What attitudes made Americans suspicious of the intentions of the Soviet Union?

Answer 1

Americans and their European allies had the attitude that since WW2 was over, there was no need for the Soviet Union to keep their military strong in the eastern parts of Europe. It was soon made clear that the USSR wanted to expand their dominion well past the borders of their country.

It was not forgotten that before WW2, the UK and France invited Stalin to join them in an alliance that would discourage Nazi Germany from making war in Europe. To the surprise of many, Stalin opted to make a treaty with Hitler. This was often referred to as the Soviet German Non Aggression Pact.

There were secret provisions in the Pact which became clear after Hitler invaded Poland. With the front line in Poland dominated by the Wehrmacht, the Soviet Union "occupied" the eastern half of Poland. The use of the word "occupied" is still used in some history books. The fact of the matter is this Soviet invasion of the eastern half of Poland was part of the secret parts of the German=Russian treaty.

The worst part of what followed was only admitted when the Soviet Premier Gorbachev opened the KGB files late in 1989. The secret files show that Stalin ordered the execution of 21,587 Polish Officers and Reservists in the forests of Eastern Poland in 1940.

The clear steps that Stalin made after WW2 showed America and her European Allies that they had every reason to be concerned.

Answer 2

The Soviet Union refused economic assistance from the USA under the Marshall Plan. Instead they chose to solicit the Soviet-occupied Eastern Europe to supply raw materials and machinery making the Americans suspicious of their intentions.

Answer 3

The Soviet Union refused economic assistance from the USA under the Marshall Plan. Instead they chose to solicit the Soviet-occupied Eastern Europe to supply raw materials and machinery making the Americans suspicious of their intentions.

Answer 4

Americans and their European allies had the attitude that since WW2 was over, there was no need for the Soviet Union to keep their military strong in the eastern parts of Europe. It was soon made clear that the USSR wanted to expand their dominion well past the borders of their country.

It was not forgotten that before WW2, the UK and France invited Stalin to join them in an alliance that would discourage Nazi Germany from making war in Europe. To the surprise of many, Stalin opted to make a treaty with Hitler. This was often referred to as the Soviet German Non Aggression Pact.

There were secret provisions in the Pact which became clear after Hitler invaded Poland. With the front line in Poland dominated by the Wehrmacht, the Soviet Union "occupied" the eastern half of Poland. The use of the word "occupied" is still used in some history books. The fact of the matter is this Soviet invasion of the eastern half of Poland was part of the secret parts of the German=Russian treaty.

The worst part of what followed was only admitted when the Soviet Premier Gorbachev opened the KGB files late in 1989. The secret files show that Stalin ordered the execution of 21,587 Polish Officers and Reservists in the forests of Eastern Poland in 1940.

The clear steps that Stalin made after WW2 showed America and her European Allies that they had every reason to be concerned.