The founding of the Warsaw Pact

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May 14, 2025

On May 14, 1955, Soviet and European leaders signed the Warsaw Pact, a key moment in Cold War history. This treaty emerged as a response to NATO and reflected the intense geopolitical tensions of the era. Key events like the Berlin Blockade and the Hungarian uprising showcased its impact. The narrative also revisits the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring, highlighting the struggles within communist states. Eyewitness accounts bring these historical moments to life, revealing their lasting implications.

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INSIGHT

Warsaw Pact Counters NATO

The Warsaw Pact was established in response to West Germany joining NATO in 1955.
It was a Soviet-led military alliance aimed at countering Western military power.

INSIGHT

Post-War Germany Division

The Allies divided Germany into occupied zones post-World War II to prevent German military resurgence.
Soviet fears of Western nuclear threat led them to seek a buffer zone in Eastern Europe.

ANECDOTE

Grotewohl Welcomed After Pact

Otto Grotewohl returned to East Berlin with flowers and warm welcomes after the Warsaw Pact signing.
He emphasized the treaty's role in peaceful reunification of Germany and criticized West German leadership.

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On 14 May 1955, the leader of the Soviet Union and leaders from seven European countries met to sign the Warsaw Pact.

In the years following World War Two, the Soviet Union and the United States started the worldwide Cold War. While Western powers feared the spread of communism, the Soviets worried about US atomic bombs.

What resulted was the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 1949.

The Warsaw Pact was signed six years later in response to West Germany joining NATO.

Natasha Fernandes uses archive of East Germany’s leader Otto Grotewohl to tell the story.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

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(Photo: Soviet Premier, Nikolai Bulganin (centre) addresses Soviet leaders at the Warsaw Conference on 14 May 1955. From left to right: Marshal Ivan Koniev, Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, Bulganin and Marshal Gregori Zhukov. Credit: Bettmann via Getty images)