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The Two Europes, East and West since 1945

ICSE · Class 12 · History

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Key Topics to Revise

1

Post-War Europe: The Great Divide (1945–1947)

  • In 1945, much of Europe — especially Germany, Italy, Poland and western USSR — was devastated by war. Even victorious powers like Britain and the USSR faced serious financial problems.
  • There was widespread desire for a joint European recovery effort. Some visionaries even spoke of a 'United States of Europe' on the model of the USA.
  • The key turning point was the American Marshall Plan (1947), which offered financial aid for European reconstruction. Western European nations eagerly accepted it.
2

Western Europe: Recovery and Key Nations

  • Western Europe recovered remarkably quickly thanks to: American Marshall Aid, increased world demand for European products, rapid technological advances, and careful government planning.
  • FRANCE under the Fourth Republic (1946–58) was politically weak with 25 governments in 12 years. Major failures included defeat in Indo-China (1954), Suez failure (1956), and rebellion in Algeria (195
  • General de Gaulle introduced the Fifth Republic with a stronger presidential system. He gave Algeria independence, built France's own nuclear deterrent, withdrew France from NATO command (1966), and v
3

The Growth of Unity in Western Europe — From OEEC to EEC

  • Reasons for wanting unity: post-war recovery needed joint effort; individual states were too small to compete with superpowers; unity would prevent future wars between European nations; needed to resi
  • Churchill called for a 'United States of Europe' in his 1946 Zurich speech, though ironically Britain was reluctant to actually join European institutions.
  • OEEC (1948): Organization for European Economic Co-operation. Set up to manage Marshall Aid. 16 nations. Later became OECD (1961) when USA and Canada joined. Successfully DOUBLED trade among members i
4

Britain and the EEC — A Long Road to Membership

  • Britain REFUSED to join the EEC in 1957, despite Churchill having advocated European unity. Reasons: fear of losing economic sovereignty to the Brussels Commission; concerns about Commonwealth trade r
  • Britain formed EFTA (1959) as an alternative — a free trade area with NO supranational powers. Members: Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal.
  • By 1961, Britain changed its mind and applied to join the EEC. Reasons: EEC was clearly more successful (French production up 75%, German up 90% since 1953 vs Britain's only 30%); Britain had balance

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Key Concepts

A term used by Winston ChurchillA massive American economic aid programEstablished in 1957 through the TreatyA military alliance established in 1949Eastern European communist states were organized

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