Origins of the Cold War

Robert Paxton's Europe in the Twentieth Century: A Review

Origins of the Cold War

Robert Paxton, author of Europe in the Twentieth Century[1], discusses the events which took place during World War II and what events he feels led to the Cold War. This essay discusses main points made by Paxton relative to the inevitability of the Cold War, and a review of Paxton's analysis.

The Cold War, according to Paxton was inevitable, based on the actions of Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt. The United States made the decision to hold off on making political commitments to the Soviet Union in the beginning of World War II, creating weak military matters, causing tension between the two countries when the Soviets sought recognition for their 1971 frontiers and received only military alliance.[2] Similarly, Churchill went against his beliefs in anti-communism when agreeing to an alliance with Stalin in 1941.[3] The early 1940s was a time of hesitation and half-truths between the U.S. and Britain towards the Soviet Union.

The United States began making political decisions concerning World War II in the summer of 1943.[4] Postwar settlements were being made between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill before the war had even ended, which required hasty agreements between the allies in order to ensure victory over Germany.[5] Poland, which was a major factor leading to the Cold War, was ignored by Roosevelt at the Teheran Conference in 1943 because he didn't want to chance losing Polish voters in the upcoming elections.[6] The settlement of postwar Poland was of extreme importance to Stalin, but the U.S. was more concerned about Soviet commitment to the newly formed United Nations.[7] However, nothing was formally settled at the Teheran Conference; allowing each ally to envisions their own postwar agenda which differed among all three.