NATO Overview
Origins and Mission
From 1945 to 1949, faced with the pressing need for economic reconstruction,Western Europe countries and their North American allies viewedwith concern the expansionist policies and methods of the Unionof Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Having fulfilled their ownwartime undertakings to reduce their defense establishment andto demobilize forces, Western governments became increasinglyalarmed as it became clear that the Soviet leadership intendedto maintain its own military forces at full strength.Moreover, in view of the declared ideological aims of the SovietCommunist Party, it was evident that appeals for respect for theUnited Nations Charter, and for the international settlementsreached at the end of the war,…
