Challenges to Soviet authority

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

De-Stalinisation = less totalitarianism. Feb 1956 made speech denouncing Stalin and suggesting that satellite states could follow ‘different roads to socialism’.

Question 2

East Germany 1953 (Event and effect)

Answer 2

1) 50K workers strike and riots as demanded better wages, more political freedom and reestablishment of social democratic party as Ulbricht increased work hrs and collectivised farms. Ulbricht unable to put down - appealed to Khrushchev - Soviet tanks and Red Army troops. 2) De-stalinisation limited as Khrushchev resulted in Stalinist methods to put down protest, violence accelerated migration from east to west.

Question 3

Poland 1956 and 1980 Solidarity

Answer 3

1956 - factory workers rioted about increased work targets, heavy casualties during put down. Gomulka gained support - Soviet fears due to his ideas of autonomy from WP. Attempts to stop election failed but due to situation in Hungary, Khrushchev removed troops and trust Gomulka. 1980 Solidarity - eco crisis - increased prices and recession in west - no market for exports. Helsinki Accords resulted in demands for human rights. Strikes occurred in Gdansk - threats of national strike - supported by Pope. USSR saved as leader Jaruzelski declared martial law and solidarity outlawed by Oct 1982.

Question 4

Hungary 1956

Answer 4

Large protest in Budapest supporting Polish uprising and new gov under Nagy. Radio station attacked and Nagy made PM and withdrew for Warsaw Pact. 30k USSR troops mobilised and engaged with heavy fighting. Radio Free Europe supported rebels but more USSR troops flooded in and rebels put down with Nagy executed.

Question 5

Czechoslovakia 1968 Prague Spring

Answer 5

Lack of freedom and poor eco perfomance led to support for Dubcek - June 1968 - initiated Prague Spring reforms - freedom of speech, removal of state control and abolishment of censorship - worried Brezhnev. Aug - WP troops terminated Prague spring and arrested Dubcek, replacing with Husak - loyal to USSR. Freedom removed - Brezhnev doctrine stated right to intervene in country where communism was threatened.