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
