16) Pressures on the USSR Flashcards
Removal of Khrushchev
October 1964
coup led by Leonid Brezhnev
Khrushchev “retired”
reasons: public removal of missiles after the Cuban missile crisis
never resolved the situation in Berlin
never had absolute control (Polish and Hungarian uprisings) unlike Stalin
economy of Western Europe
following the aid from the Marshall plan, the economy of western Europe in the 50s and 60s experienced one of the most sustained economic booms in European history
this signified a move towards European independence as western Europe becomes more integrated through trade deals
Economy in Eastern Europe
Such growth was not mirrored in the Satellite states, while there were improvements to healthcare, access to education and full employment was achieved- they came at the high cost of political and other forms of repression
So while the eastern economy out performed those of the west in the 1950s, by the 60s this had stagnated
Brezhnev’s aims as leader
establish the USSR domestically and internationally
economic progress
Top communist
Czechoslovakia under the Soviets
seen as a prosperous member of the eastern bloc
negative growth from 1963 causing political reconsiderations
Leader of Czechoslovakia and what he suggested
Ota Sik
reforms to the planned economy
function of individual enterprises
consumer rights
in 1966, he argued for political reforms which lent him the support of a wider audience
Soviets not a fan
new Soviet leader in Czechoslovakia
Jan 1968
Alexander Dubcek
what did Dubcek do
1968
The Prague Spring
he was supposed to stop the protests but instead advocated for reforms
wanted a new start to socialism
replaced representatives without Soviet knowledge
eliminated press censorship
allowed trade unions
these easing of rules is know as the Prague Spring
this upset the Kremlin but Dubcek assured Czechoslovakia was loyal to the Warsaw pact
Moscow’s response to the Prague Spring
did not intervene at first but kept a close eye on reforms
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
August 1968
Warsaw pact members meet in June and decide to intervene
feared reforms would destabilise eastern Europe
series of meetings between Brezhnev and Dubcek where he promises they are loyal
Invade in the August
faced little to no international intervention
showed the extent of soviet control
around 100 protesters were killed in this invasion
Brezhnev doctrine
September 1968
explained the responsibility of communist states to intervene in order to protect the good health of the whole communist community
defined what any deviation from communist ideals would lead to (invasion)
no reforms that would threaten socialist stability
shows that Brezhnev thought that communist parties were responsible for both its own people and all socialist countries
repercussions in Czechoslovakia
the red army remained in place since the Soviets could find no willing leader
Gustav Husak remained in power until 1989 but he needed soviet backing
Sino Soviet split
1958-62
Mao’s reasons for the Sino-Soviet split
didn’t like Khrushchev- denounced Stalin, relations with West, thought he was too tolerant
Felt his position as leader was no respected by the soviets
thought Khrushchev was too revisionist (Mao was a orthodox communist)
wants to be the most important communist power
Khrushchev’s reasons for the Sino-Soviet split
wanted to be the leader of the communist world
saw China as second to themselves
Soviet actions that caused friction with China
indirectly supported India in border disputes with China (1959)
withdrew tech aid and removed soviet specialist from China (1960)
refused to fulfil his agreement to provide a prototype of the atomic bomb- undermining
did not tell China about the missiles in Cuba
Chinese actions that caused friction with the Soviets
-provoked the US by bombing Taiwanese held islands in 1958
-criticised Khrushchev for not using nuclear weapons in Cuba and then criticised him for removing them
-believed Khrushchev had abandoned the struggle against US imperialism
the great leap forward
1958
tried to transform China into a wealthy world power as quick as possible, resulted in 30 million Chinese starving to death
Sino-soviet land disputes
1964
China calls for the return of territory the USSR had claimed historically (Siberia)
the USSR rejected this
however, his removal as leader soon after put Brezhnev in control
Brezhnev’s view on Sino-Soviet relations
initially wanted to improve them, partially due to the USA’s increasing involvement in Viet Nam
Malinovsky incident
Late 1964
During Sino-Soviet talks in Moscow, defence minister makes a joke about the removal of Mao (like the removal of Khrushchev)
this is not well received
Role of Viet Nam in deteriorating relations
-Talks proposed in 1965 to discuss the issue of Viet Nam, these never take place due to Mao’s reluctance
-Mao wants the North to remain dependent of China not the USSR
-USSR propose an airbase in China to help protect the Sino-Vietnamese border, Mao sees this as an intrusion and it never happens
-for Mao the USSR was an imperialist state and China was part of its imperialist targeting
Cultural revolution
1966
an attempt to return China to the ideological purity of the revolution
Mao capitalised his power and an anti-Soviet mentality
an attack on the Soviet embassy- is clear Mao wants this split to take place
Border disputes
USSR station troops in Mongolia (Feb 1967)
scared the Soviets would attack
Chinese adopt an ‘active defence’
in 1969 things kick off the split is unmendable
