Transcription 09/06/2025, 22:50:46

Notes

• Communism in the World Having fought on the same side with the United States and Britain, Stalin had significant power in Allied deliberations about the post-war world. Russia had taken control of Eastern European countries by 1949. This created an "Iron Curtain," as Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, said. • Spread of Communist Ideas and Western Fear Apart from the communist takeover in Eastern Europe, Western countries also saw the growth of these communist ideas as a threat. This created fear in these countries; however, they never succeeded in fully resisting communism. Western countries were mostly afraid, especially after the communists attempted to overthrow the government of Greece in 1947. In addition, the division of Germany and Berlin between the Soviet Union and the West was also a major concern. Between 1948 and 1949, the Soviets, who controlled East Germany, blockaded supplies from entering West Berlin. The incident almost led to conflict between the two sides. However, the USA sponsored the Berlin Airlift to deliver supplies, which was considered a defeat for Stalin. In response, the Western powers, together with non-communist countries, formed th...