3.2 Cold War Rivalries

Question 1

Summaries the main developments of the arms race

Answer 1

• Atomic bomb 1945
• hydrogen bomb 1952
• Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) 1957 (only time USSR got there first - based off space technology)
• Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) 1960

Question 2

Who was General LeMay

Answer 2

• US head of Strategic Air Command
• Nicknamed ‘Bombs Away’ LeMay

Question 3

What was NSC 162/2

Answer 3

• Oct 1953
• recommendations about US defence strategy from the National Security Council

Question 4

Describe Sputnik

Answer 4

• Soviet rocket launched Sputnik, satellite that could orbit Earth in 1.5h in 1957
• Caused panic. Military threat - firing missiles from space
• NASA established in response
• April 1961 Soviet Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space
• Kennedy decided to pursue the Apollo programme. First man on the moon in July 1969

Question 5

1st Berlin Ultimatum

Answer 5

• 27 Nov 1958
• stated the West had to agree a German Peace Treaty within 6 months and turn Berlin into a demilitarised ‘free city’
• or Khrushchev would sign a treaty with the GDR handing over all control to the East Germans (Ulbricht leader of GDR)
• US would have no negotiate with, and therefore recognise, East Germany

Question 6

How did Khrushchev respond after the 1st Berlin Ultimatum?

Answer 6

• existence of West Berlin ’bone in the Soviet throat’ to Khrushchev
• difficult to know what he was trying to achieve (testing US’ reaction?)
• When deadline rolled around he pretended the West had misunderstood him
• not prepared to give that much power to Ulbricht, who could block Western access to Berlin and cause serious conflict

Question 7

How did Eisenhower respond to the 1st Berlin Ultimatum?

Answer 7

• made clear US’ commitment to Western Germany and that they were prepared to use (far superior) nuclear weapons to defend it
• effective, lead to Khrushchev backing down

Question 8

List some summits/conferences aimed at reducing the Berlin crisis

Answer 8

• May-Aug 1959 Geneva Conference (little agreed)
• Sep 1959 Camp David visit (successfully reduced tensions, agreed to reopen talks about Berlin)
• May 1960 Paris Summit collapsed because of U2 Spy plane incident

Question 9

Vienna Summit

Answer 9

• June 1961
• Khurshchev took an extremely aggressive approach, Kennedy was shocked and upset (still reeling from Bay of Pigs failure)
• left Khrushchev feeling confident over inexperienced President (2nd Ultimatum)

Question 10

2nd Berlin Ultimatum

Answer 10

• June 1961
• crisis revived - population migration out of East Berlin
• reissued demand for East German control over Berlin and Western recognition of East Germany

Question 11

How did Kennedy respond to the 2nd Berlin Ultimatum?

Answer 11

increased defence budget and prepared the country for nuclear war

Question 12

When was the Berlin wall built?

Answer 12

13th August 1961

Question 13

Describe the brain drain

Answer 13

• young, well-educated people left through East Berlin
• about 20% of East Germany’s population before the wall was built
• huge problem for East German economy and reputation

Question 14

How did the USSR justify the wall?

Answer 14

• Adenauer (West German Leader) allowed many former Nazis to re-enter public life and professions
• wall kept out evil Capitalists and Nazis

Question 15

what were the impacts of the Berlin wall?

Answer 15

• dangerous symbol of Europe’s division into Western and Soviet blocs
• solved migration problem and the Berlin Crisis, therefore reducing tension
• ‘wall is a hell of a lot better than a war’ - Kennedy