why did the Soviet Union view the formation of a West German state and NATO as a threat?

Answer 1

West Germany was created in 1949 as a result of the Berlin Airlift. The Soviets saw it as a threat because they had fought the German's twice before and they saw NATO as a threat to their aims.

Answer 2

In 1955 the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was allowed to reinstate its armed forces (Bundeswher or Federal Armed Forces) and was also conferred full membership of NATO. This meant that it could have nuclear weapons stationed on its soil, an air force, army and navy. The Soviet Union saw this as a direct threat and in the same year set up the Warsaw Pact, an alliance of the Soviet Union with all the countries under its 'sphere of influence' in Eastern Europe. The guiding principle was the same as NATO - that an attack on one of them should be considered an attack on them all. The attack never came and in practice the Warsaw Pact was used to suppress movements for reform in the member countries, e.g. the Prague Spring, Czechoslovakia, 1968.

Answer 3

While the Soviets feared another rise of Germany, the greater concern was that NATO and a Western German state made continued expansion of Soviet influence more difficult.

Answer 4

Well NATO was kind of made to go against the SU.