26th Annual Student Research Conference
The Warsaw Pact: What Was Its Purpose?
Justin T. Hoelker
Dr. Sally West and Dr. David Robinson, Faculty Mentors
After the Allied victory in Europe, East and West relations took a resolute turn. Foreign policy between the two sides deteriorated following the ousting of Churchill, the death of Roosevelt, and the growing demands of Stalin. By 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed. Excluded from this organization, the Soviet Union opted to form its own treaty organization, the Warsaw Pact. By 1955, both of these treaty organizations were the main facet of European diplomacy for the next four decades. However, there is certainly more to the Warsaw Pact than meets the eye. The pact, claiming to be for friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance, was actually a faade composed by the Soviet Union to intimidate the member organizations of NATO. Even though it called for military cooperation, the Warsaw Pact was actually intended to be more of a political tool than a serious defensive maneuver.
Keywords: Diplomacy, Cold War, Soviet Union
Topic(s):History Senior Seminar
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 301-3
Location: VH 1236
Time: 1:30