Chapter Four: The Khrushchev Era And The ‘Second Cold War’, 1956-62

Question 1

List and describe the problems facing the USSR in 1956

Answer 1

1. Foreign problems in the developing world - ussr looking to be more global so start looking overseas for states. Believed they could exploit the anti colonialism to weaken the west and expand their influence
2. Destalinisation- started the ‘different roads to socialism’ as secret spies and network dissolved and political prisoners released. More independence from Moscow
3. Yugoslavia - competing ideologies of what communism is but Yugoslavia invited back into the sphere of influence and came to a joint agreement

Question 2

Outline what happened during the polish crisis

Answer 2

June-October 1956
Riots broke out as workers protested about increased work targets and there was heavy casualties
Polish communists turn to former leader Gomulka
Soviet gov feared he would try to restore Polish independence so in October red army units advanced to stop election
Khrushchev removed troops due to situation in hungry and reassured by Gomulka Poland would remain a member of Warsaw pact (1/3 troops polish)

Question 3

Outline what happened during the Hungarian rising

Answer 3

29th October - 4th November 1956
New leader (Erno Gero) of Hungary influenced by Tito
protest in support of Polish rising escalates out of control :
–Demand withdrawal of Soviet troops
–Want government under Imre Nagy
USSR response: mobilise 30,000 troops with tanks and artillery —> heavy fighting
US policy - Began to broadcast anti-Soviet messages, encouraging the Hungarians to respond but Eisenhower feared nuclear war so would not intervene

Question 4

Outline what happened during the suez crisis

Answer 4

29th October - 7th November 1956
Leader of Egypt, Nassar, nationalised the Suez Canal that was owned by an Anglo French company
Britain, France and Israel want to remove Nasser from power and plan an invasion
Isreal invade and Britain+France sent 80,000 troops to protect canal
Nassar saved by USA and both superpowers condemned Britain’s actions
Khrushchev exploited split:
–Threatened nuclear missile attacks on Britain, France and Israel if they did not stop the war
–In reality USSR didn’t actually possess the rockets to propel these missiles
Made it look like it was the Soviets had saved Egypt rather than the US and Khrushchev could take all the credit

Question 5

What was the aftermath of the Hungarian and suez crisis?

Answer 5

• ussr increasingly ready to use nuclear force
• liberalisation of Soviet bloc shown in Hungary
• growing doubt about USA’s support of NATO among European allies - fears strengthened by USA reducing conventional forces in Europe
• Khrushchev’s position strengthen due to Suez propaganda and space race

Question 6

When was the Berlin crisis?

Answer 6

1958-61

Question 7

What was the Brain drain?

Answer 7

Mass movement of skilled people from east Germany/Berlin to west (1/6 population left)

Question 8

What was the problem for the east economy in 1950’s?

Answer 8

West Germany had been thriving which encouraged people to move there

Question 9

What were Khrushchev’s aims in 1958?

Answer 9

• increase prestige of GDR
  -divide western powers
• needs to be seen as tough

Question 10

What was the Berlin ultimatum and the west reaction?

Answer 10

USSR proposed Berlin as a free city with no power interference.
West reject as Berlin in Soviet zone making it easy for Soviets to take control

Question 11

What happened in the summit meeting 1959-60

Answer 11

Most since ww2
Alternate periods of detente and crisis (threatened USA to make concessions) by Khrushchev
Idea of nuclear free zone
Shooting of US spy plane cancelled Paris summit

Question 12

Outline the construction of the Berlin Wall

Answer 12

• Khrushchev hoped Kennedy would make concessions but he didn’t
• Kennedy: increased US forces in Berlin, urged solution, made it clear he would fight for freedom of the west but not interfere with east
  1960-1: mass movement to west compelled Khrushchev to act (all independent farmers made collective = economic problems) and in 1961 103,000 fled to west

Question 13

What is the significance of the Berlin Wall?

Answer 13

• existence of GDR secured - end of Hallstiene doctrine
• people in east had no choice but to stay in GDR
• Ulbricht made new economic system - link wages to productivity

Question 14

Learning to live with the Berlin Wall 1961-3

Answer 14

• Soviets restart nuclear testing
• tensions along the wall —> 27th October at checkpoint Charlie tanks stood face to face with
• Khrushchev determined to keep pressure on west
• FGR worried Kennedy would sacrifice West Berlin

Question 15

Give the stages of the Cuban missile crisis (1962)

Answer 15

1. Castro becomes leader of Cuba
2. Cuba confiscates US property
3. US boycott Cuban sugar and economic sanctions
4. USSR buys Cuban sugar and oil supplies
5. Kennedy asks CIA to investigate a solution
6. Bay of pigs disaster - Florida 90 miles from Cuba so try to invade using ex Cuban exiles but Castro prepared
7. Khrushchev begins to send arms to Cuba
8. U2 soy planes begin to fly over Cuba
9. Quarantine zone (1200 kilometres) and Kennedy announced missives existence on TV
10. USSR remove missiles after USA threaten air attack and in return USA not invade Cuba
11. Secret deal that USA missile in turkey would be removed

Question 16

What were the consequences of the Cuban missile crisis?

Answer 16

• Khrushchev saved Cuba
• nuclear missiles out of turkey
• SALT talks
• hot line between White House and Kremlin
• test ban treaty 1963

Question 17

What was the significance of the Cuban missile crisis?

Answer 17

Closest world had come to nuclear war that led both sides to a understanding of ‘mutually assured destruction’

Question 18

What was the significance of the Cuban missile crisis?

Answer 18

Closest world had come to nuclear war that led both sides to a understanding of ‘mutually assured destruction’