In the “The Soviet Union and the world, 1944–1953” by Pechatnov, Pechatnov describes that Stalin knew what the inevitable was when Russia joined with Western powers and that Russia would usually always get the end of the stick. “He expected sinister Western imperialists to follow their usual pattern of behavior: use Russians as cannon fodder, lure them with promises of major strategic gains, and then leave them empty handed in the end” (Pechatnov, 95). Stalin confirmed this history and mythology when Hitler deceived him. Since this has happened once, Stalin was not going to let it happen again. ” Determined not to be outsmarted again, Stalin and Molotov braced for tough bargaining with their allies. They were determined to seek their primary security agenda with their allies’ consent, if possible, and without it, if necessary” (Pechatnov, 95). After Roosevelt died, Truman took office with a different kind of view toward the Soviet Union. “A few days later, the White House abruptly terminated lend-lease shipments to the Soviet Union” (Pechatnov, 95). My question to the class would be that, do you think the U.S knew that stalin would take this as a sign of aggression to start something? or do you think that the U.S wanted to test the waters to see how the Soviet Union would react? Although the U.S did resolve this specific conflict, do you think that this was the start of many fallouts and restrictions with the Soviet Union? Also, do you think that Stalin was starting to have flashbacks with what Germany did to them and not trust the U.S ever again?
