The Arms Race 1945-62

The Growth of International Tension:

• Growing hostility between both superpowers saw arms as necessary to safeguard the interests of the East and West.
• Development of the nuclear bomb- USA had theirs in 1945 but USSR developed it's own in 1949.
• Each power saw the nuclear capacity of the other with anxiety- convinced that nuclear superiority was the only way to guarentee their defensive needs.
• Was a substitute for war.

National and Personal Considerations:

• Both sides saw the competition as a chance to raise national prestige and secure reputation in world affairs.
• Pressure on US and Soviet leaders to fight the other power.
• Public fears- USA spent lots on defence.
• 1961- Kennedy felt vunerable to Soviet manipulation so increased defense spending once again.
• Khrushchev boasted about his nuclear weapons, though most of his claims were untrue.

Domestic Factors:

• Military-industrial complex in USA.
• Military areas in the economy gained great power and influence in both USA and USSR.
• Cutting military spending meant threatning military power which was strongly resisted as found by Khrushchev in 1964.
• Influence of army maintained as both sides emphasised each others threats to secure resources and power.

1945- USA atomic bombs (Hiroshima and Nagasaki)

1946- Baruch Plan failes to limit nuclear weapons

1949- USSR get their first atomic bomb

1952- USA get hydrogen bomb

1953- USSR get lithium bomb

1954- USA get lithium bomb

1957- USSR develops first ICBM

1957- Eisenhower warned of 'Missile Gap'

1955- USA develop first intercontinental bombers

1956- USSR develops TU20 Bear

1957- USSR launch Sputnik

1960- USA launch first SLBM

1961- USSR put first man in space (Yuri Gagarin)