Using these four passages and your own knowledge, assess the view that during the Second World War the relationship between the ussr and the west was characterised more by co-operation than by disagreement.

The four interpretations are in agreement that during the second World War the relationship between the USSR and the West was characterised more by cooperation than disagreement. There was major conflict over various issues regarding Communisms security in Eastern Europe, specifically expansionism in Eastern Europe which caused the relations between allies to deteriorate after the war, however the Allies maintained an alliance despite the pressure frequently placed upon it. Similarly Loth and Boyle argue that the relationship was …show more content…

Westwood's final point is that Roosevelt and Stalin were willing to make personal concessions to avoid future conflict, “”both sides exerted efforts to bring about this cooperation”. This view is supported by Roosevelt's actions and lack of actions, he was willing to ignore the Katyn massacres to prevent the break down of communication between the Allies and the deterioration of public opinion, he also agreed on the movement of Polish borders West to the Curzon line. The view is further supported by Stalin's concessions, he discouraged communist uprisings in Greece after encouraging Churchill to have a larger sphere of influence there, he agreed to become a member of the UN, and also ended the Iran crisis of 1946 by moving his troops out of there. However this interpretation neglects the fact that Roosevelt always pushed for free elections that Stalin never allowed in Poland, and the issues caused by the Berne incident, where Stalin believed the Western Allies were plotting with Nazis to focus Nazi forces in Russia while removing them from Italy. The actions of Stalin against US aims for a self governed, capitalist Germany outlined in the Speech of Hope in 1946, blocked these from being achieved, he ensured a pro communist Eastern Germany which he drained for reparations. Boyle sculpts his opinion around the process of Lend Lease, using ‘American economic aid to ameliorate US-Soviet differences’. In this Boyle appears to support Loth’s interpretation except that he later