Who was to blame for the start of the Cold War?

• Arguments for the USSR causing Cold War

  Orthodox historians argue Stalin’s actions caused Cold War

  evidence:

  1. USSR broke Yalta agreement
  2. Red army remained in Eastern Europe+used terror to set up communist govts
  3. post Cominform, all Satellite states took orders from USSR
  4. Berlin Blockade was an attempt to bring Berlin into the USSR
  5. Stalin was a dictator who didn’t respect human rights

  However:

  • WW2 destroyed USSR. Stalin wanted to regain its strength
  • USA’s use of atom bomb showed Stalin couldn’t trust West
  • Truman wasn’t ever going to co-operate wits Stalin+communism
• USA causing war

  Revisionist historians say USA caused Cold War

  evidence:

  1. US containment policy intended to push away USSR
  2. USA interfered in European affairs, eg Greek civil war
  3. Marshall plan showed USA wanted control over Europeans markets
  4. West created Trizonia with its own currrency to isolate USSR

  However:

  • Containment was a reaction to USSR expansion in eastern europe
  • USSR also interfered in other countries’ affairs
  • Marshall plan was offered to all countries to help rebuild their economies
  • Stalin ignored post-war agreements by not allowing free elections in Poland