Soviet Union-Lost but not forgotten-Part 2

US tanks in operation fighting against North Korea.

Although the US and the Soviet Union were allied against the Axis powers during World War II, the two states disagreed sharply both during and after the conflict on many topics, particularly over the shape of the post-war world. The war had either exhausted or eliminated all of the pre-war great powers leaving the US and USSR as clear economic, technological and political superpowers.

Berlin Blockade was the first major International crisis of the Cold War. Soviet Union blocked access to Berlin. Their aim was to force the western powers to allow the Soviet controlled regions to start supplying Berlin with food and fuel, thereby giving them nominal control over the entire city. However, American airplanes dropped food packets over Berlin in pre-arranged air corridors. This was humiliating to the Soviets and it strained US-Soviet relations. Later the Soviets lifted their blockade.


B-29 bombers of United States bombed Korean cities indiscriminately.

Korean war worsened Soviet-US relations. Korea had been a unified country since the 7th century. Unfortunately for the Koreans, one of the recurring themes in their history involves fending off both China and Japan, occasionally simultaneously. To Japan, a late arriving player in the game of great powers, Korea seemed a natural fit in their sphere of influence. The Japanese declared Korea was their protectorate and expanded their control over local institutions through over Korean opposition. At the close of World War II, forces of both the Soviet Union and the United States occupied the peninsula in accordance with an agreement put forth by the United States government to divide the Korean peninsula. Though the eventual division of Korea was considered at the Potsdam Conference, the wishes of the Korean people to be free of foreign interference were not considered.


B-29 in flight.

North Korea was under communist rule and it invaded South Korea in an attempt to unify Korea. North Korean army struck in the pre-dawn hours of June 25th, 1950. The North claimed Republic of Korea Army (ROK) troops under the “bandit traitor Syngman Rhee" had crossed the border first and that Rhee would be arrested and executed.



MiG-15 used by North Korean during the Korean war.

President Harry S.Truman had made a statement on June 27, 1950 ordering the United States air and sea forces to give the South Korean regime support. The Soviet Union's foreign minister accused the United States of starting armed intervention on behalf of the Republic of Korea before the Security Council was summoned to meet on June 27. The 38th parallel was the border between North and South Korea. North Korea rapidly invaded but it was stopped by Allied troops. Very soon they were chased back b allied troops. Soviet Union supplied ammunitions, aircrafts to fight against the invaders. US were very afraid of the communist expansion and to contain communism US created NATO. A ceasefire was later declared and Korean De-militarized zone was created.




105mm-Howitzer gun in operation. US troops firing at North Korean positions.

Soviet Union created Warsaw Pact in response to NATO treaty. The pact was a Soviet initiative aimed at countering NATO. East Germany, Hungary, Albania, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, and the Soviet Union were the founding members. The stage for Cold war was now set as these two great powers got ready to play dangerous games.