Top 10 Events from Europe Post-1945
1. Solidarity
2. Berlin Wall
3. Yalta Conference
4. Potsdam Conference
5. Truman Doctrine
6. Marshall Plan
7. NATO
8. Warsaw Pact
9. Common Market
10. De-Stalinization
- Solidarity was a trade union for workers, that was free and democratic, founded by Lech Walesa.
- 1980s
- The solidarity movement worked to increase workers’ rights.
2. Berlin Wall
- The Berlin Wall was an actual wall built to separate capitalist and communist Berlin.
- 1961-1989
- The Berlin Wall symbolized the separation, when it was disassembled it showed that unity was being achieved.
3. Yalta Conference
- The Yalta Conference was the meeting of the Allied powers to discuss postwar reorganization.
- 1945
- The Yalta Conference divided Germany into regions belonging to each of the Allied powers, and ultimately led to hostility and conflict.
4. Potsdam Conference
- The Potsdam Conference was another meeting between the Allied powers over postwar reorganization, but focused on how elections would be held.
- 1945
- The Potsdam Conference brought true problems to the table, when obvious conflicting opinions surfaced between Stalin and Truman, or the East and West.
5. Truman Doctrine
- The Truman Doctrine was the American response to European criticism of American involvement in Western Europe.
- Late 1940s
- The Truman Doctrine states that America would do everything to contain the growth of communism, offered to help Greece and Turkey, which weren’t receiving British aid any longer, and declared full resistance to the Soviets.
6. Marshall Plan
- The Marshall Plan was an offer introduced by the U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall to European states in an attempt to rebuild the European Economy.
- Late 1940s, 1947
- The Marshall Plan was one of the most successful aid programs ever, donated billions of dollars to Europe, but only served the West Bloc.
7. NATO
- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was an alliance between anti-soviet governments, and was started by the United States.
- 1949
- The goal for NATO was to “keep the Russians out, the Americans in and the Germans down,” and allowed West Germany to be fully united with the States while rebuilding their army.
8. Warsaw Pact
- The Warsaw Pact was the Soviet response to NATO, and allied satellite powers across the world.
- 1955
- The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance, and in combination with NATO, divided the world into two competitive sections.
9. Common Market
- The Common Market, more formally known as the European Economic Community, was founded by the Treaty of Rome.
- 1957
- The Common Market was a foundation for European economic growth and unity, but was less successful when traditional nationalism began to rise again.
10. De-Stalinization
- De-Stalinization occurred after Stalin’s death, and is also known as the Liberation of/in Russia and the Soviet Union.
- 1953 and later
- As a result of de-Stalinization, workers had more freedom, consumer goods and agriculture embraced, living standards improved, and many art pieces created (about de-Stalinization).