OCR · GCSE · History
Course version: J410 · Version from Mar 2026
The changing international order 1918–1975 - The Cold War in Europe…
Full specification wording
International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - The Cold War in Europe 1945–1961: Rising Tensions: Development of NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
This topic covers how two rival military alliances formed in the early Cold War.
Checked against the OCR J410 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 5
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic covers how two rival military alliances formed in the early Cold War. NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) was set up in 1949 by the USA, Britain, Canada and other Western states, pledging collective defence so that an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all. When West Germany was brought into NATO in 1955, the Soviet Union responded by forming the Warsaw Pact with its Eastern European satellite states, creating a matching collective-defence alliance. Together the two alliances divided Europe into opposing armed blocs and deepened Cold War tension. Learn the founding year, the leading members and the trigger for each alliance, and how each alliance increased suspicion between East and West.
What earns the marks
- Identifies NATO as a Western collective-defence alliance founded in 1949 with the USA and other Western states as leading members.
- Explains that NATO's principle of collective defence meant an attack on one member was treated as an attack on all.
- Describes the Warsaw Pact as the Soviet-led alliance formed in 1955 with Eastern European states in response to West Germany joining NATO.
- Explains that the two rival alliances divided Europe into opposing armed blocs and increased Cold War tension.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Reverses the alliances by naming the Warsaw Pact as the Western alliance.
Put it right: Keep NATO as Western and the Warsaw Pact as Soviet-led.
Dates the Warsaw Pact before NATO.
Put it right: Keep NATO as 1949 and the Warsaw Pact as 1955.
Treats the two alliances as friendly cooperation.
Put it right: Keep them as rival blocs that deepened suspicion.
Exam tips
- Check the founding year and the leading power for each alliance before selecting an option.
- Reject options that give the Warsaw Pact Western members or NATO Eastern members.
- Link each alliance to the idea of collective defence when judging an option.
Try the lesson
The start of the International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - The Cold War in Europe 1945–1961: Rising Tensions: Development of NATO and the Warsaw Pact. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
NATO was founded in 1949 by the United States, Canada and several Western European states. What was its main purpose?
Listen
This topic covers how two rival military alliances formed in the early Cold War. NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) was set up in 1949 by the USA, Britain, Canada and other Western states, pledging collective defence so that an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all. When West Germany was brought into NATO in 1955, the Soviet Union responded by forming the Warsaw Pact with its Eastern European satellite states, creating a matching collective-defence alliance. Together the two alliances divided Europe into opposing armed blocs and deepened Cold War tension. Learn the founding year, the leading members and the trigger for each alliance, and how each alliance increased suspicion between East and West. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identifies NATO as a Western collective-defence alliance founded in 1949 with the USA and other Western states as leading members. Explains that NATO's principle of collective defence meant an attack on one member was treated as an attack on all. Describes the Warsaw Pact as the Soviet-led alliance formed in 1955 with Eastern European states in response to West Germany joining NATO. Explains that the two rival alliances divided Europe into opposing armed blocs and increased Cold War tension. Exam tip: Check the founding year and the leading power for each alliance before selecting an option.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Formation of NATO in 1949
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Collective defence as an alliance principle
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Formation of the Warsaw Pact in 1955
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Division of Europe into rival armed blocs
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See every definition
- Formation of NATO in 1949
- NATO was set up in 1949 by the USA, Britain, Canada and other Western states, pledging collective defence.
- Collective defence as an alliance principle
- An attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all.
- Formation of the Warsaw Pact in 1955
- The Soviet Union responded to West Germany joining NATO by forming the Warsaw Pact with its Eastern European satellite states.
- Division of Europe into rival armed blocs
- The two alliances divided Europe into opposing armed blocs and deepened Cold War tension.
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