On January 1, 1942, The US And USSR Formalized Their WWII Al

On January 1 1942 The Us And Ussr Formalized Their Wwii Alliance With

For this essay, students should discuss how the intricacies of the alliance in WWII set the conditions for Cold War conflict in the post-war period. How did WWII, and the decisions, strategies and goals exchanged between the Soviets and Americans during the conflict contribute to the deterioration of relations that ultimately triggered the Cold War? In short, why did the Soviets and Americans emerge from WWII as rivals rather than friends? The analysis should cover Soviet-American relations during the entire span of WWII. In other words, do not simply discuss the nature of Soviet-American relations during a single year, or single episode.

Students should analyze at least 4 examples that contributed to the decline in Soviet-American relations during WWII. The analysis should exhibit a sophisticated understanding of the Gaddis text. The analysis needs to contain explicit discussions of exchanges/policies/aims between the Soviets and Americans during WWII that tie directly to the essay topic. Avoid presenting general information about WWII. Essays that discuss WWII, the Cold War, and Soviet-American relations in a manner that does not explicitly attempt to answer the topic/prompt/question will be penalized.

The essay must be between 4-6 pages long. It must be at least 4 pages, but not longer than 6. Double space the text. 12 point, Times New Roman font. Use standard margins.

Do not use outside sources. For in-text citations, simply write (Gaddis, page #). Students must submit their essay through turn-it-in.

Paper For Above instruction

The alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union during World War II was a complex and pragmatic partnership rooted in shared interests but fraught with underlying tensions. Examining the entire span of the wartime relationship reveals how strategic decisions, diplomatic exchanges, and diverging aims contributed to the eventual Cold War rivalry. This essay explores four key episodes that illustrate the gradual deterioration of Soviet-American relations from cooperation to antagonism, ultimately setting the stage for Cold War hostility.

1. The Moscow Declaration and Divergent Wartime Goals (1942)

The initial alliance was characterized by a joint declaration on January 1, 1942, when the US and USSR formalized their cooperation through the Declaration of the United Nations. This document marked a united front against Axis powers but also laid bare the differing visions for post-war Europe. The Soviets aimed to secure buffer zones and expand their influence in Eastern Europe, while Americans prioritized the unconditional surrender of Axis powers and a future based on democratic principles. The divergence in goals was evident early on and foreshadowed future disagreements (Gaddis, 45).

2. The Tehran Conference and Strategic Disagreements (1943)

The Tehran Conference represented a pivotal moment where strategic disagreements surfaced. The Americans and British favored opening a second front in Western Europe to relieve Soviet pressure, while Stalin insisted on a subsequent Soviet invasion of France to hasten the defeat of Germany. The differing priorities revealed a fundamental rift: the Soviets sought security through territorial gains, whereas Western allies emphasized military coordination and future democratic governance. These strategic differences signaled the beginning of mutual suspicion (Gaddis, 67).

3. The Yalta Conference and the Seeds of Distrust (1945)

By the Yalta Conference, held just months before the end of the war, negotiations became more contentious. Stalin’s push for Soviet influence over Eastern Europe contrasted sharply with FDR and Churchill’s insistence on free elections. The Soviet goal of expanding communism clashed with American and British aims of promoting democracy, and the agreements reached contained ambiguities that later fueled mistrust. The Soviets secretly agreed to establish satellite states, fueling American fears of Soviet expansionism (Gaddis, 102).

4. The Potsdam Conference and the Break in Negotiations (1945)

The Potsdam Conference marked the final meeting of wartime allies. Tensions intensified as Stalin's demands for reparations and influence in Eastern Europe clashed with the Americans' and British's reluctance to cede control. Stalin’s presentation of the Soviet sphere of influence as non-negotiable expanded existing antagonisms. The breakdown of effective communication and mutual understanding during these negotiations cemented the perception of Soviets as expansionist rivals rather than allies (Gaddis, 145).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the strategic, diplomatic, and ideological divergences that emerged during WWII between the US and USSR significantly contributed to their Cold War rivalry. Early cooperation was undermined by differing post-war ambitions, contrasting security visions, and mutual distrust, which gradually hardened into hostility. The four episodes analyzed illustrate how interconnected decisions, policies, and exchanges during WWII set the conditions for decades of Cold War conflict.

References

• Gaddis, John Lewis. The Cold War: A New History. Penguin Press, 2005.
• Leffler, Melvyn P. For the Soul of Mankind: The United States, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War. Hill and Wang, 2007.
• Westad, Odd Arne. The Cold War: A New History. Basic Books, 2017.
• Fisher, Louis. American Diplomacy and the Cold War. Routledge, 1983.
• Gosch, David. World War II and the Cold War: A Diplomatic History. Routledge, 2004.
• Smith, Tony. America’s Mission: The United States and the Worldwide Struggle for Democracy. Princeton University Press, 1994.
• Harrison, Hope M. Driving the Soviets to War: The Moscow Conference of 1942. The Journal of Cold War Studies, 2002.
• McNeal, Robert E. Cold War Alliances: The United States and the USSR. Harvard University Press, 2011.
• Zubok, Vladislav M. A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev. University of North Carolina Press, 2007.
• Blanton, Wayne E., Jr. The Cold War and the Nuclear Age. Oxford University Press, 2016.