Challenges to Soviet Authority 1953-82

Question 1

What were the main challenges to Soviet authority between 1953 and 1982?

Answer 1

GDR uprising 1953

Polish uprising 1956

Hungarian revolt 1956

Prague Spring 1968

Solidarity crisis 1980-82

Question 2

When did the GDR uprising occur?

Answer 2

1953

Question 3

What were the causes of the GDR uprising?

Answer 3

Ulbricht increased work hours + quotas

Collectivised farming

Poor conditions

Weak economy

Question 4

What were the main events of the GDR uprising?

Answer 4

50,000 striking, 100,000 protested in East Berlin

GDR forces too weak so appealed to Soviets for help

Tanks sent in, 100 killed

Question 5

What were the consequences of the GDR uprising?

Answer 5

Destalinisation proven limited

Western protest

German reunification proven impossible

Migration

Question 6

How effective was the Soviet response to the GDR uprising?

Answer 6

Short term:

Ulbricht reasserts authority

Long term:

Fails to combat reasons, resentment for Soviet brutality, migration continues

Question 7

When did the Polish uprising occur?

Answer 7

1956

Question 8

What were the causes of the Polish uprising?

Answer 8

Destalinisation

Return of Gomulka (from prison)

Protests against poor working conditions is Poznan -> Heavy casualties

Question 9

What were the main events of the Polish uprising?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What were the consequences of the Polish uprising?

Answer 10

Hope of autonomy reduced

Hungarian revolt

Resentment towards Soviets

Question 11

How effective was the Soviet response in dealing with the Polish uprising?

Answer 11

Short term:

Disasterous split prevented without bloodshed

Long term:

Dissatisfaction not reduced, continued to be autonomously-minded (semi-loyal)

Question 12

What were the causes of the Hungarian uprising?

Answer 12

Destalinisation

More liberal leader Gero

Tito pressured him to gain more influence

Protest supporting Polish uprising

Question 13

What were the main events of the Hungarian revolt?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What were the consequences of the Hungarian revolt?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

How effective was the Soviet response to the Hungarian revolt?

Answer 15

Short term:

Revolt crushed, loyalty restored under Kadar

Long term:

Nagy matry, resentment towards Soviet brutality, dissatisfaction not addressed

Question 16

When did the Prague Spring occur?

Answer 16

Jan 1968

Question 17

What were the causes of the Prague Spring?

Answer 17

Detente + Ostpolitik created opportunities for links to West

Lack of freedom

Poor economy

Failure of USSR to support unpopular Novotny

Reforms promised by Dubcek

Question 18

What were the main events of the Prague Spring?

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

What were the consequences of the Prague Spring?

Answer 19

Dubeck replaced by loyal Husak

Freedoms revoked + half of leadership sacked

Brezhnev Doctrine

‘Traffic accident on road to detente’

Question 20

How effective was the Soviet response to the Prague Spring?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

When did the Solidarity Crisis occur between?

Answer 21

1980-82

Question 22

What were the causes of the Solidarity Crisis?

Answer 22

Poor economy

Price increases -> strikes in Gdansk shipyards

Western influences after Helsinki Accords + Human Rights ideas

Formation of Solidarity Trade Union

Question 23

What were the main events during the Solidarity Crisis?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What were the consequences of the Solidarity Crisis?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

How effective was the Soviet response to the Solidarity Crisis?

Answer 25

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