The Two Europes, East and West since 1945

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Europe split into two from 1947 because of the Marshall Plan dispute. Western Europe accepted American aid for recovery, while the USSR refused to allow Eastern European states to take it. Stalin’s ir…

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Iron curtain refers to Stalin’s policy of dividing Europe into two separate parts: a communist East under Soviet control and a capitalist West. It symbolized political, economic, and military separati…

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Western Europe recovered through American aid, rising world demand for products, rapid technological advances, and careful government planning. These factors helped industry grow again and made cooper…

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The OEEC was the first initiative towards economic unity in western Europe. It was set up in 1948 to organize Marshall Aid and later encouraged trade by reducing restrictions. It became the OECD in 19…

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NATO was the Western mutual defence system set up in 1949. Its main purpose was to protect member states if one of them was attacked, especially against the threat of the USSR.

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The Council of Europe was the first attempt at political unity in western Europe, set up in 1949. It had member states, a foreign ministers’ council, and an assembly, but no real power. Its role was m…

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The ECSC was the European Coal and Steel Community, set up in 1951. It removed duties and restrictions on coal, iron, and steel trade among six countries and created a High Authority. It mattered beca…

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The Treaty of Rome officially set up the EEC. It was signed by France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and it came into operation on 1 January 1958.