The Breakdown of the Wartime Alliance



In 1997 Diesel used the famous image of the 'Big Three' as
part of  their 'Historic Moment' series of Ads.



 “An unnatural alliance that was bound to fall apart after the defeat of the common enemy.” To what extent does this statement explain the origin of the Cold War?

• The “unnatural alliance” between the US and Soviets was due to the need to fight a common enemy, Nazi Germany, despite:
  • Previous Enmity –
    • Soviets didn’t participate in the Versailles Treaty
    • U.S. support of Whites in Russian Civil War
    • Diplomatic relations weren’t established until 1933
    • Signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact
    • US-British knowledge of Soviet atrocities in 1940 (Katyn Massacre)
  • Divergent Views –
    • U.S. wanted freedom
    • Soviets wanted territory
  • Ideologies –
    • Capitalism/Democracy vs Communism/Dictatorship
• Events which directly impacted upon the health of the alliance:
  • Delay in the opening of a 2^nd front
  • Sovietization of Europe
  • Development of atomic bomb
  • Replacement of Roosevelt with Truman
  • Division of Germany at Potsdam
  • Marshall Plan
  • Events in Greece, Iran and Italy 

I'd be interested to read your introductions (in full) and see your structure and thesis.