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Allied leaders (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin) meet to plan the postwar world. Agreements are made to divide Germany into four zones and hold free elections in Eastern Europe. However, tensions surface as Stalin insists on Soviet influence over Eastern Europe.

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At the Potsdam Conference in July 1945, Allied leaders (Truman, Churchill/Attlee, and Stalin) met to address postwar plans, but tensions grew over Eastern Europe’s future. The U.S. revealed its atomic bomb to Stalin, deepening mistrust. Soon after, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending World War II and demonstrating the destructive power of nuclear weapons, which fueled the emerging Cold War arms race.

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The Truman Doctrine, established by President Harry S. Truman stated that the United States would provide political, military and economic support to all democratic countries under the threat from external or internal authoritarian forces.

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In September 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was officially established, with Bonn as its capital, marking the consolidation of the Western Allies' zones into a democratic state. Shortly after, in October 1949, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was created, with East Berlin as its capital, solidifying Soviet control over the Eastern zone. This division of Germany and Berlin became a powerful symbol of the Cold War, representing the ideological and political split between the capitalist West and the communist East.

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1945: End of World War II and Division of Germany

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1945: End of World War II and Division of Germany

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World War II ends with the defeat of the Axis powers.Germany and Berlin are divided into four occupation zones controlled by the United States, Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. This division marks the start of tensions between the Western democracies and the Soviet Union, laying the groundwork for the Cold War.

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COMECON is established by the Soviet Union as the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, aiming to counter the Marshall Plan by fostering economic cooperation among Eastern Bloc countries. However, despite its intentions to strengthen the Soviet sphere of influence, COMECON struggles due to limited resources and the economic disparities among its member states, highlighting the challenges of competing with Western initiatives.

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Winston Churchill warns of Europe’s division into Western democracies and Eastern communist nations under Soviet control. This highlights the rising tensions and predicts the emergence of the Cold War.

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The Communist People's Liberation Army engages in conflict against anti-Communist forces. Great Britain supports the anti-Communists but withdraws aid due to economic challenges following the war.

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President Truman announces U.S. aid to countries threatened by communist expansion, beginning with Greece and Turkey. This decision represents the first significant step in the U.S. strategy of containment, aiming to limit Soviet influence globally and protect vulnerable nations from falling under communist control.

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The U.S. launches an economic recovery program to rebuild war-torn Europe and prevent the spread of communism. Nearly $13 billion is provided, though Soviet-aligned nations reject participation.

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In 1947, U.S. diplomat George Kennan introduced the policy of containment, which aimed to prevent Soviet expansion by limiting communism within its existing borders. This strategy became the foundation of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. This marked a turning point in which America took on a proactive stance against Soviet influence worldwide and defined America's role as a defender of democracy against communism.

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The Soviets cut off all land access to West Berlin in response to Western plans to unify their German zones. This blockade isolated 2.5 million West Berliners, cutting off essential supplies such as food and fuel. The act marked one of the first major crises of the Cold War, highlighting the deepening divide between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies.

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The U.S. and Great Britain respond to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin by airlifting supplies, delivering 2.3 million tons of goods over 10 months. This massive operation highlights the Western Allies' determination to resist Soviet aggression and support West Berliners, while carefully avoiding direct military confrontation that could escalate into open conflict.tensions.

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is established, creating a military alliance among Western democracies for mutual defense against Soviet threats. This alliance not only formalizes the unity of Western nations but also solidifies the Western bloc as a coordinated force against communist expansion, reinforcing the ideological and military divide of the Cold War. NATO's formation underscores the commitment of member nations to collective security in the face of rising tensions with the Soviet Union.