Zusammenfassung der Ressource
To what extent had
superpower relations broken
down by the end of 1945?
- long term causes of conflict had existed since 1917: 2
superpowers had emerged that represented directly opposed
ideologies
- imminent defeat of Nazi Germany had started to create a power
vacuum in Europe into which both countries were drawn to protect
their own interests
- However, CW had not yet developed and was by no means inevitable
- USA had capability to play world role after 1918, but neither gvt. or public had
the will. Ignored policies of Wilson and returned to isolationism.
- Tensions and hostility between USA and USSR
were kept to a minimum because neither
country took on a world role before 1941
- USSR lacked capacity to play world role in this period
- devastated by WWI and Civil War
- Inter-war years ensuring its on survival, rather than
spreading world communism
- The War provided, in the Axis of Powers of Germany, Italy
& Japan, to the security of both countries
- Defeat of Germany, Italy and Japan in 1945 that led to re-emergence of tensions between East and West
- USA and USSR now in a position in which they both possessed ability to impose their ideology on a broad scale
- Attitudes and policies of USA and USSR were to develop towards each other were to develop
during and after 1945 that led to the final breakdown in relations