How Allied Cooperation Paved the Way for the Iron Curtain

Two books by author Giles Milton, "Stalin's Secret" and "Chess in Berlin," now translated into Hebrew, offer a comprehensive view of Allied relations at the end of World War II and the dawn of the Cold War. "Stalin's Secret" details the complex partnership between Britain and the Soviet Union, later joined by the U.S., despite their opposing ideologies. The book focuses on the period leading up to and including the Yalta Conference in February 1945, where Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin discussed the post-war division of Germany. "Chess in Berlin" then chronicles the disintegration of this alliance following the fall of Berlin, the emergence of the "Iron Curtain", a term coined by Churchill, and the onset of the Cold War. Milton's narrative in "Chess in Berlin" is told through the eyes of key figures, primarily military officials like Frank Howley, the U.S. Military Governor of Berlin, rather than the main Allied leaders. The book highlights how Stalin exploited Roosevelt's illness and Churchill's fluctuating stability, securing Soviet forces as the first to enter Berlin. This decision, initially seen as a minor concession, proved devastating as Soviet troops looted the city and established control over areas intended for the Western Allies, delaying their arrival for weeks. The Potsdam Conference, held in July 1945, occurred as American forces finally entered Berlin. With Roosevelt deceased and replaced by the more assertive Truman, who possessed the atomic bomb, and Churchill replaced mid-conference by Clement Attlee after losing an election, Stalin continued to extract concessions. The narrative also points to the use of alcohol during negotiations, leading Western representatives to agree to terms while intoxicated. Howley recognized the Soviet strategy and attempted to counter it, warning his superiors about Soviet intentions to dominate Berlin and Europe. The establishment of a puppet government in Poland and the takeover of Czechoslovakia eventually alerted the Americans to the Soviet agenda. Berlin's status as an enclave within the Soviet occupation zone created significant logistical challenges. The book extensively covers the division of Berlin into two separate cities, a development not initially planned, and the real possibility of direct military confrontation. In March 1946, Churchill, then in opposition, delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" speech, warning of Soviet expansionism. While officially disavowed by some, the speech significantly influenced public opinion. The currency reform in Berlin, with the introduction of new German marks by both sides, led to the creation of the West German and East German marks. Despite his anger, Stalin feared a direct conflict with the U.S. due to its atomic capabilities. This led to the blockade of West Berlin, a clear signal of Soviet intentions. The only access to West Berlin became air travel, leading to a massive airlift operation by the Americans and British. The success of the airlift, coupled with the formation of NATO in 1949, forced Stalin to lift the blockade. This period marked the definitive division of Berlin and Germany and the formalization of the Cold War rivalry, with the establishment of the Warsaw Pact in response to NATO. The author suggests these historical events are under-taught in Israel and that his books offer a valuable opportunity to fill this gap.