HIS344Y1 Lecture 5: Lecture 5.doc
Document Summary
Demise of european colonialism (turnover in a political system that lasted for a century and a half comes to an end after wwii). These empires are lost for a number of reasons. 1948: conflict the berlin blockade (stalin had to back down an allow the western states to hold onto west berlin) the partition of germany became a done-deal (as well as the division of europe) A year after the berlin blockade and the formation of nato (created not because the. British and american feared a russian invasion [they are in no position to launch a war no threat of a russian/communist invasion] but created out of political necessity) In korea a war is initiated (a surprise communist attack) in the summer of 1950 (korea becomes the poster of the cold war). Many of the suspicions and arguments of traditional historians who said that communist states would try to take over the rest of the world were justified.
