After World War II, tensions arose between the allied powers of the US and Soviet Union as they disagreed on the future of Germany and Eastern Europe. While the US and UK wanted free elections, Stalin wanted communist governments. When the Soviets occupied areas of Germany and broke promises of free elections, Germany was divided between the communist East under Soviet control and the democratic West aligned with the US and UK, marking the beginning of the Cold War between capitalist and communist ideologies.

1. A WHOLE NEW WORLD

2. Two Diametric Views
 America had a
representative
democracy (republic)
and a capitalist
economy.
 The Soviet Union had an
unlimited government/
communist government
and a socialist economy.
AfterWorld War II, America and the Soviet Union found
themselves diametrically opposed.
This led to the beginning
of the ColdWar.

3. Tensions Between the Allies
 During the war, Franklin
RooseveltWinston
Churchill ,and Joseph
Stalin disagreed over
what should be done
with the Axis powers.
 America and the United
Kingdom wanted free
countries with elections.

4. Stalin’s Opinion
 Stalin wanted the
areas to become
communist.
 He promised to
allow the places the
Soviet Union took
from Germany to be
free.

5. But….
 After the war though,
Stalin broke his
promise and set up
communist
governments in those
areas.
 Germany, specifically,
became a major issue.

6. Why Was Germany an Issue?
 The Soviets invaded Germany from the east.
 Great Britain, France, and America each went into
Germany from the west.
 Would Germany be free or communist?

7. East Coast, West Coast!
 When Germany surrendered, the Soviet Union
and America stopped getting along.
 During the war, the different groups discussed
what to do to Germany and decided to split
Germany into two countries.
 America, Britain, and France allowed the places
they took over to becomeWest Germany (The
Federal Republic of Germany) but the Soviet
Union required its portion of Germany to be
communist and called it East Germany (The
Democratic Republic of Germany).

8. Berlin
 Berlin was located in East Germany. It was
Germany’s capital.
 Berlin was split into East Berlin (communist) and
West Berlin (free).
 This division became the defining conflict after
WorldWar II. America represented freedom and
the Soviet Union represented Communism.