🔍 Question: Was the USSR responsible for the breakdown of the Grand Alliance?

• Initial Stance: The USA initially didn't plan to remain in Europe post-WWII. Roosevelt indicated at Yalta that the US wouldn't stay in Germany for over two years.
• Surprise!: Stalin's exit from Bretton Woods took the Americans off guard, making them question the alliance's continuation.

Fun Analogy: Imagine your friend promises to share their pizza with you but ends up eating it all. How would you feel? 😞

• Stalin’s Decisions
  • Broke Yalta's agreement concerning Poland.
  • Used 'salami tactics' (slicing away opposition bit by bit) to control East European countries.
  • Military presence retained in northern Iran post-war.
  • Berlin Blockade seen as a potential threat.
  • Cominform's establishment looked like an attempt to spread Soviet-styled communism.
  • Promoted hostility towards the West for policy support.

Pop Culture Connection: 'Salami tactics' is like how villains in movies slowly take control without alarming the heroes until it's too late! 😈

• Western Reactions: Churchill's Fulton speech and Kennan telegram stressed the need to counteract Soviet communism from 1947.

• Past Hauntings: USSR had a history of distrust due to hostility since the 1917 revolution.
• WWII Aftermath: Suffered major losses (20 million lives) leading to a sense of insecurity.
• Buffer Zone Strategy: To ensure protection, USSR aimed to set up governments in Eastern states and Poland.

Real-World Example: Think of this as building a wall around your house after a series of robberies to feel safe. 🏡

• Possible Misunderstandings
  • Atom bomb drop by the USA - A show of strength?
  • USA's push for open markets, democracy, etc. seen as self-serving.
  • The USA might've misinterpreted USSR's actions as communist aggression rather than self-defense.
  • Truman’s exaggeration about the communist threat.
  • US blaming USSR for China's communism, despite Mao’s victory being more independent of Stalin.
  • NATO setup by the West seen as aggressive by USSR.