Western Society and Eastern Europe
in the Decades of the Cold War
Civilian Populations
• Germans also used female
• 50% of all deaths came
from noncombatants -50
million died
• Populations were
terrorized beyond
measure during WWII by
both Allies and Axis
powers
• From WWII emerged
mass rapes. Soviets used
sexual violence against
German women and girls
as they advanced into
Germany
• Many of these women
were capture, repeatedly
rape (sometimes 20-40
times a day) then sent to
work in Russian Gulags
slave labor…Block 24,
just beside the main gate
of Auschwitz, became a
brothel for German
soldiers as well as their
best workers
• “I consider it necessary to
provide in the most liberal
way hard-working
prisoners with women in
brothels.”– Heinrich
Himmler, SS
• 1943 Dr. Josef Mengele,
an SS physician, arrived
at Auschwitz. He
conducted atrocious
experiments on women,
children, twins, infants,
and others
• Japan and comfort women
What do we do now?
• The big three would decide (U.S., Great Britain, and
Soviet Union) the future of Europe
• Met during war to discuss: 1943-Teheran, 1945-Yalta,
1945-Potsdam (governments of Germany and Japan
restructured, disarmament, war crime trials)
• Germany split between four zones
• Japan emperor stepped down and U.S. installed
democracy
• Nuremberg Trials 1945-1949: set of trials of officials
involved in WWII and the Holocaust. Trials were held in
Nuremberg, Germany and the more famous of these was
the Trial of the Major War Criminals Before the
International Military Tribunal (IMT) which tried 24 of
the most important/captured leaders of Nazi Germany
• The second set of trials of lesser war criminals was
conducted under Control Council Law No. 10 at the U.S.
Nuremberg Military Tribunals (NMT), including the
famous Doctors' Trial.
Introduction
• A developing “world opinion” against nuclear
weapons testing. US, Soviets, French, and British
were conducting above ground nuclear tests.
People from around the world, especially the
Japanese, opposed the testing and felt that it
could harm and threatened peoples lives.
• 1958 President Eisenhower established a testing
moratorium (halt) and a test ban treaty was
established by 1963.
• US became increasingly involved in world affairs
after WWII
• Western Europe became increasingly democratic
with rising consumer prosperity while Eastern
Europe was controlled by the Soviets.
Economic Challenges
• WWII left Europe in
• European economies
ruins and the Cold War
depended on capital
threatened to finish the
from abroad
job of destruction
• The U.S. and Soviet
• War reduced European
Union provided
population, destroyed
solutions to these
industry, created
economic problems
millions of displaced
• Soviets: recovered its
peoples, housing
sizable economic losses
shortages, agricultural
by territorial gains in
shortages, and no
Eastern Europe
internal sources of
capital for rebuilding
Europe and its Colonies
• Decolonization-much of the time it
was smooth and fairly peaceful
• Exception-pretty much everything
involving France-Vietnam (1954)
and Algeria(1962)
• Exceptions to peaceful transition:
Kenya, Vietnam, and Algeria
• Colonies still held onto cultural
elements of old mother countries
and even sometimes the mother
country provided administrative
and military help (France Belgium).
• And of course, Western interested
economically remained the samewanted to continue to exploit
mineral and agricultural resources
• 1956 Egypt nationalized the Suez
Canal under efforts by Britain and
France to attack the independent
nation
• The West no longer dominated and
controlled the world!
The Cold War
• Between the US and the Soviet Union
(1945-47 began)
• After war-vague boundaries so Soviet
troops started occupying most eastern
European countries and quickly
installed communistic governments
loyal to the USSR. It was called the
“Eastern Block”: Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania,
and Hungary. Soon Baltic states
disappeared (reversed Treaty of
Versailles)
• Soviets also occupied part of Germany
(Eastern Block)
• Offended by USSR’s heavy handed
manipulation of the Eastern Block
including eastern Germany, the US and
British countered with rivalry.
• US-new president (Truman), the
nuclear bomb, and feared communist
aggression felt
• Iron Curtain- divided Europe between
free and repressed societies
Cold War
• Marshall Plan (1947):US started
giving loans to postwar nations
desperate for aid-of course
influencing them to stay capitalistic
and democratic-aimed to defeat
communist movements in western
Europe.
• Early stages of Cold War over
Germany-By 1946 US, F, and B
started to collaborate on an effort
to rebuild Germany politically and
economically.
• In 1947 created a stable currency to
aid in this recovery the Soviets
responded with a blockade in
Berlin. US-massive airlifts to supply
the city. In 1948 blockade ended
and Germany became 2 separate
blocks (East and West)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
Organization) formed in 1949 was an
alliance (western Europe, Canada,
under US leadership) to check
possible Soviet aggression. (SEATO
and CENTO too)
Rearmament in western Germany to
withstand communism and had allied
soldier presence
Warsaw Pact 1955-Eastern European
satellites
1949 Soviets developed nuclear
capability!
US more involved in Western
European politics-provided much
needed economic aid while Soviets
funded and supported communist
movements in Western Europe
Center of cold war conflict shifted
from Europe to Korea, Vietnam,
Middle East, and Latin America
US became the major peacetime
military power
U.S. Solution
• U.S sought to establish new
markets in both Europe and
Japan
• U.S. acted to restore economies
as potential consumers of
American goods
• Truman Doctrine: American aid
would be forthcoming to
nations resistant to
Communism and also to places
like Russia upon guidelines:
cooperation and open trade
• Soviets of course opposed plan
and saw it as the U.S.’ attempt
to spread capitalism
• Marshall Plan: U.S. plan to
restore economies: regulation
and state intervention of
economies
• Office of European Economic Cooperation
(OEEC) coordinated the Marshall Plan
• Marshall Plan began the process of
economic integration in Europe
(economic alliances)
• Benelux, France, Italy, West Germany
formed European Coal and Steel
Community that established a common
market for coal and steel among member
countries
• Later created the European Economic
Community known as the Common
Market in 1958
• Great Britain joined the EEC in 1973
• Japan: U.S supported economy by rapidly
modernizing its industries. Without
military budget capital was directed into
industries…By 1960 Japan was an
industrial giant
Marshall Plan
• The plan was in
operation for four years
beginning in July 1947.
During that period some
$13 billion of economic
and technical assistance
— equivalent to around
$130 billion in 2006,
when adjusted for
inflation, was given to
help the recovery of the
European countries
which had joined in the
Organization for
European Economic
Cooperation
• By the time the plan
had come to
completion, the
economy of every
participant state had
grown well past prewar
levels
• Marshall Plan was also
one of the first
elements of European
integration, as it erased
tariff trade barriers and
set up institutions to
coordinate the economy
on a continental level
Spread of Liberal Democracy
• Fascism and other rightist
movements were on the losing
side of WWII and as such they
became discredited after the
war. This allowed for
increasing acceptance of
parliamentary democracy.
More support for government
planning and welfare
activities.
• New governments in Germany
(divided-west Germany
=Federal Republic of
Germany). A new constitution
was created that banned
extremist political movements.
• Italy: established a
constitutional democracy
• Even France established a
new republic once German
occupation ended
• Portugal and Spain in the
1970s moved from
authoritarian, semi-fascist
to democratic
parliamentary rule
• Western Europe
increasingly become more
and more politically uniform
Creating the Welfare State
• After WWII states
formed welfare
programs to provide
support for citizens,
particularly children and
families
• Tried to resolve
economic issues
surrounding birth,
sickness, old age, and
unemployment
• Welfare states did not
treat all of their
members equally
(women)
• Per capital income was
on the rise throughout
all of western Europe
• Welfare programs
provided security for
using disposable wealth
• New consumption: T.V.,
cars, refrigerators,
washing machines,
liquor, and vacations
• However, wealth was
not redistributed…still
remained in the hands
of few
New Challenges to Political Stability
• Not everything could be
handled through the
parliamentary system-for
example: Civil Rights
(African-Americans and
other minorities), Vietnam
war, materialism, and
student rights. Many times
there were riots and
violence associated with
these stands. Things got
better in the US after the
passage of the Civil Rights
Act in 1964.
• Feminism and women’s
economic rights
• Green movementenvironmentally aware
• Couple this with slow
economic growth led to new
parties taking power
• British Conservative party and
in the US, the Republican party
promised to reduce costs and
coverage of the welfare state
(does this sound like today?)
• 2 main figures tried to reduce
the welfare state: Margaret
Thatcher (prime minister of
GB) and Ronald Reagan (US
president)
Diplomatic Context
• Problem in democracies has
always been nationalistic
rivalry. After war there was
plea for harmony and for
European states to work
together as opposed to
against one another
(Christian Democratic
party).
• 1947 US led recovery of
Western Europe-Marshall
Plan and the US wanted
German rearmament and
participation in NATO
• How do you allow Germany
grow, but no overwhelm?
• Tie German economics to internat.
framework to keep peace
• Institution established to link policies
across Europe-faster growth
• 1958 Western Europe (west
Germany, F, I, Belgium, L, and
Netherlands) set up the European
Economic Community or Common
Market…later called the European
Union. It was to create a single
economic entity across national
political boundaries.
• Tariffs reduced then eliminated in
European Union countries, single
currency 2001 (euro), and overall
much growth
Economic Expansion
• Time of large economic
growth! Welfare state and
European Union assisted in
this growth.
• Better farming productivity
and techniques = more
exports, textiles and
metallurgical products
increased, and consumer
products (car/appliances)
increased too
• National product surpassed
rates since Industrial
Revolution and also
surpassed the US economy
• Technology was the backbone to this
growth-with less people did more
work! More people started working in
“leisure industry” –teachers, bank,
medical etc.
• Immigration-needed more workers
and many immigrated from other
parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the
Middle East.
• Unprecedented economic growth and
low unemployment = more $ =people
bought consumer goods (affluent
society in Western society developed)
• TV, cars, shopping malls,
supermarkets, vacations
• Was this good for all? Guest workers
Former Dominions
• Canada-became a
welfare state and had
nationalized health care
• Relationship with US-US
invested and traded
• 1988 North American
Free Trade Agreementbetween Canada and
US
• Started to stand on
their own and develop
and Canadian identity
• Quebec questionFrench independence
• After WWII Australia and New
Zealand moved beyond
British influence. In 1951
Defense Pact with US against
communism in the Pacificbacked US in Korea and
Vietnam wars
• 80s both began distancing
itself from US policies
• Great Britain aligned with
European Union-free colonies
created their own alliances.
• Australia-high Asian
immigration
•
U.S.
Century?
US =defender of capitalism
and democracy
• British couldn’t police the
world and Soviets quick
growth into Eastern Europe
caused U.S. to step up
(Truman Doctrine-support
for those against
communism: directed at
Greece and Turkey)
• Cold War brought about in
US fear-you could lose your
job if you were suspected of
being a communist.
(conspiracies and spies-time
of McCarthyism)
• Direct confrontation in
Korea between
Communist China
support North Korea
and the U.S. supporting
South Korea
• After 3 years of warfare,
Korea was permanently
divided in 1953
• US alliances-U.S.
alliances: NATO,
SEATO (southeast Asia
Treaty Organization), &
CENTO (Central Treaty
Organization-Middle E)
Cold War
• Latin America: U.S. acted
• Middle East: oil
• Both Soviets and U.S.
fought for oil control
• U.S killed leader of Iran
and put a puppet
government in place
• Egypt and Syria looked
toward Sovietsnationalized Suez Canal
• Creation of the state of
Israel in 1948 destabilized
Middle East-Western aid
to prevent spread of
communism with heavyhanded policies…caused
anti-Americanism
• Erupted in Cuba with the
successful communist
revolution led by Fidel
Castro in 1959
• Cuban Missile Crisis
1962: USSR and U.S.
threatening war over the
existence of missiles in
Cuba.. Threat passed
when Khrushchev order
the dismantling of missile
bases
Vietnam War
• US developed a containment
policy to communism-contain
growth. Considered
communism to have a
domino effect-wanted to see
it contained!
• So US basically got involved
anywhere there was a
communist threat like Korea
and Vietnam 
• In 1965 US began bombing
communist North Vietnam
and later US troops sent in
• US spend 2 billion dollars a
week on the war that
produced no results
• By 1970 more bombs dropped
on Vietnam than anyone else
anywhere in the world in the
entire 20th century???
• Pressures from home-many
protests
• Nixon tried to put more pressure
on Vietnam, but by 1973 both
agreed to a cease-fire. 1975 war
ended and Vietnam was in
communist hands (Ho Chi MinhWilson)
• US continued: Reagan-Middle
East and terrorism and weapons,
Bush-1st Gulf War (1991-Iraq),
and Clinton in Kosovo.
Social Structure
• Economic growth eased
social conflicts as the
standard of living increased
for almost all. Social
mobility increased and
education became its tool
for improvement. Size of
peasantry cut while much
unskilled work went to
immigrants.
• Class distinctions remained
and crime went up in
Western societies. US also
had racial riots and civil
rights issues to deal with.
Women’s Revolution
• Women went to work in very large
numbers-44% by the 70s. Mostly entry
level jobs and were paid less then men.
• Women gained right to vote-F/S
• Women gained more education-still
male dominated fields (s)
• Divorces increased
• Birth control (pill) and abortion
• After WWII surge in births followed by
a rapid decline-more stuff you can buy
with less kids!
• Family pressures led to more divorces
• New Feminism-economic gap, focus on
what women want, family less
important and seen even as repressive
Western Culture
• Shift towards US as center of
Western culture
• US had $ after WWII and many
Bernard Buffet, Portrait de Maurice Combe, 1950, (c)Adagp,
intellectuals immigrated here to
Bernard Buffet
paintings
work. Francis Crick (B) and James
Watson (US) DNA.
• New York replaced Paris as art
center. Return to “modern” style
seen prior to WWI (non
representational techniques).
Became increasingly accepted.
Some artists even used popular
items in their art.
• Artistic film-Europe
• Social Science changed-studied
data –looked at cycles. Developed
Social history!
Popular Culture
• US pop culture influenced
western culture-Hollywood,
coca-cola, jeans, gum,
shaving, tv series. All this
came to represent US to
Europeans and others.
• British-popular music
groups like the Beatles
• Interesting styles-punk
• Sex=personal pleasure and
tv relaxed its standards and
shops developed
• Sexual behavior changed as
pre-marital sex became
more common and age
decreased.
Cast of Dallas
Eastern Bloc and Recovery
• Stalin was able to make
the USSR into an
industrial giant: steel,
coal, and crude oil
• Post WWII, USSR also
began to developed a
nuclear arsenal and
space exploration
program…very
expensive
• Able to achieve this by
maintaining a war
economy
• USSR citizens did not
enjoy a consumer
revolution
• Russian standard of living
remained relatively low
• The nature of the planned
Soviet economy, which
focused on heavy industrial
expansion, was at a cost to
agriculture and consumer
durables
• Although industrial output
was significant,
collectivization and high
defense expenditures led to
much social unrest
Soviet Union
• Foreign policy directed by the
aims to regain lands, expand
lands, active role in
diplomacy, and create a
buffer to protect itself.
• Focus on heavy industry and
weapons developments
• Warsaw Pact
• Soviets seized some islands
north of Japan, protectorate
of North Korea, aided China
in becoming communist, and
allied with Vietnam.
• They got more military bases
• By 1949 it was a world power
• Soviets kept pushing west
after WWII and were
unwilling to relax its grip on
Eastern Europe. Small
countries -new or revived
and were weak. Taken over
by Nazis for years.
Democratic government
failed.
• Dominant force in EE was
Soviet army. They worked
with local communist
movements. By 1948
opposition parties crushed.
• (exceptions: Greece/
Yugoslavia)
Soviet Union
• Soviet and east European
trade zones separated from
international commerce
• Soldiers stationed in eastern
European countries to keep
out west and keep
communism
• In 1953 Stalin died leaving a
struggle for power in the
Communist party: Nikita
Khrushchev became premier
in 1958 –ousted in 1964
• He denounced Stalin and
many felt reforms were sure
to come and began
movements in homelands.
They were repressed with
violence by the Russian
military
• East Berlin posed problems for
communist rule due to the
western portion having better
living conditions. Many would
immigrate over to the west
• In 1961 Soviets responded to
this problem by constructing
the Berlin Wall. It was heavily
policed and violence was used
to maintain control
• Berlin wall symbolized the
divide in during the Cold War
• Soviets did allow for some more
popular leaders to take power
(Poland). Halted collectivism
and moved towards ownership
of land and Catholic Church
allowed back in.
• New regime in Hungary crushed
Soviet Union
• Prague Spring: 1968 reform
movement in Czechoslovakia
which had a goal of bringing
about a more humanistic
socialism with limits (such as
remaining in the Soviet Bloc)violently repressed by Soviets
• Poland 1970s Solidarity
movement-Polish army took
over state under Soviet
supervision.
• Eastern Europe changed due to
communism: classes, education,
industry, and collectivization.
• Soviets got-protection against
Germany, allies to help them, an
supplies
• Soviets maintained war economy!
• Fear of the US and its distorted
society caused many Russians to
support a continued strong
government presence-allowing for
rapid postwar recovery.
• Stalin tried to keep contact with
foreigners limited-limits on travel
and media.
• Government-importance of
bureaucracy: ed., welfare, police
• Education allowed talented
people to rise up to work for
government.
• New candidates had to be
nominated by 3 party members
and membership was very low
Soviet Culture: Promoting New Beliefs and Institutions
• Soviet government was
successful at created direct
loyalties with citizens due to its
cultural agenda. Regime declared
war on Orthodox Church and
other religions soon after 1917
b/c it wanted a secular
population loyal to Marxism and
a scientific orthodoxy. Church did
remain, but under tight controls
• Art/ literature monitored to
reflect communist values
• Education-used to created loyal
and right thinking citizens
• Ceremonies and parades to
stimulate devotion to
communism and state
• Orthodox church not banned, but
limited-couldn’t preach to anyone
under 18, taught in school that
religion was superstition, limited
freedom of Jews yet gave more to
Muslims.
• Attacked western cultureincluding art and literature
• Literature remained diverse
despite official controls
• Scientists enjoyed great prestigediscoveries in physics, chemistry,
and math. Helped improve
technology for society and
military. Biology-had to reject
evolution-could be jailed for that.
Economy and Society-USSR
• Fully industrialized society, rapid
manufacturing and urban growth
• State controlled economy so focus
was on heavy industry not on
consumer goods-lagged behind
west
• Over time living standards improved
and welfare helped, but still limited
consumer products
• Industry caused environmental
damage-waste dumped
• Problem in agriculture-capital
diverted to industry and not to
purchase farm equipment. Many
workers not motivated. More
workers retained on farms while
food supply was at time
problematic
• Life-rapid pace of workrewarded through incentives,
leisure activities-vacations,
sports, films, TV
• Class emerges (workers vs.
middle class-ed). Different
standard of living.
• Soviet family-lower amount of
children
• Focus on child education, but
still emphasis on authority
De-Stalinization
• Stalin died in 1953-USSR ruled by
committee
• 1956 Nikita Khrushchev. He
denounced Stalin and many felt
reforms were sure to come and
began movements in homelands.
These were repressed with
violence by the Russian military.
Little reform ever actually
happened. He tried to open up
Siberian lands for farming but
failed and offended many Stalin
loyalists. He was ousted in 1964.
• Cuban Missile Crisis 1962
• Soviets ahead of US in space race:
Sputnik first space satellite in
1957 and in 80s led in manned
space flights
• China: rift with China b/c of new
alliances
• In 1979 USSR invaded Afghanistan
to put in a friendly puppet gov.ended in a long drawn out
guerrilla war lasting to end of 80s.
• Low worker motivation and
discipline led to lower
productivity (alcoholism got so
bad it actually increased death
rates in adult males)-wanted
consumer goods and western
culture!
• In 80s economic conditions
started to deteriorate rapidly in
Russia –fall of USSR was shocking
to some and the question arose of
how to replace it?
Global Connections
• Massive competition
between West and Soviets
dominated between 19451992
• Communism vs. Capitalism
• Key role in decolonization
both urged by US and
Soviets
• Played roles in nationalism
• Gave ability of other
countries to pit 2
superpowers against each
other
• Western and Soviet
ideas not completely
contradictory-both
largely secular and both
societies emphasized
science. Both societies
challenged social
traditions like women’s
roles. Both sold
weapons on world
market. Both could
influence and pressure
changes across the
globe.
Works Cited
• http://www.amorosart.com/prints-buffet-1751-en.html Buffet paintings
• http://www.ultimatedallas.com/dallas/ Dallas