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After WWII ended the Allies had to decide what to do with Germany. This caused strain mainly between the United States and the Soviet Union.
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The allies first agreed to divide Germany up into four zones of occupation. They also divided Berlin, the Capital of Germany, into four zones, even though it was in the Soviet Unions zone.
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Soviet Dictator Joseph Stalin wanted Eastern Europe as a buffer zone of friendly governments to prevent an attack on the Soviet Union. American and British leaders believed planned to make pro-Soviet Communist governments throughout Eastern Europe.
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President Truman warned his secretary of state, "Another war is in the making." Stalin publicly stated the war between the East and West was bound to happen. Former British leader Winston Churchill gave a speech in the United States using the image of an iron curtain to explain the division of Europe as a result of the Soviets actions.
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The Truman Doctrine was a pledge President Truman made to provide economic and military aid to oppose the spread of Communism. Truman believed if the conditions in Europe got worse people would turn to communism. The Marshall plan provided $13 billion for the rebuilding of Europe.
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Western leaders planned to have a democratic government in West Berlin. To resist this idea Soviets blocked off all land, rail, and water routes into West Berlin. Western leaders organized the Berlin Airlift and this was a success, the blockade was called off.
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A military alliance including the United states, Canada, and most Western European countries was formed. This alliance was called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or Nato. Made to counter Soviet power in Europe.
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The West was shaken up when the Soviets successfully tested an atomic bomb. This started a race to create for powerful weapons.
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The United States and Soviet Union agreed on the Test Ban Treaty. This outlawed nuclear testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater.
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The republics within the Soviet union seemed independence. More and more republics declared independence and soon the Soviet union had fallen.
