Answer:
Europe was divided during the Cold War primarily due to ideological and geopolitical differences between the two superpowers at the time, the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension and rivalry between these two powers, characterized by a lack of direct military conflict but rather intense competition and ideological differences.
The division of Europe can be attributed to several key factors:
Ideological Differences: US represented capitalism, USSR promoted communism, creating a deep divide.
Yalta and Potsdam Conferences: Disagreements over Germany's division and Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.
Iron Curtain: Coined by Churchill, it described the ideological and physical division between East and West Europe.
NATO and Warsaw Pact: NATO formed to counter Soviet influence, while Warsaw Pact formed in response, solidifying division.
Berlin Wall: Iconic symbol of division, constructed in 1961 to physically separate East and West Berlin.