Wwii Grand Alliance Was A Myth
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Debate WWII #2:
“The Grand Alliance was a myth; self-interest was the only motive of the Allies.”
CON: needs to prove self-interest was NOT the only motive
CASE:
The Grand Alliance was not a myth, as the three leaders Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill, set aside economical and political interests in order to work together as best possible.
This debate takes aside the fact that these countries were jointly fighting Hitler’s Nazi Germany, and to win a victory over the Axis Powers was in the interest of all.
We take issue with Pro’s vague, broad definition of “self-interest”, as it doubtless referring to such interests that are specific to a country in question, rather than collective interests.
USSR:
cooperated with democratic nations-Д politically dangerous
May 1943, Stalin dissolved CominternД so less communist influence in Western Europe
Proof: accepting US aid in form of more modern technology, e.g. trucks, which the ordinary Russian could see as “products of superior societies” (Brown).
By 1942: US/Brit combined sent 4 000 tanks and 3 000 trucks
Yalta agreement: Stalin promised to help US’ invasion of Japan
Gave up territory in Eastern Europe
Gave up Greece, part of Yugoslavia, Austria, Czech Sloavia, Albania (Shell)
Yalta Conference (Feb 1945): “Declaration on Liberated Europe” presented by R.
Temporary governments, early free elections
Allowed Gr. Brit to take charge about territorial issues in France, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway (Shell)
was anti-communist, but worked w/ USSR
At Tehran conference: allowed USSR free reign in own country, puppet gov. in Poland, Czech Slovakia and Baltic States
Isolationist policy, but Roosevelt promises priority to European war
Roosevelt (nov 1941): “I may never declare war; if I were to ask Congress , they might argue about it for three months.
Draft Bill passed by only one vote, without it, wouldn’t have been able to provide soldiers
Neutrality Act repealed by a small majority in Senate (Churchill)
Lend-Lease program:
over $46, 000 million in military aid
$30 billion to Brit
$11 billion to USSR
Federal budget: $9 billion (’39) ДР$166 billion (’45)
Brit:
Gives up self-interest to aid USSR:
African theatre was top priority, as Churchill needed dominance of the Mediterranean in order to secure the Middle East and India.
Roosevelt convinced him of 2nd Front in 1944
Churchill’s acquiescence to shift of Poland’s borders
Division line in Poland: restored to 1919 Curzon line
Percentage agreements w/ Stalin in Oct 1944
Gave Bilo-Russia, western Ukraine back to USSR
Recognized a “temporary” Communist Polish government in Poland
Thus it is proven that Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill set aside their differences in favor of a victory over Hitler.
REBUTTALS: