Assess the View That the Disagreements About the Second Front Were the Most Significant Cause of Tension Between Russian and the West Between 1941 and 1945.
18.1) Assess the view that the disagreements about the Second Front were the most significant cause of tension between Russian and the West between 1941 and 1945.
There were two main causes of tension between Russia and the West from 1941 and 1945. One cause, according to historians was the disagreements over a Second Front being opened. Tensions arose due to the West’s perceived delay in opening a front, the front being used as a political tool by Stalin and the perceived lack of supplies and materials being sent to the soviets as aid. A more significant cause of tension, however, is believed by some to be Stalin’s attempts to create a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe and his actions in Poland.
Kolko argues that the West failing to open a Second front would have raised questions in the Kremlin about ‘the ultimate value and reliability of the coalition’ between the West and Russia. The Soviets were fighting against Germany alone on the Eastern front and it appeared ‘the West was making politics while Russia made war’ so Russia wanted the West to open a second front to show more commitment and relieve Russia’s strain over the Eastern Front. However Kolko being anti- Capitalist and a critic of America’s Foreign Policy in the 20th century, would be inclined to blame the West as he is biased against both their ideology and policy. Tensions over the Second front may have been aroused as early as July 1941 as Stalin first requested the front to be opened on the 18th of July 1914 after Churchill had promised to do ‘everything we can to help’ and that the West would ‘gradually take some of the strain off of [Stalin]’. This suggests that Churchill had promised Stalin as much support as his should need and then failed to deliver upon these promises. The West felt they were not capable of opening a second front due to military reasons, Churchill said to open a second front would be a ‘bloody repulse’ and would do ‘far more harm than good to both of us’. Kolko also
There were two main causes of tension between Russia and the West from 1941 and 1945. One cause, according to historians was the disagreements over a Second Front being opened. Tensions arose due to the West’s perceived delay in opening a front, the front being used as a political tool by Stalin and the perceived lack of supplies and materials being sent to the soviets as aid. A more significant cause of tension, however, is believed by some to be Stalin’s attempts to create a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe and his actions in Poland.
Kolko argues that the West failing to open a Second front would have raised questions in the Kremlin about ‘the ultimate value and reliability of the coalition’ between the West and Russia. The Soviets were fighting against Germany alone on the Eastern front and it appeared ‘the West was making politics while Russia made war’ so Russia wanted the West to open a second front to show more commitment and relieve Russia’s strain over the Eastern Front. However Kolko being anti- Capitalist and a critic of America’s Foreign Policy in the 20th century, would be inclined to blame the West as he is biased against both their ideology and policy. Tensions over the Second front may have been aroused as early as July 1941 as Stalin first requested the front to be opened on the 18th of July 1914 after Churchill had promised to do ‘everything we can to help’ and that the West would ‘gradually take some of the strain off of [Stalin]’. This suggests that Churchill had promised Stalin as much support as his should need and then failed to deliver upon these promises. The West felt they were not capable of opening a second front due to military reasons, Churchill said to open a second front would be a ‘bloody repulse’ and would do ‘far more harm than good to both of us’. Kolko also