Challenges to Soviet Authority 1953-82 Flashcards
What were the main challenges to Soviet authority between 1953 and 1982?
GDR uprising 1953
Polish uprising 1956
Hungarian revolt 1956
Prague Spring 1968
Solidarity crisis 1980-82
When did the GDR uprising occur?
1953
What were the causes of the GDR uprising?
Ulbricht increased work hours + quotas
Collectivised farming
Poor conditions
Weak economy
What were the main events of the GDR uprising?
50,000 striking, 100,000 protested in East Berlin
GDR forces too weak so appealed to Soviets for help
Tanks sent in, 100 killed
What were the consequences of the GDR uprising?
Destalinisation proven limited
Western protest
German reunification proven impossible
Migration
How effective was the Soviet response to the GDR uprising?
Short term:
Ulbricht reasserts authority
Long term:
Fails to combat reasons, resentment for Soviet brutality, migration continues
When did the Polish uprising occur?
1956
What were the causes of the Polish uprising?
Destalinisation
Return of Gomulka (from prison)
Protests against poor working conditions is Poznan -> Heavy casualties
What were the main events of the Polish uprising?
Gomulka asked by gov to become President to allieviate bitterness after violent suppressal of protests
Desires autonomy from Warsaw Pact
Tanks advance but withdraw after loyalty promised
What were the consequences of the Polish uprising?
Hope of autonomy reduced
Hungarian revolt
Resentment towards Soviets
How effective was the Soviet response in dealing with the Polish uprising?
Short term:
Disasterous split prevented without bloodshed
Long term:
Dissatisfaction not reduced, continued to be autonomously-minded (semi-loyal)
What were the causes of the Hungarian uprising?
Destalinisation
More liberal leader Gero
Tito pressured him to gain more influence
Protest supporting Polish uprising
What were the main events of the Hungarian revolt?
Protests turn violent
Titoist + independantly minded Nagy demanded as leader
Gero gives way after rebels capture Budapest radio station
Nagy ‘withdraws from Warsaw Pact’
Heavy fighting vs 30,000 Soviet troops - rebels mostly in control by Oct. Encouraged by Radio Free Europe
Suez diverts attention - more troops sent, rebels defeated. Nagy killed + replaced by Kadar
What were the consequences of the Hungarian revolt?
Eastern European hopes for autonomy dashed
‘Different roads to socialism’ ended/failure - must follow Soviet example
Khrushchev gained international prestige + confidence from Suez/nuclear diplomacy
Renewed split with Tito
NATO divisions
Lack of trust towards US in both east and West
How effective was the Soviet response to the Hungarian revolt?
Short term:
Revolt crushed, loyalty restored under Kadar
Long term:
Nagy matry, resentment towards Soviet brutality, dissatisfaction not addressed
When did the Prague Spring occur?
Jan 1968
What were the causes of the Prague Spring?
Detente + Ostpolitik created opportunities for links to West
Lack of freedom
Poor economy
Failure of USSR to support unpopular Novotny
Reforms promised by Dubcek
What were the main events of the Prague Spring?
- Novotny falls in Jan, replaced by Dubcek
-
April: ‘Prague Spring’ reforms announced
- Freedom of speech, removal of state industry controls
- Loss of control, new parties set up
- Dubeck declares support of Com. but allows other parties + visit from Tito
- Brezhnev insists on censorship, Dubcek agrees too late
-
August: 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops sent
- Passive resistance - flowers
- Dubcek arrested
What were the consequences of the Prague Spring?
Dubeck replaced by loyal Husak
Freedoms revoked + half of leadership sacked
Brezhnev Doctrine
‘Traffic accident on road to detente’
How effective was the Soviet response to the Prague Spring?
Short term:
Revolt crushed, loyalty restored, little bloodshed
Long term:
Brezhnev doctrine made challenges less likely, dissapointment in Warsaw Pact countries, underlying issues unresolved, Charter 77 to monitor Human Rights abuses
When did the Solidarity Crisis occur between?
1980-82
What were the causes of the Solidarity Crisis?
Poor economy
Price increases -> strikes in Gdansk shipyards
Western influences after Helsinki Accords + Human Rights ideas
Formation of Solidarity Trade Union
What were the main events during the Solidarity Crisis?
Recognised as Union by Polish gov
Membership rose to 8m
Dismantling/undermining of communist authority
US warns against intervention
New leader Jaruzelski declares martial law
Oct. 1982 outlawed + ended
What were the consequences of the Solidarity Crisis?
Continued pressure on USSR during ‘New Cold War’
Fr + FRG criticise Solidarity to save Ostpolitik -> Ost. discredited
US Perishing Missiles placed in W. Europe 1983
Solidarity moves underground
How effective was the Soviet response to the Solidarity Crisis?
Short term:
No effective action, old leaders bullied by US, saved by internal Polish decisions
Long term:
Underlying issues unresolved, able to rise successfully again in 1989
