To what extent were disagreements over the timing of the second front the main cause of the disputes between the USSR, USA and the UK during World War II?

Russia wanted to use Poland as a buffer state after the war had finished, this meant that Russia’s sphere of influence would grow further and further into the centre of Europe. Russia also wanted to have Soviet friendly governments in place in the Eastern European countries. This interpretation suggests a traditionalist idea as the motives of the Russians are questioned.  Churchill agreed to this proposal when meeting Stalin, the agreement came to be known as the Percentages Agreement. However this pact was never ratified and when the Yalta and Potsdam conferences were held the Western allies were in no mood to honour the agreement. The Western Allies decision to ignore the past agreements is a revisionist argument because it claims the Western Allies were deliberately trying to stop the Russians from benefiting from the end of the war.  Russia’s plan to expand their sphere of influence would have normally been treated with respect as they had had a huge part in the war. They had also been invaded through Poland 4 times in 30 years; this record and their scorched earth policy meant they had some justification for asking for Poland to be made into buffer state. The wishes of the Russians were also very hard to accept in the American presidential camp as Roosevelt was a ‘son of Wilsonianism’ which meant he believed all people should have self determination and the right to democracy. The Atlantic Charter was the form of post war settlement the Western Allies wished but the Russians wanted the opposite for either protectionist motives of simply in order to spread Communism further and further away from the Kremlin. This attitude is a post- revisionist idea as it places both parties in the blame for the Cold War as they both wanted what would suit them and did not take into consideration the needs and wants of their allies, both sides may have been at fault because of their selfishness. The Western Allies wished Russia to have control of Poland as far as the Curzon line, which was established in 1919 by the British foreign minister, and in return Poland would be compensated with parts of Eastern Germany. This problem was discussed at all the war conferences and was a major or perhaps the major sticking point, which denied the allies post war harmony. The future of Poland and Eastern Europe was of utmost importance to both parties and the Russians came out on top leaving the Western Allies displeased and could have been a major cause of the disagreements during the Second World War.

        The decision on what would happen to Germany after the war caused disagreement in the separate camps of the USA, UK and Russia alliance. Russia wished to be compensated for the damage that had been done to their homeland during the war. 30 million lay dead and many cities, much industry and rich agricultural land was devastated. Russia wanted £20 billion in reparations from Germany but Churchill especially was opposed to this. This may have been because Churchill just believed that reparations did not work or that he did not want the reparations deal finalised because it would strengthen Russia’s economy more than Britain wanted and that it would devastate Germany, which was to be a major trading partner for a bankrupt Britain. The idea that Churchill blocked the reparations plea suggests a revisionist view on the start of the cold war, the Western Allies are blamed for not giving Russia sufficient help for the damage she had sustained during the war, Russians may have felt the Western Allies were deserting them just as they had done earlier in the war when the launch of the second front was delayed by 3 years. Even if the intentions of the Western Allies were honourable the Russian had justification to think that the Western Allies were not be truly grateful for the vital part Russia played in the war and may have felt as if their efforts had been taken for granted by their allies. It was agreed that Germany would be divided into 3 parts and further lobbying allowed the French to control a part taken from the USA and UK share of the country. The problems with Germany were again a problem and caused disagreements during the war but they were not the main cause of disputes between the 2 camps. The view that Russia was asking for too much from Germany in order to ‘bleed her dry’ is a traditionalist idea because it blames Russia for not taking into consideration anyone else’s needs, she was just looking after herself. The disputes over what would happen to Germany were the faults of both sides so therefore a post-revisionist view must be taken, as each side was equally to blame for the failure to agree a settlement that benefited both sides fully.

        Another cause of disagreement was the failure of the USA to provide the loans that it promised to Russia before the war. Congress was not willing to commit money to Russia until the war had finished because of the insecurity it would leave in the Federal Reserve. Russia asked for very generous loans that had low interest rates and long pay back periods. Over 700 companies in the USA were also willing to take part in the loan-lease agreements and provide Russian industry with goods in return for some of the huge amounts of natural resources Russia possessed. The USA may have been unwilling to make the loans because of the Communist previous history of refusing to pay back loans to capitalist countries. The idea that the USA was being unhelpful purposely and leading the Russians on with the intention of never giving them loans is a revisionist view. However the view that the USA was right to be cautious can be rallied as previous history showed the Communist were unreliable in terms of loans owed, this is a traditionalist view. The failure of the USA to provide Russia with loans was a source of disagreements because the Kremlin again probably thought that the USA and the UK were leaving Russia and Germany to ‘knock each other out’ so both, less than ideal, regimes in terms of capitalism were destroyed whilst there was minimal Western Alliance casualties.

        There were many disagreements between the allies during the war. They were caused by different factors. The idea that the failures to pay loans or the decision over what to do with Germany are not the main causes of disagreements however. The delay of the second front was a major blow for the Soviets because it meant many more lives were lost on the Eastern front, this revisionist view blames the Western Allies because they were not quick enough to react to Russia’s plea. The delay did sour relations but was not the main cause of disputes during the war. The main reason for disputed was the countries different views on what should happen to Poland and Eastern Europe. Russia wanted it all under the influence of the Kremlin and the USA wanted it to be just as Woodrow Wilson would have wanted it in 1919. The topic was discussed at Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam and was a major cause of tension between the allies. The traditionalist view that Russia wanted to much and was trying to increase it sphere of influence just so Moscow had control over more people can be brought up but the revisionist view that Russia was still wary of a German backlash and wanted a buffer state in order to protect itself from further future invasion also holds up too. The disagreements were the main cause of disputes between the allies during the war although the timing of the second front was a sticking point in a very frictional alliance.