Cold war america 1945-1960 chapter 26 The Cold war, 1945-1946 WWII set the basic conditions for Cold War rivalry b/c the USSR had been a victim of German aggression in both world wars, Joseph Stalin was determined to prevent the rebuilding & re-arming of its traditional foe; he insisted on a security zone of friendly govts in E. Europe for protection At the Yalta Conference in 2/45, the Allies redrew the map & U.S. & GB agreed to recognize this Soviet ?sphere of influence,? with the proviso that ?free and unfettered elections? would be held as soon as possible. After Yalta, the Soviets made no move to hold the elections & rebuffed Western attempts to reorganize the Soviet-installed govts cold war in europe