1.2d How successful was the GDR in improving its international prestige 1961-85? Flashcards
Where did the GDR have international diplomatic relations before their attempts to improve their international prestige?
NATO
Warsaw Pact
What happened that obtained the GDR the international recognition of some Arab countries
The FRG openly lent their support to Israel
IN what year was the ‘Basic Treaty’?
1972
What did the ‘Basic Treaty’ pave the way for the GDR to do?
Join the UN
What agreement did joining the UN force the GDR to agree to?
Helsinki Accords
What did Honecker do that jeopardised the GDR’s reputation through the Helsinki Accords?
Paid no attention to the human rights clauses
What was it difficult for the GDR to balance when leaving diplomatic isolation?
Balancing not upsetting any nations and being subservient to the USSR
Which country did the GDR have visit and send Ulbricht to?
Egypt
What did detente allow for the GDR and FRG?
Diplomatic relations
In 1970, who made a state visit to the GDR?
Brandt
What was the significance of Brandt’s visit to the GDR in 1970?
It was the first time an FRG chancellor had visited the GDR
Who else visited the GDR after Brandt’s visit that upset the GDR government and why?
Willi Stoph
Brandt’s enthusiastic reception was not replicated for Stoph
What did FRG Chancellor Schmidt’s visit to the GDR show?
The 2 Germany’s intent on maintaining their relationship despite the cold war tension
Give an example of a nation for which there was a state visit that weren’t from COMECON
Belgium
What did the visits from the FRG officials do that was bad for the GDR?
Caused the East to have less hostile views on the West and more exposure to them
What was the Prague Spring?
A period of liberal reform by the Czechoslovakian Communist government
What did Ulbricht support concerning Czechoslovakia?
An invasion and he took part in the planning
What did the GDR bring in to allow them to contribute to the invasion of Czechoslovakia?
Brezhnev Doctrine
On what circumstances did the Brezhnev Doctrine allow the use of force?
When hostile forces try to implement aspects of Capitalism within a Socialist country
What system did the GDR impose to stop people travelling to the West through Poland and Hungary?
Visa
After the Visa system for travel, what else was imposed to stop people travelling to the West through Poland and Hungary?
- Rail links stopped
- Border closed
What did Brezhnev have to remind the GDR of?
That the presence of the USSR should always be in consideration
What did Ulbricht say that challenged the authority of the USSR and upset Brezhnev?
That the GDR was a ‘Socialist model emulated by others’
What did Ulbricht challenging the USSR and Brezhnev result in for him?
His removal from power and replacing with Honecker
Why was Honecker more suited to the role of leader of the GDR?
He was more subservient to the USSR
What did Brezhnev do during talks with the GDR to Honecker?
Gave him incentives to increase his own power base
What agreement agreed the free movement of people?
The ‘Four Powers Agreement’
What was done for the negotiations of the ‘Four Powers Agreements’?
The USSR negotiated for the GDR
As the cold war progressed, what did the USSR put pressure on Honecker to do?
Tighten up aspects of Ostpolitik concerning travel restrictions
As detente weakened and the cold war heated up, what did the USSR put in the GDR?
Missiles
What did the USSR do that showed Honecker’s complete subservience to them?
Cancelled his trip to the FRG
To what extent were the GDR allowed independence from Russia?
They weren’t really. They had more relations with the FRG but they could only go as far as the USSR would let them
