Responsibility of the Breakdown of the Grand Alliance

Focus of the topic §

The topic discusses the responsibility for the breakdown of the Cold War, emphasizing the importance of linking facts to the concept of responsibility.

Background Info §

Body §

• US Responsibility

  • Operation Torch and Husky

    • The US delayed opening the second front until D-day.

  • Potsdam Conference: A stronger attitude against the USSR was adopted.

    • Reasons for this included the transition from Roosevelt to Truman and the development of the atomic bomb.

  • Invention of atomic bomb

    • The invention of the atomic bomb escalated the arms race.

  • Long Telegram

  • Iron Curtain Speech

    • Although this is not directly the responsibility of the US, it provides context for the construction of the Berlin Wall in the 1960s.

  • Truman Doctrine

    • The US aimed to contain communism.

  • Marshall Plan

  • Bizonia

    • The US and UK created a new currency and constitution, indicating the creation of a new country.
      • This violated the Yalta Agreement, which had decided to vote later for unification.
      • The US was concerned about the Salami Tactics in Germany.

  • Creation of NATO in 1950

  • Creation of FRG in 1950

  • Historiography: Revisionist

• USSR Responsibility
  • Comintern (later Cominform)
  • Comecon
    • The USSR opposed the Marshall Plan and controlled the economy of Eastern Europe.
  • Salami Tactics
    • The USSR breached the Yalta Agreement.
  • Czech Coup
  • Berlin Blockade
    • The USSR acted against Bizonia.
  • Creation of GDR in 1950
  • Creation of Warsaw Pact in 1954
  • Historiography: Orthodox

Possible Essay Questions §

• To what extent were both sides responsible for the breakdown of the Cold War?

Resources §

Pearson Cold War and Americas

• p11
  • 
• p51
  • Views of 3 historians

Notes §

• Orthodox: Pro-American
• Revisionist: Anti-American
• Post-revisionist: Does not solely blame one side
• Use historiographies to support claims!!
  • Use perspectives from both sides and counter the claims
  • “Evaluation of range of perspectives” is necessary.