'The Wartime "Grand Alliance" between Britain, the USA and the USSR was undermined by mutual suspicion.' Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.

by aisha_issaoutlookcom (student)

I agree with the statement that suspicion had undermined the Grand Alliance because it had lessen the effectiveness and power of the Grand Alliance. The USSR, USA and Britain had formed a military alliance despite their long-term differences. The Big Three had conflicted ideology; the Soviet Union were communist, whilst America and Britain were capitalist. Communism was different from capitalism. In capitalism, the resources and the means of production lies with the private owner, while in communism they are owned by the community or society. According to historian John D Clare, "Britain and America were natural enemies of the Soviet Union." This meant as soon as the common threats of Hitler and Japan were removed, it was inevitable that the Allies would fall out. The Grand Alliance had met at three conferences; Tehran in 1943, and Yalta and Potsdam in 1945. Disagreements emerged over Germany, Poland and Eastern Europe economic reconstruction and nuclear weapons – the arms race had emerged between the USSR and USA. By 1946, the Grand Alliance had completely broken down due to problems not being resolved.

The Atlantic Charter was eight principles policy between the Allies. The principles had defined the Allies goals for the post-war world and it also presented the unity between the USA, Britain and the USSR. However, there was wartime disagreement between the Grand Alliance. Stalin had demanded that the Allies open a second front in Western Europe to relive pressure of the Soviet Union because Nazi military was invading the Soviets. Stalin became more suspicious of the Western Allies because they delayed the opening of the second front. Another wartime disagreement that was caused America and the Soviet Union to be suspicious of one another is ideological beliefs. Despite agreeing to the principles of the Atlantic Charter, Stalin had concerns over Roosevelt's foreign policy. Roosevelts' 'open door' policy was based on free world trade and equal access to raw materials. This made Stalin fear that the policy would only benefit capitalist countries like the US. The Allies had attempted to resolve the differences by three conferences. The failure of the conferences had resulted in international relations to worsen.

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The first conference held was in Tehran in November 1943 and was attended by the Big Three; Stalin of the USSR, Churchill of Britain and Roosevelt of the USA. The Big Three were able to agree on certain aspects about the future of Europe in the conference. Stalin wanted a buffer zone for the USSR because they have been attacked by Germany in both World Wars. Stalin's concerns for security of the Soviet Union had led him to demand territory from Poland and a pro-Soviet government. The Grand Alliance had agreed that the USSR could keep territory that was seized in 1939, Poland would be compensated with land from Germany. Stalin became more suspicious of the Allies in the delay of the second front. When the Soviets had demanded the right to keep territory they had seized; the USA and Britain agreed reluctantly, despite it being against the Atlantic Charter.

The second conference was held in Yalta in February 1945. The same leaders in the Tehran conference had attended Yalta. Stalin position in Europe or international affairs had strengthen because the Red army had occupied most of Eastern Europe. This made Stalin be more assertive. During the Yalta conference; Germany was on the verge of being defeated. The second front had begun with the Normandy Landings in 1944. In the conference, Stalin had demanded reparation from Germany for the damage they caused in the USSR. Roosevelt and Churchill didn’t want a repeat of the Treaty of Versailles. Churchill became more aware of the Soviet policy and therefore, he was suspicious of Stalin's motives. Stalin had agreed that Eastern Europe would be able to have free elections. This was seen as a victory for Britain and the US. However, when it became clear that Stalin was going back on his words and began supporting communist groups across Eastern Europe, it had made Roosevelt and Churchill believe that Stalin was a threat to peace in Europe.

The Polish government had escaped to London in 1939 when Germany had invaded Poland. The Polish government in exile were opposed to the Soviet's policies and they were against the proposal at Yalta. They were not willing to sacrifice land without a cast-iron grantee that Poland's government would be free after war. When the Polish Home Army rose up against Germany by the orders of the government in exile; Stalin had ordered the Red Army to not assist the Polish Home Front. USA and Britain did not assist the Polish Home Front as well. The Soviets then moved in and liberated Poland by putting their own government, the Lublin Poles. The Western Allies not stopping the Soviet's setting up a communist government can show that they did not see the Soviet Union as a threat because they did not take action. However, it can be seen the other way that Britain and America do not desire another war.

The final conference took place in Potsdam in July 1945. Stalin had represented the USSR, Roosevelt had died and was replaced by Truman and Attlee replaced Churchill. Truman was anti-communist and was suspicious of the Soviet Union. Germany had been defeated and Japan was on the verge of defeat. The USA was planning to use atomic bomb, which they have tested in 1945, against Japan. The Grand Alliance had agreed to deal with Germany in their own ways in their own zones. Stalin did not trust Truman because he had informed Stalin about the atomic bomb in the conference. Stalin became suspicious of the USA actions and therefore, began the breakdown of the Grand Alliance and the arms race. Truman began to detest Stalin because he became angered by the fact that the Soviets' had a sphere of influence over Eastern Europe.

Overall, suspicion had undermined the Grand Alliance despite the agreement over the division of Germany. However, many disagreement had remained unsolved, such as the delay of the second front and the creation of the atomic bomb and the Atlantic Charter. Stalin had taken over Eastern Europe and it seemed unlikely he would allow free elections in the Soviet sphere of influence. The USA's atomic bomb has threatened the USSR, which deepened the mistrust between the Grand Alliance.

'The Wartime "Grand Alliance" between Britain, the USA and the USSR was undermined by mutual suspicion.' Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.

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