Europe After WWII

• Soviet military occupied countries of Eastern and Central Europe during WWII– Stalin refused to hold free elections and instead set up

communist governments– This created a “buffer zone” that protected the Soviet

Union from invasion• Iron Curtain: cold war dividing line

between communist Eastern Europe and non-communist Western Europe– Western Europe

• Anti-communist, Democratic governments, Influenced by the United States

– Eastern Europe• Communist, Totalitarian governments,

Dominated by the Soviet Union

Communism in Europe

Division of Germany• After WWII, Germany was divided by

Great Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union (USSR)– Each nation was supposed to run its

“zone” until free elections could be held

• Berlin – the capital of Germany– Located in Soviet zone (East

Germany)–Also divided into zones run by G.B,

France, U.S., USSR

Conflict over Germany• U.S. and Soviets disagreed about

reuniting Germany–President Truman (U.S.) wanted to reunite

Germany and allow free elections - British, French, and American zones united to form West Germany (even West Berlin though it was located in East Germany)

–Stalin feared united Germany could attack the USSR - The Soviets refused to allow their zone to become part of a united Germany…Soviet zone became East Germany (Included East Berlin)

Berlin• The Blockade– Soviets blockaded West Berlin in effort

to end plans to unify Germany• The Berlin Airlift– Airplanes were used by Allies to deliver food and

supplies to West Berlin– Soviets eventually lifted blockade

• The Berlin Wall– Built around West Berlin by the communists• Kept people from Communist East Germany from leaving• Anyone who tried to climb over was shot• Became a symbol for the division between Communist

and anti-Communist nations of the World