ABSTRACT
The Soviets made it clear they would like a handsome loan, perhaps $1 billion, to help with reconstruction after the war. The loan would be used to import machinery and advanced technology. The Americans knew that the defence sector would be given priority. American suspicions grew after perusing a speech by Stalin. The State Department then asked George Kennan, charg daffaires in the Moscow embassy, to analyse Soviet motives and behaviour. Over a weekend, he drafted the Long Telegram, one of the most influential documents of the Cold War. From Moscows point of view, Germany was the key country in Europe from 1945 to 1991. Stalins primary goal was security. He had to ensure that Germany never again attacked the Soviet Union. There were various options to choose from. Stalin was in the stronger bargaining position. However, he played his cards badly. One of the reasons for this was the ill health he suffered from time to time.
