The Effect of Detente on the Cold War
The end of WWII brought profound happiness to the hearts of the people whose lives were affected by the war. Hitler had committed suicide, and the cruel horrors of the Holocaust were finally over. Though Europe was tired of fighting, a new conflict soon spread farther from Europe, to affect the whole world. The Soviet Union and the United States went head to head, in a silent struggle over political difference, mainly the spread of communism. From 1945 till the collapse of the U.S.S.R., the United States and Europe sought various methods to stop the spread of Soviet Communism. From containment to brinkmanship, to the Truman Doctrine and NATO, Détente had the overall best effect to stop the Cold War. Starting after the Vietnam War, Détente changed relationships in Europe, calmed down the Cold War, and helped bring back real peace to the world. Although Détente crumbled, it helped bring an end to the Cold War.
Soon after the United States interfered with the spread of communism in Vietnam, the country faced many internal conflicts that eventually led them to seek out Détente. Détente first appeared as an idea by President Richard Nixon, which would help calm the Cold War. Dealing with other nations in a flexible manner was a concept of Détente, and was used in Europe, by the West German Chancellor, Willy Brandt. Brandt visited Poland’s Warsaw Ghetto and asked for forgiveness of what Germany had done under Hitler’s control during WWII. This act of peace ultimately changed the hearts of the European countries and the United States. After this act, West Germany signed treaties with the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia that affirmed state boundaries in return for the use of no force. Both of these acts turned the tides of the Cold War. The countries of Europe finally realized that there was no use participating in a war that never even started.
Another major key concept of Détente was to calm things down, not only with the Soviet Union, but with other nations as well.
Soon after the United States interfered with the spread of communism in Vietnam, the country faced many internal conflicts that eventually led them to seek out Détente. Détente first appeared as an idea by President Richard Nixon, which would help calm the Cold War. Dealing with other nations in a flexible manner was a concept of Détente, and was used in Europe, by the West German Chancellor, Willy Brandt. Brandt visited Poland’s Warsaw Ghetto and asked for forgiveness of what Germany had done under Hitler’s control during WWII. This act of peace ultimately changed the hearts of the European countries and the United States. After this act, West Germany signed treaties with the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia that affirmed state boundaries in return for the use of no force. Both of these acts turned the tides of the Cold War. The countries of Europe finally realized that there was no use participating in a war that never even started.
Another major key concept of Détente was to calm things down, not only with the Soviet Union, but with other nations as well.