. However - ultimately the US policies of containment, Marshall aid and the formation of NATO were sufficient in limiting both the power, influence and military capacity of the USSR by 1953. Therefore it was not a fully established superpower.

Question 2

State what your essay plan would be for a question on wether the USSR was a superpower by 1953

Answer 2

P1 - Soviet expansion of influence following the victory in the Great Patriotic war + economic capacity

P2 - International recognition via Grand Alliance + Military strentgh ie Atomic Bomb + UN Security Council

P3 - The impact of the Truman Doctrine + Marshall plan arguably eliminates soviet strength in terms of influence

P4 - Stalin’s failed retaliation via Berlin Blockade + withstanding of the blockade was a western propaganda success - highlighted limitations of soviet power

P5 - Formation of NATO in 1949 highlighted restriction of soviet military power and presented a huge threat for the soviet unions own security via ‘massive retaliation’ so buffer zone was from 1949 inadequate.

Question 3

Explain P1 to argue that the USSR can be viewed as a superpower by 1953

Answer 3

1 - Soviet Expansion of Influence

• The USSR victory against Germany in the great patriotic war catalysed the emergence of the soviet union into a superpower.
• Victory brought the massive territorial expansion of the USSR. Previous independent states like the Baltic, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were incorporated into the USSR as soit republics.
• Beyond the borders of the USSR, the red army had occupied many countries of east-central Europe + in a place to establish pro-soviet regimes there.
• In doing so stalin created the formation of the soviet bloc whereby these ‘liberated’ states would act not only as pro-comunist countries but also a military defence mechanism to prevet western invasion of the USSR essentially creating a ‘buffer zone’.

Question 4

Explain P2 to argue that the USSR can be viewed as a superpower by 1953

Answer 4

2 - Military developments - nuclear bomb (High militray)

• In 1945 the USA revealed theyd developed the atomic bomb + used this to end the war against Japan which placed the USSR at an ovbious disadvantage. Stalin placed Beria in charge of accelerating the USSRS development of an atomic bomb + committed huge resources which , just 4 years later was successful in august 1949 which finally confirmed the USSRs superpower status.
• After the original project was a success,Russia went further and developed the dreaded H Bomb, making Russia’s position unchallengeable.
• Made Russia a voice to be reckoned with + enhanced the military capabilities of the USSR. Ir was also one of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council as acknowledgment of its status as a new global p[owert however this involved an abundance of resources + constant need to compete with the west which proved a massive economic commitment for the soviet union

Question 5

Explain P3 to argue the USSR was not a superpower by 1953

Answer 5

The ‘Truman doctrine’ commitment to ‘containment’ of communism in march 1947 which was utilised by the USA + Britain to try + contain communism + soviet influence.

In 1947 western europe was in crisis with fear of complete economic collapse + political instability especially in italy and france and in greece where there was a civil war. In march the Truman doctrine asserted the US policy of ‘containment’ + rolling back of communism through pledging support for Greece + turkey to prevent communist take-over + using $400 million as means of ensuring ‘free people’ maintain there national liberties ‘against totalitarian regimes’

The Marshall plan for US aid for European recovery In june 1947 was a massive injection fo aid to rebuild europe, eastern as well as western states, however it was a political weapon deliberately designed to extend american influence + support countries opposed to comunist ideology so the USSRs comunist doctrine did not spread and was contained by making countries feel sharing everything wasn’t a plausible idea.

• Marshall plan was both an economic + political weapon, economically enabled the guarantee that European countries would trade with them and accept their economic support and allegiance/reliance upon America and so they wouldn’t look elsewhere to comunist nations’ ideology which reinforced the political element.

The threat this posed against soviet influence is evident via stalin’s volcanic response + the anger he directed towards it which catalysed his subsequent actions toward berlin in the berlin blockade;

Question 6

Explain P4 to argue the USSR was not a superpower by 1953

Answer 6

The west successful resisting of stalin’s Berlin Blockade;

• The West’s determination of the population to reist stalin’s blockade which led to its failure + the mass support the USA could offer demonstrated the limitations of soviet power + aggression arguably undermining its title as a superpower.
• The forced ending of the blockade whereby stalin was forced to lift it thwarted stalin’s plans for independent germany + saw the emergence of new military threats against the USSR and stalin which he deemed as ‘acts of aggression’ in the form of the emergence of NATO the north atlantic treaty organisation which was a huge rival against even the USSR.

The Berlin Airlift coordinated by US military governor a massive operation whereby allied aircraft flew essential supplies - up to 1000 tonnes - into berlin throughout the winter of 1948-9. Clay calculated, rightly, that stalin wouldn’t dare risk shooting down US aircraft

It can be argued (as a counter) that the events in Czechoslovakia were a propaganda + success for Stalin + communism. All soviet countries were pressured to reject marshall aid + in february 1948 Kilmer Gottwald leader of communists in Czechoslovakia took full control of the government which the west viewed as a comunist coup backed by the USSR. For Stalin the Czechs was a victorious February + a legitimate success of ‘anti-facist’ policies and the timing of the ‘coup’ intensified the divide between east + west over marshall plan. However in turn, these actions formed the basis of justification behind the subsequent formation of NATO.

Question 7

Explain P5 to argue the USSR was not a superpower by 1953

Answer 7

The formation of NATO the north atlantic treaty organisation in 1949 as rival to soviet power;

• The Alliance’s creation was part of a broader effort to serve three purposes: deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent. The signing of the North Atlantic Treaty did not create a military structure that could effectively coordinate their actions but this changed when growing worries about Soviet intentions culminated in the Soviet detonation of an atomic bomb in 1949.
• This had a dramatic effect + NATO soon gained a consolidated command structure with a military Headquarters near Versailles. This was Supreme Headquarters + during this time, NATO adopted the strategic doctrine of “Massive Retaliation”

“Massive Retaliation” dictated that if the Soviet Union attacked, NATO would respond with nuclear weapons.

• The intended effect of this doctrine was to deter either side from risk-taking since any attack, however small, could have led to a full nuclear exchange. Simultaneously, “Massive Retaliation” allowed Alliance members to focus their energies on economic growth rather than on maintaining large conventional armies. The Alliance also took its first steps towards a political as well as a military role.

Thus even with the development of the soviet atomic bomb the west effectively responded with the formation of nato + the threat this posed against the USSR was unprecedented - consequently its arguable that NATO possessed the ability to highlight the fact that the soviet union was not a superpower.