The Marshall Plan and Berlin Airlift blocked the Soviets in Europe, but in 1949 the Soviets achieved a successful atomic test, and Mao's communists took over China. and Britain launched an airlift to resupply Berlin, forcing an end to the blockade. Berlin Airlift (01:54)īerlin symbolized America's commitment to Europe. Stalin blockaded West Berlin, seeking to force America out. The Allies had partitioned all Germany, and Berlin, which was deep within the Soviet zone, a division that persisted. The Soviets and satellites turned down the help. Marshall warned that a war-devastated Europe could turn to communism and proposed economic assistance, which launched Western Europe's recovery. When Britain could no longer afford to support Greece and Turkey's fight against communist subversion, Truman filled the void, declaring a new policy, the Truman Doctrine. The West sought explanation for Stalin's hostility Kennan argued that Stalin needed an outside threat to justify his regime, and proposed containment as the solution. Millions of Eastern Europeans were deported to labor camps. Containment and Diagnosing Soviet Motives (02:02) Stalin behaved more like enemy than ally, creating a vast sphere of influence Churchill called an Iron Curtain.
The Cold War arose gradually out of growing distrust. Truman saw his atomic bomb as a trump card against Stalin. Stalin rejected Truman's calls at Potsdam to remove his troops from Central and Eastern Europe and hold free elections. Lenin and successor Stalin therefore considered the West a threat. President Wilson sent troops against Lenin's government Churchill urged his government to do the same. Inspired by Marx's prediction of class revolution, Lenin launched a revolution and took over Russia, abolishing private property and killing enemies. A liberal government took over, but Lenin rose to challenge it. Russians, starving and militarily crushed, overthrew their government in 1917. Stalin's communist vision rivaled Truman's and Churchill's democratic one. In 1945, Truman was poised between WWII and the Cold War as the Allies discussed control of defeated Germany and post-War boundaries. The Cold War was a competition between ideologies and raised the question whether the sides would find common ground or destroy each other.
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