Early Differences and the Formation of the Grand Alliance, 1917-42

Cold War – Early Tension Between East and West, 1917-1946

In this course, Dr Andrew Johnstone (University of Leicester) discusses early tension between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1917 to 1945. In the first module, we will explore the early differences between the US and USSR and the formation of the Grand Alliance from 1917 to 1942. After that, we will explore the wartime tensions between the two powers when they were in alliance from 1942-44, and the significance of the Tehran Conference of 1943. We will then explore the plans for the post-war world that were formulated from 1944 to 1945, and the significance of the Yalta Conference of 1945. In the penultimate module, we will explore the early presidency of Truman, his decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan and its significance, as well as the end of the war in 1945. Finally, we will look at the post-war world from 1945-46, including the significance of the Long Telegram and the Novikov Telegram.

Early Differences and the Formation of the Grand Alliance, 1917-42

In this module, we explore the early differences between the US and USSR and the formation of the Grand Alliance from 1917 to 1942. In particular, we will focus on: (i) the question of when the Cold War began; (ii) the effect of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution on the United States, including the first Red Scare; (iii) the effect of the rile of Stalin on the relationship between the two powers, including the existence of the Comintern; (iv) the effect on the relationship of the Molotov-Ribbentrop (Nazi-Soviet) Pact; (v) beliefs in the US about the threat from communism; (vi) the Soviet invasion of Finland; (vii) the effect of Operation Barbarossa and the supply of aid to the Soviets by the US; (viii) the Atlantic Charter and how its principles conflicted with the Soviet vision for the post-war world; and (ix) the US entry into the war and the formation of the Grand Alliance.