Formation of
NATO/Warsaw Pact
BY: NATALIE OWCHARIW AND SARAH GALLO
By: Natalie Owchariw and
Sarah Gallo
Questions
 What was the Cold War?
-The Cold War was of political and military tension between powers in the
Western Bloc (the United States with NATO and others) and powers in
the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its allies in Warsaw Pact).
Basically, it was the NATO vs. the Warsaw Pact
 What was going on at this time?
-It was a time of high economic growth, prosperity, and confrontation
High economic growth/prosperity- new acts like the National Security
Act was created, which created the National Security Council, for
example. Which helped create the CIA
 This act also did the following: shaped millions of people’s educational,
marital, and career plans, as stated from the textbook
Confrontation- the tension with the Soviet Union
 Are we finally at peace?
No, especially due to the tensions with the Soviet Union
Background Information:
 NATO treaty signed in Washington, April 4, 1949
 NATO stands for- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
 Western Germany was being remilitarized
-We were scared of another war
-Also imposed threat to the national security of peace-loving
states/ our “member states”
• We thus added Germany to the NATO
-Soviets saw this as a threat and created the Warsaw Pact
• Purpose of this was to stop further Communist expansion,
which prompted the United States and 11 other Western
nations to form the NATO
• This alignment provided the framework for the military standoff
that continued throughout the Cold War
Background Information:
 Warsaw Pact Treaty signed on May 14, 1955
 Named Warsaw Pact Treaty because it was signed in Warsaw
 The members that went included the following: Soviet Union,
Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany,
Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria
 The Soviet Union allowed Communist nations in Eastern Europe
to be apart of this Pact due to the “threat” of the NATO; Soviet
Union founded a rival alliance
 Purpose of this treaty: It called on the “member states” or the
countries that were included in this treaty, to come to the
defense of any member attacked by an outside force
 This treaty also set up a unified military command under
Marshal Ivan S. Konev of the Soviet Union
History:
 NATO
-After World War II, an intense rivalry had developed between
Communist countries, led by the Soviet Union, and non-Communist
nations, led by the United States.
-This rivalry became known as the Cold War
-With this, we believed that the Soviet Union would not attack Western
Europe if they thought that such an attack would trigger war with the
United States
-The United States’ officials insisted that NATO rely on nuclear
weapons to deter a Soviet attack
-Another purpose of this was to safeguard the freedom of the North
Atlantic community (The countries that were involved)
-After the destruction of the Second World War, the nations of Europe
struggled to rebuild their economies and their security
History:
 NATO
-The United States viewed Europe as vital to prevent the
expansion of communism across the continent. As a result,
Secretary of State George Marshall proposed a program of
economic aid to Europe. Thus known as the Marshall Plan. The
Soviets refused to participate in this or to allow its satellite states
to accept this economic assistance
-This was done stop the spread of communism
-Another reason for why we came up with NATO
History:
 Warsaw Pact/ “Treaty of Friendship”
-The Warsaw Pact was the Soviet Union’s response to West Germany
joining NATO, since they were mad about it
-The Soviet Union alliance: While the Soviet Union liberated Eastern
Europe from Nazi Germany in World War II, the Red Army established
military control over that region. The Soviet Union's domination was
inevitable in this part of Europe. The Soviet Union intended to use
Eastern Europe as a buffer zone for the forward defense of its western
borders. The Soviet Union ensured its control of the region by turning
the East European countries into subjugated allies; the Warsaw Pact
-They reorganized the armies of Eastern Europe to fight with the Red
Army. Hence, this is the model on which the Soviet Union built the
Warsaw Pact. Valuable experience was taken from this
-This was created as a reaction to West Germany becoming an
independent nation and joining NATO
Perspectives:

NATO:
-Who supported it?
The countries that were involved in it such as the following: The United States, Belgium, Denmark, France,
Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and the
United Kingdom
-Who was against it? Why?
The people part of the Warsaw Pact, which includes the following: Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania,
Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. The reason why these countries were against the
Warsaw Pact is because they were fighting against the Soviets.
Believe: Basically, the NATO was made to defend the membering states of the U.S. from the Soviet Union and
their alliances; it is a security organization to protect from the Soviets, in particular
 Warsaw Pact:
-Who supported it?
The countries that were involved in it such as the following: Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary,
East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria
-Who was against it? Why
The people part of the NATO such as the following: The United States, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and the United
Kingdom. The reason why these countries were against the NATO was because they were fighting/taking
actions due to resentment or anger toward the U.S./ the NATO
Believe: Basically, this was made in response to the NATO. With this pact, the Soviet Union and their allies are
supposed to protect each other from any attack by an outside force, possibly the NATO
Opinion

Natalie’s opinion-NATO: I believe that this was very essential. I believe this because it marked the end
of the isolationist period. In addition, this also provides an alliance which means we
have more allies (in case of another war). Thus, I believe that the correct decisions
were made.
-Warsaw Pact: I am against this because the Warsaw Pact because it is basically
against the U.S.; they were like a big bully to us. Therefore, I believe they made
incorrect decisions .

Sarah’s opinion-NATO: I believe that it is good because there is a possibility we could go to war again
and we would all the help we could get. Hence, I believe that all the correct decisions
were made.
-Warsaw Pact: I believe that this is bad for the U.S. My reason for this is because if for
example, the U.S. attacks the Soviet Union, that means that everyone of their allies
will attack us, which could be very bad, even though we have our own allies.
Therefore, I believe that the incorrect decisions were made.
Advantages and Disadvantages
 Technically, each group benefited from these events
 NATO: the United States and its membering states/the countries that
are allied with us benefit from this
-The U.S. and these countries benefit from this because if any of the
countries in this alliance are having tensions, they have back up/ aid
by all the other countries
 Warsaw Pact: the Soviet Union and its countries that are allied with the
Soviet Union benefit from this
-The Soviet Union and their countries benefit from this because if
any of the countries in this alliance are having tensions, they have
back up/aid by all the other countries
 There are some disadvantages though. For both the NATO and the
Warsaw Pact, they are both against each other, which can be bad
because they both have a strong backup, their allies
International Events
 NATO: This is a threat to world peace because having the
United States involved in the NATO means that we are
authorized to go to war anywhere in the world
 For example, what Russia is currently doing in Ukraine is
against the United Nations Charter and threatens peace
and security in Europe
 Warsaw Pact: “The Warsaw Pact has reflected the changing
pattern of Soviet-East European relations and manifested
problems that affect all alliances,” therefore there is a
threat to world peace with this pact, as well
Works cited:
• "The Warsaw pact is formed ." History. The History Channel , n.d.
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"Formation of Nato and Warsaw Pact." History . The History Channel,
n.d. Web. 12 Mar 2014. <http://www.history.com/topics/coldwar/formation-of-nato-and-warsaw-pact>.
"Cold War." History. The History Channel , n.d. Web. 3/10/14.
<http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war>.
. Tripod, 27 April 1999 . Web. 3/10/14.
<http://members.tripod.com/more_tra/1e_nato_txt.htm>.
"U.S Department of State Office of the Historian." North Atlantic Treaty
Organization . Bureau of Defence, 26 may 2001. Web. 3/9/12.
<https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/nato>.
Martin , Richard. "The Warsaw Pact." Shsu. shsu, n.d. Web. 12 Mar 2014.
<http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/WarPact.html>.
Cavendish, Richard. "The Warsaw pact is signed." History Today. History
Today, n.d. Web. <http://www.historytoday.com/richardcavendish/warsaw-pact-signed>.