Eastern Europe and Western Europe respond to the changed landscape - politically, socially, and economically
General Info
After World War II, Europe was divided, East vs. West, a theme that was most visible in postwar Germany, which was physically divided as such. The larger Western portion of Germany was occupied and managed by the US, France, and England after the war ended. Once independent, Western Germany developed its own system of democracy and flourished. The Eastern section of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union towards the end of the war and remained so as it ended. They were never allowed to form an independent system of government and remained Communist until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The Berlin Wall that cut the city in half became an iconic symbol of Communism.
The US and the USSR, who were allied during the conflict of WWII, eventually came to be the polar world powers during the cold war era. In Europe, we saw two alternate spheres of influence, as the Marshall Plan put US money and infrastructure in the Western European nations and the USSR controlled the Eastern side of the Iron Curtain. The tension between these two nations lasted decades, with sideshows such as the race to space and threats of nuclear warfare as a result.
In the mid-1950s, Cold War Europe was divided into two sections, the NATO member nations and those military alliances with the Soviet Union that had signed the Warsaw Pact. The nations of Europe were roughly divided in an East vs. West fashion along these agreements.
After World War II, Europe was divided, East vs. West, a theme that was most visible in postwar Germany, which was physically divided as such. The larger Western portion of Germany was occupied and managed by the US, France, and England after the war ended. Once independent, Western Germany developed its own system of democracy and flourished. The Eastern section of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union towards the end of the war and remained so as it ended. They were never allowed to form an independent system of government and remained Communist until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The Berlin Wall that cut the city in half became an iconic symbol of Communism.
The US and the USSR, who were allied during the conflict of WWII, eventually came to be the polar world powers during the cold war era. In Europe, we saw two alternate spheres of influence, as the Marshall Plan put US money and infrastructure in the Western European nations and the USSR controlled the Eastern side of the Iron Curtain. The tension between these two nations lasted decades, with sideshows such as the race to space and threats of nuclear warfare as a result.
In the mid-1950s, Cold War Europe was divided into two sections, the NATO member nations and those military alliances with the Soviet Union that had signed the Warsaw Pact. The nations of Europe were roughly divided in an East vs. West fashion along these agreements.
Eastern Europe Post WWII
The “Iron Curtain” of Communism divided Eastern Europe from the Western half of the continent, as well as the rest of the world in the Cold War era that immediately followed WWII. Eastern Europe, which includes Soviet Russia as well as countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia (which later broke up). All of these small Eastern countries were controlled members of the Soviet Union, it was the hope of Western Europe and the rest of the developed world that Communism could be “contained” to this region without any conflict.
As the Soviet Union fell and Eastern countries strove for admission to the European Union, there were many economic difficulties such as unemployment, corruption, inflation, and poverty that came about as they struggled to form independent economic and political systems. These growing pains are a result of political infighting and the bad blood left behind by the Soviet Communist regime.
The “Iron Curtain” of Communism divided Eastern Europe from the Western half of the continent, as well as the rest of the world in the Cold War era that immediately followed WWII. Eastern Europe, which includes Soviet Russia as well as countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia (which later broke up). All of these small Eastern countries were controlled members of the Soviet Union, it was the hope of Western Europe and the rest of the developed world that Communism could be “contained” to this region without any conflict.
As the Soviet Union fell and Eastern countries strove for admission to the European Union, there were many economic difficulties such as unemployment, corruption, inflation, and poverty that came about as they struggled to form independent economic and political systems. These growing pains are a result of political infighting and the bad blood left behind by the Soviet Communist regime.
Western Europe Post WWII
The Democratic nations of France, the British Isles, Italy, West Germany, and the rest of central Europe were included in the NATO-allied Western European region of post WWII politics.
Economy: Post WWII Europe saw such Western powers as France, Western Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, and Belgium sign the Treaty of Rome to establish a common market, laying the groundwork for the European Union to eventually form. As part of the Marshall Plan, billions in US aid, food, and business connections were pumped into Europe as part of the reconstruction effort. By forming a strong business-dependent foundation between nations, it was hoped that further conflict could be avoided. Uniting under the eventual European Union also allows for European countries to participate from a position of power in the global marketplace, despite their small physical area.
The Democratic nations of France, the British Isles, Italy, West Germany, and the rest of central Europe were included in the NATO-allied Western European region of post WWII politics.
Economy: Post WWII Europe saw such Western powers as France, Western Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, and Belgium sign the Treaty of Rome to establish a common market, laying the groundwork for the European Union to eventually form. As part of the Marshall Plan, billions in US aid, food, and business connections were pumped into Europe as part of the reconstruction effort. By forming a strong business-dependent foundation between nations, it was hoped that further conflict could be avoided. Uniting under the eventual European Union also allows for European countries to participate from a position of power in the global marketplace, despite their small physical area.