Cold War Crises

Question 1

What was the impact of the Berlin Wall initially?

Answer 1

• Families, friends and neighbours were parted for years
• People tried to cross the border and were killed

Question 2

What was the negative impact the Berlin Wall had on the Soviet Union?

Answer 2

• Khrushchev had to abandon plans to unite Germany under Soviet control
• The Wall showed that the Soviet Union had to ‘lock’ people into East Germany to stop them leaving; this shows us they preferred capitalism over communism

Question 3

What was the positive impact the Berlin Wall had on the Soviet Union?

Answer 3

• The Wall stopped refugees leaving for the West through East Berlin
• The Wall sent the West a message that communism would survive in Berlin and that any attempt to reunite Germany under Western control would fall

Question 4

What was the negative impact the Berlin Wall had on the USA

Answer 4

• Soviet Union had closed the border without consulting the USA.
• Those people who wanted to escape from communism were no longer able to.

Question 5

What was the positive impact the Berlin Wall had on the USA?

Answer 5

• The wall showed Khrushchev had been forced to accept Western control in West Berlin.
• West Berlin became an emblem of freedom and defiance against communism.

Question 6

What were the negative outcomes of the Berlin Wall on international relations?

Answer 6

• Both sides had been arguing about Germany since WW2 and the numerous meetings had failed to resolve this. Shows that things were so bad the Soviets had to divide Germany with a concrete wall.
• The Berlin Wall became a powerful symbol of differences between the East and West for almost 30 years.

Question 7

What were the positive outcomes of the Berlin Wall on international relations?

Answer 7

• Berlin was divided and the borders between East and West Germany were closed therefore there was a less likelihood that the US and Soviet Union would fight over Berlin.
• In some ways the building of the Wall may have reduced the tension slightly
• However, any improvements to relations were soon destroyed by the events, which occurred in Cuba 1962

Question 8

When was the Berlin Wall built?

Answer 8

1961 till it was destroyed in 1989.

Question 9

Who introduced the “Prague Spring”?

Answer 9

In 1968, Alexander Dubcek was elected as the head of the Czech government (replacing Antonin Novotny) and believed communism was the right political path, however also believed the communist government should offer “socialism with a human face”. Therefore, citizens can enjoy life and express their views in public without the fear of being punished by the government.

Question 10

What was the ‘Prague Spring’?

Answer 10

Dubcek introduced reforms known as the ‘Prague Spring’ on April 1968. These reforms were that :

• Censorship was relaxed and criticism of government action was allowed.
• Trade unions were given wider powers and government control of industry was reduced.
• More power was given to the Czech regional governments.
• Trade with the West was increased.
• Czech people were given greater freedom to travel abroad.
• The idea of having multi-party elections were discussed.

Question 11

What was the Soviet reaction to the ‘Prague Spring’?

Answer 11

• Brezhnev ( the Soviet leader who replaced Khrushchev in 1968) disapproved of many measures which Dubcek was proposing because other Warsaw Pact countries may make similar reforms.
• On August 1968, 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia and ended the ‘Prague Spring’. There was little opposition to the invasion as Brezhnev ordered the Czech army to remain in its barracks.

Question 12

What was the impact of the ‘Prague Spring’ in Czechoslovakia?

Answer 12

The invasion ended the ‘Prague Spring’. The authorities soon put things back to ‘normal’.

Question 13

What was the impact of the ‘Prague Spring’ on relations between other communist countries in Europe?

Answer 13

• Yugoslavia and Romania condemned Soviet invasion, straining relations between their governments and Moscow.
• The Communist Parties of Italy and France cut links to Moscow.
• The suppression of the ‘Prague Spring’ led to greater Soviet control of the members of the Warsaw Pact. This was reinforced by the Brezhnev Doctrine which emphasised that members of the Warsaw Pact were under the close control of the Soviet Union.
• The governments of East Germany and Poland welcomed Brezhnev’s actions; they felt more secure that they would not be challenged by reformers in their own countries.

Question 14

What was the impact of the ‘Prague Spring’ on relations between the US and the Soviet Union?

Answer 14

• The USA and other Western countries were outraged by the invasion and many of them made strong protests to the Soviet Union.
• There was an attempt to pass a formal resolution condemning the invasion in the United Nations but this was vetoed by the Soviet Union.
• The Soviet Union saw that while the US would make protests, it would not take direct action to oppose the Soviets.

Question 15

What was the impact of the ‘Prague Spring’ on the USA’s international reputation?

Answer 15

Other countries saw that the USA was keen to criticise the Soviet Union but much less prepared to take action which put a bad light on them.

Question 16

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?

Answer 16

On September 1968, Brezhnev said that the actions of any individual communist countries affected all communist countries meaning that all communist countries would be prevented from introducing reforms to make their country more liberal.

Question 17

Why was the Berlin Wall built?

Answer 17

There was a refugee problem in Berlin, 1958.

• This was because West Germany became a prosperous country with a high standard of living while East Germany experienced a low standard of living and shortages of basic goods due to the government’s failed economic policies.
• They were also constantly monitored by the secret police.
• Many East Germans, three million Germans, left to West Germany due to this and many were skilled workers such as engineers, teachers etc.

Question 18

When and what was Khrushchev’s Berlin ultimatum?

Answer 18

On November 1958, Krushchev demanded that:

• Berlin should be demilitarised and Western troops withdrawn
• Berlin should become a free city ( wanted it to be controlled by the Soviet Union)

Question 19

What were the four summit meetings? Give a brief description for each.

Answer 19

Geneva 1959 - No real agreement but arrangements made for Khrushchev to visit US.

Camp David 1959 - No solution but agreed further summit meetings - Krushchev withdraws ultimatum.

Paris 1960 - A disaster. Khrushchev storms out after Eisenhower refused to apologise about the U2 incident.

• Vienna 1961 - Neither side backs down, Khrushchev tries to exploit Kennedy’s inexperience (he was elected in January 1961) and repeats 6 month ultimatum.

Question 20

Who did Dubcek replace? Why?

Answer 20

Dubcek replaced Antonin Novotny because: he was unpopular; the secret police were feared; no political opposition was allowed; there was economic problems and poor living standards.