Cold War: Divisions of Europe by 1949

Social Studies Essay Question

“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.“ By 1949, Europe had been divided into communist and non-communist ‘blocs’. It may be argued that the predominant cause of this division was the Berlin Airlift crisis. However, there are multiple causes to take into account, in particular Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe and the Truman Doctrine and Marshall plan of 1947. These factors built up tension, resulting in the definite divisions of Europe by 1949.

In many regards the roots of Europe’s divisions lay in the Soviet expansion into Eastern Europe. “We want friendly sates around us.” This was Stalin’s motive for Soviet expansion into Europe. He believed that in order to achieve his ‘buffer zone’ the surrounding governments were to become communist. The USSR used the Red Army to execute their communist takeover. At the Yalta conference Stalin promised free and fair elections in all countries the USSR occupied. However, through intimidation and ‘rigged’ campaigns, communists took control of all governments in Eastern Europe by 1949. This major transformation of governments became the roots of tension between the superpowers, leading to the divisions of Europe.

In March 1946, a very important speech was delivered by Winston Churchill, vocalising the beliefs of Britain and the USA on what was occurring in Eastern Europe. Churchill’s speech was directed at the USA, to ‘wake’ them from their policy of “Isolationism”. He stated his opposition to the formation of communist governments in all of Eastern Europe, stating that, “The Communist Parties…are seeking everywhere to obtain totalitarian control.” Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech was the first vocalised statement discussing the imminent divisions of Europe.

It can also be argued that a key factor leading to the divisions of ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

It can also be argued that a key factor leading to the divisions of Europe was US foreign policy. The Truman Doctrine and Marshal plan shifted US foreign policy from “isolationism” to “containment” of communism. Truman stressed the threat of communism in his speech to congress in order to obtain money to aid Greece and Turkey, in the fight against communism. The Marshall Plan supplied $13.2 billion to Western, non-communist Europe. The USSR, suspicious of America’s motives, made sure no communist country received Marshall aid. By the end of 1947 the split between communist and non-communist Europe was worse than ever.

It may be argued that the Berlin Airlift crisis of 1948-1949 was the main factor leading to Europe’s division in 1949. The issues mainly encompassed the divisions decided at Yalta and the introduction of the new currency into allied Western sectors. The Deutschmark was introduced in the allied zones in Berlin on June 1948. Stalin reacted aggressively to this, cutting off all land routes into West Berlin, hoping to force the Western allies out of Berlin. However the allies used air corridors to transport 2.3 million tonnes of supplies to their sectors. The USSR, realizing their failure to drive the Western allies out of Berlin, called off the blockade. The Berlin Airlift crisis triggered the development of the NATO in 1949 and Warsaw Pact in 1955. It left Germany divided up until 1989. The crisis cemented the divisions of Europe, placing a boarder from North to South separating communist form non-communist countries.

In conclusion, the division of Europe in 1949 was the result of a period of great tension and internal conflicts. Key factors leading to the division included the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe and the change in US foreign policy. However, the Berlin Airlift crisis was the predominant factor leading to the split between communist Eastern Europe and non-communist Western Europe.

By George Lowndes