NATO and the Warsaw Pact
The Cold War
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What we will learn today
What we will learn today:
1.
What NATO was.
2.
Why NATO was set up.
3.
How the USSR responded.
4.
The importance of NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
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What was NATO and why was it set up?
By the end of the 1940s, many Westerners were beginning
to worry about the large armies which Russia had
stationed in Eastern Europe.
How could the Berlin Blockade
be considered ‘proof’ that the
USSR was a danger to Western
Europe?
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The USA used this fear to set up an alliance to defend
the Western world.
It was called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), and countries signed up in April 1949. 12
countries originally signed the treaty.
US officials called NATO an “antidote to fear”.
How do you think the USSR perceived it?
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Impact on the Arms Race
The USA and the USSR competed to build more and
more powerful weapons. This was called the Arms Race,
and it is closely linked to NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
Each side tried to become more powerful than the other.
The USA claimed NATO was a defensive alliance
against the USSR. However, when NATO was first set
up, the USA had a nuclear monopoly on the world.
The USSR did not even test nuclear weapons until later
that year. By then, the USA was working on even more
powerful versions!
Why do you think the USA really was
so keen on NATO?
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The reaction of the USSR
In May 1955, West Germany was admitted into NATO.
Worst fears realized –
Germany being rebuilt and
now part of a military alliance!
How do you think the USSR
felt about this?
What was the real
purpose of
NATO? Could it
be offensive?
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Action is needed –
what can the USSR
do to counter
NATO?
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Creation of the Warsaw Pact
West Germany joining NATO now meant that Germany
once again had military power.
For the Soviets, who had suffered greatly at the hands of
the Germans, this was too much. The Soviets set up the
Warsaw Pact which the Eastern European countries
signed.
It was intended to be a defensive alliance, like NATO, but
it was essentially used to keep control in Eastern Europe.
Why do you think the USSR set up the Warsaw Pact?
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Why was the Warsaw Pact created?
Match the reasons and the explanations.
On the next slide you can prioritize the reasons.
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Why was the Warsaw Pact created?
Now put the reasons in order of importance.
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Membership of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
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The Hungarian Uprising
In Hungary in 1956 the communist
government installed by the Soviet
Union was overthrown by the
Hungarian people. The new leader
announced democratic reforms,
and said Hungary would leave the
Warsaw Pact.
The USSR brutally put down the revolt, rolling into
Budapest with tanks and reinstating the communist
government. It didn't want to lose one of its buffer states
to capitalism.
Many thousands of people were killed in the uprising, and
many people in the West turned away from support of the
USSR.
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Which was the stronger organization?
NATO
Warsaw Pact
NATO had territory
Moscow had political
separated by water and
domination over central and
land (non-NATO countries
Eastern Europe.
e.g. Switzerland).
The Warsaw Pact countries
NATO was a voluntary
had geographic cohesion
alliance of democratic
(was one large area) and
states.
land connections, so it was
USA was a major part of
easy to transfer forces and
NATO, but each member
weapons.
was involved in decision
The Warsaw Pact very
making.
clearly controlled from
NATO had overall military
Moscow.
superiority.
Which organization do you think has greater power?
Why?
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A comparison of the two treaties
“…the Parties … will
maintain and develop their
individual and collective
capacity to resist armed
attack.”
“The Parties agree that an
armed attack against one …
of them … shall be
considered an attack against
them all.”
“…the best way to ensure
peace and prevent new
aggression … is the
organization of a system of
collective security … new
measures [are required] for
strengthening the defences of
our peace-loving countries.
The treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual aid … is
precisely to serve these aims.”
From the NATO Treaty, 1949.
From the Warsaw Pact, 1955.
What do the two treaties have in common?
Is one more aggressive than the other?
Which treaty suggests more control? Why?
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How important were NATO & the Warsaw Pact?
Discuss your ideas together…
What do you think?
Were these
defensive alliances
really needed?
What impact did
the creation of
NATO have on
Remember the
the USSR?
Berlin Blockade?
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In your opinion,
who had most to
gain from these
alliances?
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