Introduction:
Contrary to what its name suggests, the Cold War was not a real war. The Cold War is a name which refers to the period of high military and political tension between the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The Western Bloc refers to the United States and its allies, for example, Britain, West Germany, Canada, etc. The opposing Eastern Bloc consists of the Soviet Union and its allies, for example, Bulgaria, Poland, East Germany, etc. There is no clear start date for the Cold War, but 1947 is a roughly accurate estimate because that was when the two power blocs adopted aggressive doctrines to strengthen control over their respective areas of influence, and to contain the expansion of the other power bloc.
Ever since the end of the Second World War, the Western Allies (namely America, Britain, France, and Canada) and the Soviet Union had conflicting ideas about how to divide Europe. The Western Allies were fearful of socialist domination of Europe, whereas the Soviet Union did not wish to have capitalist - aligned nations surround itself. Therefore tensions between the two powers grew after the Second World War. The Western Bloc's strategy was to contain the expansion of Communism by economically supporting European nations and maintaining a military presence in areas threatened by Communist expansion. The Eastern Bloc's goal was to spread communism and minimize capitalist influence in communist nations. To do this, the Soviet Union established several satellite states in Eastern Europe, and it supported socialist movements elsewhere in the world. Both blocs sought to achieve their goals by building up their military and pressure other nations to align with themselves.
Ever since the end of the Second World War, the Western Allies (namely America, Britain, France, and Canada) and the Soviet Union had conflicting ideas about how to divide Europe. The Western Allies were fearful of socialist domination of Europe, whereas the Soviet Union did not wish to have capitalist - aligned nations surround itself. Therefore tensions between the two powers grew after the Second World War. The Western Bloc's strategy was to contain the expansion of Communism by economically supporting European nations and maintaining a military presence in areas threatened by Communist expansion. The Eastern Bloc's goal was to spread communism and minimize capitalist influence in communist nations. To do this, the Soviet Union established several satellite states in Eastern Europe, and it supported socialist movements elsewhere in the world. Both blocs sought to achieve their goals by building up their military and pressure other nations to align with themselves.
Eastern Bloc
Immediately following the end of the Second World War, the Soviet Union sought to reinforce its borders with the Western Allies. To achieve this goal, the Soviet Union annexed small East European nations and set up satellite states in some other East European nations. The Soviet Union itself comprised of modern - day Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, etc. As a result, the Soviet government had tremendous influence over Eastern Europe by the beginning of the 1950's. This turned the Soviet Union into a superpower. In 1955, the Warsaw Pact was signed between the Soviet Union and several Eastern European nations under Soviet influence (Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Eastern Germany, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia). This pact was a military pact for mutual defense. Later other nations would align themselves with the Eastern Bloc, such as China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, etc. Note that China and Albania later dissociated themselves from the Eastern Bloc. Throughout the existence of the Eastern Bloc, the Soviet Union was its backbone.
Western Bloc
Similar to the Eastern Bloc, the Western Bloc was formed after the Second World War to counter the opposing superpower. Ever since the end of the war, America, Britain, and France have made contingency plans for another war with the Soviet Union. The ailing British and French were unable to offer a counterbalance to the growing power of the Soviet Union. This caused an increase of reliance on America for the military security of Western Europe. Consequently, America exerted immense political, military, and economic influence over Western Europe. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed 1949. Since Britain and France were heavily damaged by the Second World War, this military alliance was dominated by America, similar to how the Eastern Bloc was dominated by the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, it was a sufficient counterbalance to the Eastern Bloc. Due to the excessive American influence over the Western World, America became a superpower. Other nations outside the NATO were also aligned with the Western Bloc, for example, South Korea, Japan, and many South American nations.
The Iron Curtain
The Iron Curtain was a line of division between the Western Bloc and Eastern Bloc in Europe. West Germany, Austria, and Yugoslavia are immediately to the west of the Iron Curtain. Immediately to the east were East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. With the exception of a few non - aligned nations, European nations to the west of the Iron Curtain were part of the Western Bloc. Similarly, nations east of the Iron Curtain were part of the Eastern Bloc. An exception was Albania, which was aligned with the Soviet Union but later dissociated itself with the latter in 1955.
The Iron Curtain was slowly established in the aftermath of the Second World War, dividing communist and non - communist nations. During the Cold War, the Iron Curtain was a symbol of division between communism and capitalism. It was both a figurative and literal divide. There were (and in some places still are) fences which were constructed to separate the west and east.
The Iron Curtain fell during the late 1980's. This coincided with the decline and collapse of the Soviet Union. Parts of the literal iron curtain remains standing today.
The Iron Curtain was slowly established in the aftermath of the Second World War, dividing communist and non - communist nations. During the Cold War, the Iron Curtain was a symbol of division between communism and capitalism. It was both a figurative and literal divide. There were (and in some places still are) fences which were constructed to separate the west and east.
The Iron Curtain fell during the late 1980's. This coincided with the decline and collapse of the Soviet Union. Parts of the literal iron curtain remains standing today.