XV European Problems Committee and Subcommittee Hearings XVI XVII Briefings and Study Mission Reports The Middle East, Africa, and Inter-American Affairs Inter-American Affairs United States Policy in the Far East, Part 1 U.S. Policy and Japan The Korean War and Peace Negotiations South Asian and Related Problems Introductory Note to Volume XIV 22 Except for the United States, which became recognized as a great power following the Spanish-American War, Europe had been the home of the great powers of modern times. World War II left Europe weakened and much of its urban and industrial fabric destroyed. After 6 exhausting years of war, during part of which she had stood alone against the Axis powers, Great Britain was measurably weaker and could no longer act as the leader of the West. Germany's military might had been utterly smashed and her economy and industry reduced to a fraction of what they had been at the outbreak of the war. France's early surrender had diminished her role, and Italy could no longer be classed as a great power. In Europe only Russia had emerged stronger. During the war, the importance of the United States had increased almost immeasurably. It had become the greatest power the world had ever known. By the end of the war, American military and economic strength were greater than that of the Western European nations combined. It was evident as Europe faced the problems of peace that there were only two great powers-the United States and the Soviet Union, soon called "super powers," who were clearly dominant on the world scene. During the period when they cooperated in the war against Hitler's Germany, the United States and Russia submerged the numerous sources of antagonism between them: The fear and mistrust of an international Communist menace which had gripped Americans from the time of the Bolshevik revolution in 1918, the belated U.S. recognition of the Soviet Union, Russian disregard of commitments made at the time of recognition, Soviet concern over the Western nations' appeasement policy toward Hitler and fear that they and Germany might combine against Russia, and American outrage at Soviet seizure of large parts of Poland follow |