Cold war Crisises Flashcards
Place the Berlin Blockade in context
1) Agreement to divide Germany and Berlin into 4 occupation zones had come out of the yalta conference in february 1945, January 1948, UK and US decided to merge control over the western part of Germany into a single unit known as the Bizonia. Later france would join them and changed the name of their zones into west germany. The US wanted to grant independence to the Eastern European countries and wanted to strengthen the economy of West Germany as it could be beneficial in the development of Europe. On the other hand, the Soviet Union wanted the Eastern European countries as buffer states and wanted Germany’s resources as war reparations to prevent it from becoming a strong threat. Berlin would become a battlefield for the cold war.
State 4 causes of the Berlin Blockade & there significance
1) Establishment of the Deutsche Mark (Economic)
Berlin’s currency was worthless. The black market kept Berliners alive (e.g cigarettes sometimes acted as a currency). Western powers planned a currency reform in their zones that would make the old currency (the Reichsmark) useless thereby wiping out black market profiters. As a result on - issued on June 23rd 1948, the Deutsche Mark was introduced as the official currency of west Germany to protect western Germany from a second wave of hyperinflation and to stop black market trade.
Impact:
The Reichsmark which acted as the currency in East Germany flooded into in from the west, where it was worthless. This caused sudden inflation, which caused privately held cash in the Soviet zone to become worthless overnight. This caused East Berliners to migrate to the other side (West) for better opportunities. Soviet wanted to counter this occurrence. A couple of days later, the Soviets introduced their own currency reform, first adding a stamp to currency to validate it, introducing new banknotes into circulation. That same day—June 24, 1948—they blocked all road, railway and canal access to the Allied-occupied zones of Berlin
Significance:
Establishment of the Deutsche Mark arguably catalyst Stalin’s decision to impose the Berlin Blockade in order to try and force the West out of Berlin
2) The Marshall Plan (viewpoint that it was Politically motivated)
The Marshall Plan was an American economic recovery program for Europe enacted on 3rd April 1948 aimed at providing economic assistance to European countries to help them rebuild after the devastation of the Second World War (some historians argue it was a follow up of the Truman doctrine & aimed at limiting the spread of communism). This program was open to both the USSR and its satellite states, though, Stalin wouldn’t allow the USSR or any state in its sphere of influence to sign up. The US spent over $12 BIllion ($ nearly 100 billion in 2018 US dollars) on economic assistance to rebuild European economies, and the US spent $13.5 billion worth of aid was provided to 16 countries in 4 years. From Marzury mules and $700 million dollars of economic assistance being provided to the 2. 7 billion dollars worth of aid granted to France, the Marshall plan helped stimulate an economic recovery across Europe whilst simultaneously extending the US sphere of influence.
Significance:
– Arguably fueled Stalin’s aggressive response with the Blockade
3) Role of Stalin
One could argue Despite having legitimate concerns to the re-emergence of a capitalist Germany, heightened by American anti-communist action such as the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, Stalin actions far outweighed the circumstances. Stalin believe western powers violated the Potsdam & Yalta agreement with the unification of occupation zones & the establishment of the Deutsche Mark. He hoped to revoke the West’s plans for West Germany discussed by the West powers at London conference held in march 1948. Though his decision to impose a blockade seemed reckless to his own advisors, Stalin believed it was the right course of action. He believed:
1) the US would not use nuclear weapons over Berlin
2) that if the US launched a full-scale attack, he alone would know how to respond
Significance:
One could argue aggressive and calculated stance was the primary cataylst of the Berlin Blockade
4) - Treaty of Brussels
was an agreement signed on March 17th, 1948 by Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg to bring greater collective security and create a collective defense alliance to stop the threat of communism. Canada and USA were asked to participate as well.
Significance: May have contributed to Stalin’s desire to display Soviet strength & power through a blockade.
State two causes of the Cuba Missile Crisis, and its significance, as well as the Crisis official, started
1) The bay of Pigs Invasion
When Kennedy came into office, he was confronted with the Cuba issue. - Kennedy had faith in CIA plan facilitated by Eisenhower and Dulles to invade Cuba, “The Bay of Pigs” reliant on USA air support, and the will of the Cuban people being AGAINST Castro. - USA government spent near $5mil on the project, but gained information that the Cubans would be AGAINST the exiles taking power. Kennedy claimed that he was unsure of how to proceed, but the president also claimed that there would be NO armed intervention (April 12th, 1961). An invasion (attempt) did take place, but Kennedy withdrew air support at the last minute, leaving exiles vulnerable to the Cuban air force. 200 rebel forces died and 1197 people were captured. Additionally, the Cuban people did not stand against Castro. The invasion proved to be a total failure in the invasion.
Significance:
Led to Castro, who felt threatened, to request Soviet assistance in defending Cuba, namely with a nuclear deterrent. Consequently, in July 1962 Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev reached a secret agreement with Cuban premier Fidel Castro to place Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba to deter any future invasion attempt. Cuba was now able to strike anywhere in the mainland USA, including ALL major cities (this scared the population a LOT) (Set the stage for the crisis)
When did the crisis start?
US intelligence reported the increased soviet activity/presence in Cuba. However, these reports were largely ignored in washington until American U - 2 spy plane flying over cuba photographed sites that could easily be identified as ballistic missile sites. President Kennedy was then notified that a U - 2 spy plane has taken photographs of medium-range ballistic missile sites in Cuba. Crisis official began on 16 October 1962.
2) Economic interest
Under Castro, land was nationalized (INCLUDING American owned land) . When the Soviets sold Cuba oil at below-market prices, American companies refused to refine Soviet-originated oil, forcing Cuba to take over foreign (American) refineries. Cuba (Castro) then responded by seizing and nationalizing foreign-owned entities. This significantly impacted the US as a billion dollars worth of US investments were Nationalized which effectively forced many American businesses to leave Cuba. This catalyst Eisenhower’s decisions to place economic sanctions on Cuba, cut Cuba’s share of the USA sugar market by 95%, and authorize the training of anti-Castro exiles to overthrow the Castro government. President Kennedy adopted this plan as well.
Significance:
Sequenced the beginning of US aggression against Cuba
Place the Cuban Missile Crisis (16–29 October 1962) in Context
Castro took a key role in leading a Revolution by leading the Movement in a guerrilla war against Batista’s forces from the Sierra Maestra. overthrowing Batista’s overthrow in 1959
In the 1950s, Fidel Castro led a Cuban Revolution in an armed uprising against Batista’s forces and eventually overthrew Batista’s regime in 1959. Replacing a corrupt government with a communist-aligned one, Castro came to power and sought to limit Cuba’s economic dependence on the USA. Eisenhower was angered by Castro’s rise to power and his decision to nationalize American industries in Cuba. Castro promised two things to his people: He would Improve social warfare and distance Cuba from the USA. Having to distance Cuba from the US, Castro needed a new trade partner. When the Soviets sold Cuba oil at below-market prices, the USA refused to refine any oil in Cuba. ba (Castro) then responded by seizing and nationalizing foreign-owned entities. This significantly impacted the US as a billion dollars worth of US investments were Nationalized which effectively forced many American businesses to leave Cuba. This catalyst Eisenhower’s decisions to place economic sanctions on Cuba and authorize the training of anti-Castro exiles to overthrow the Castro government. President Kennedy adopted this plan as well.
Discuss the impact of the Berlin Blockade
The Berlin blockade was successful initially as it left 2.5 million people in West Berlin to rely on what the goods and supplies they had saved. Stalin’s intention was to show that the Soviets also had power in Germany. Truman felt it was significant because losing berlin might lead to losing whole of Germany.
This led to the Berlin airlifts that began on 26 of June 1948, a strategic form of action which Stalin did not anticipate that enabled allies to drop supplies over the city of West Berlin.At the beginning of the operation, the planes delivered about 5,000 tons of supplies to West Berlin every day; by the end, those loads had increased to about 8,000 tons of supplies per day. 13,000 tons of supplies per day for 323 days. uring the 323-day blockade, the westerners made an estimated 278,000 flights over Berlin delivering approximately 2,334,374 tons of vital supplies. Seeing as the clear airlift appeared to have the potential to continue indefinitely, Stalin lifted blockade on 12 may 1949. Despite the lifting of the blockade, airlifts continue still 30 September 1949 to ensure West Berlin occupants had sufficient supplies.
Discuss the Significance of the Berlin Blockade
1) Regarded as the First serious crisis of Cold War
2) 4) Blockade highlighted the need to protect the western zone. Led to the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on 23 May 1949. The first elections were held with Konard Adenauer becoming West Germany’s first chancellor. West Germany was established as a democracy. Soviets countered with the creation of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in october 1949. East germany socialist state, controlled by the socialist unity party of germany (SED). Marxism- Leninism was integrated into education, the media, the arts and the economy.
Main point:Berlin Blockade marked the consolidation of Europe into two separate parts
3) Catalyst the creation of NATO & Warsaw pact
Discuss the Impact of US finding Missile in Cuba & explain how the crisis ended
1) the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted when Soviet ballistic nuclear missiles were spotted by the US on Cuba. Led to Kennedy giving a televised address to the US public on 22nd October 1962 informing them of the nuclear weaponry in Cuba and announcing that a naval “quarantine” of Cuba to prevent further missiles from reaching Cuba. Any violation of this quarantine would be seen as “hostile action” to the USA.
2) On the 25th October, Kennedy ordered the interception of the bookerrash, a Soviet ship carrying soviet oil on trajectory to Cuba. For the only confirmed time in US history, B-52 bombers went on continuous airborne alert, and B-47 medium bombers were made ready to take off, and some 145 intercontinental ballistic missiles stood on ready alert, targeted at Cuba (U.S. military was at DEFCON 3). The Soviet ship and other Soviet ships bound for Cuba altered course away from the quarantined zone as messages were exchanged between Kennedy and Khrushchev influenced by the fear of Mutually assured destruction. The crisis was averted.
3) Soviets agreed to remove nuclear weapons from Cuba under UN supervision in exchange, Kennedy would remove nuclear weapons from Turkey. Kennedy also promised to never invade Cuba again
4) Many citizens were confronted with the possibility of nuclear war. Also, Castro’s regime remained unharmed and able to develop Cuba.
Discuss the Significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis
1) The crisis reflected the policy of brinksmanship. but highlighted how the notion of peaceful coexistence unrivaled brinkmanship reflected in the determination of Krushchev and Kennedy to avoid nuclear confrontation. It became evident to the two superpowers that nuclear deterrence was far stronger than the idea of nuclear war.
Consequence:
In the aftermath of the cuban missile crisis, superpowers signed the Nuclear test ban treaty of 1963. USA and USSR agreed to cease underwater, space and atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. Superpowers realised the need to make further agreements with other countries which had also created bombs.
2) Cuba was left alone to develop and create its own political atmosphere, as the USA would no longer be involved with the country (even the CIA attempted to assassinate Castro, but failed several times). Cuba became a symbol of revolution and guerilla war, as it became involved in a few proxy wars around the world.
Create an outline for the question: Compare the Causes of two Cold war Crises in different regions (Give two similarities)
Similarities:
1) Promixtiy and location played a significant role in Escalating both crises
During the 13-day political and military standoff in October 1962(Cuban missile cris), the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba were just 90 miles from U.S. shores. Cuba could be able to strike anywhere in the mainland USA, including ALL major cities (this scared the population a LOT). Escalated the response of Kennedy’s administration to the U-2spy plane’s discovery of missiles sites in cuba and fostered the policy of Brinkmanship that brought the two superpowers the closest that the have been in a nuclear war with one another.
2) During the Berlin blockade, promixity was key as movement/ passage from East to West Berlin was easy due to the close proximity between the two cities. Given the economic hardship faced by many East Berliners under Stalin even prior to 1948 and in the lead up to the blockade to the extent that in some parts people spent significant portions of their day ensuring their sheer survival by lining up for rationed, food, escaping to the countryside to barter valuables for essential foods. In some parts cigarettes were a form of currency. Close proximity between East & West Berlin enabled the outflow of many East Berliners to the other side (West) in pursuit of better opportunities and standards of living. This would have long-term ramifications for the state’s territorial integrity as well as the development of the East German industrial sector and economy exacerbated by the establishment of the deutsche mark in june 1948. Thus, promixty contributed to Stalin decision to impose a blockade.
2)
Create an outline for the question: Compare the Causes of two Cold war Crises in different regions (Give two differences) – (brief overiew)
Differences:
1) The Cuban missile crisis arguably erupted abruptly whilst the Berlin Blockade development gradually
Though Castro rose to power in 1959 was instrumental in sparking US aggression against Cuba, the bay of pigs invasion arguably was the primary catalyst that led Kruschev to place nuclear missiles in Cuba. Whereas, in the Berlin blockade, tension escalated gradually (from the Marshall plan to the treaty of brussels to the establishment of a unified Western zone and the deutsche mark)
2) Differences in the political actions of Soviet leaders involved
(Stalin was the aggressor in the Berlin Blockade, Kruschev wasn’t the agressor.
During the Cuba missile crisis, Kruschev’s action to place nuclear missiles in Cuba were not a form of aggression against the US, but were driven by fear to maintain the integrity of Castro’s regime in Cuba. Whilst, one could argue Stalin was the aggression in the Berlin blockade. He hoped to revoke the West’s plans for West Germany discussed by the West powers at London conference held in march 1948. Though his decision to impose a blockade seemed reckless to his own advisors, Stalin believed it was the right course of action. He believed:
1) the US would not use nuclear weapons over Berlin
2) that if the US launched a full-scale attack, he alone would know how to respond
Create an outline for the question: Compare the Causes of two Cold war Crises in different regions (Give 2 similarities)
1) Both the Cuban missile crisis and the Berlin blockade reflected brinkmanship.
After Kennedy announced a quarantine on Cuba On October 24, Khrushchev responded to Kennedy’s message with a statement that the U.S. “blockade” was an “act of aggression” and that Soviet ships bound for Cuba would be ordered to proceed. With no apparent end to the crisis in sight, U.S. forces were placed at DEFCON 2—meaning war involving the Strategic Air Command was imminent and U.S. reconnaissance flights over Cuba indicated the Soviet missile sites were nearing operational readiness. The world was on the verge of Nuclear war.
After Stalin imposed the Berlin blockade on June 24 1948, Governor Lucius D clay sought again to retaliate through the use of an armed convoy. He proposed If convo would have be let through peace would continue, If not, it meant war. This was significance because according to Stalin advisors, the Red army would resist any forced attempt by the USA to end the blockade through a military convoy. All outwar could have occured. However, No armed convoyed allowed because Truman didn’t want to engage in war
2) Both Led to US involvement in wars
Revionist school of thought express how the aftermath of the Cuban Missile crisis was not victory but arrogance which led the US down the path to vietnam. With Cuba having fallen to communism, the US were motivated to pursue the policy of containment in Vietnam. Consequent, after the incident of Gulf of Tonkin in august 1964 were North Vietnamese warships purportedly attacked United States warships which led to the United States engaging more directly in the Vietnam War.
Similarly, in the aftermath of the Berlin blockade, due to the precedent of Soviet aggression, Western countries perceived Korean War as product of soviet aggression, though it was the culmination of North Korea agression, under the leadership of Kim Il-sung and with the approval of Joseph Stalin that led to the invasion South Korea in June, 1950. Consequently, through the UN authorized agreement to take military action against North Korean forces, On June 27, President Truman announced to the nation and the world that America would intervene in the Korean conflict in order to prevent the conquest of an independent nation by communism. (US were official involved in the Korea war)
Create an outline for the question: Compare the Sginficance of two Cold war Crises in different regions (Give 2 differences)
1) Berlin blockade led the continuty of the arms race
During the Berlin blockade - acts of aggression between two superpowers were greater than the idea of peaceful coexistence. Thus in the aftermath of the Berlin blockade, Soviet-developed an atomic bomb on August 29, 1949, ending the US’s nuclear monopoly. This led to President Harry S. Truman’s announcement on January 31, 1950 to go forward with the development of the new weapon despite the controversy of its extreme danger to mankind.
Whilst in the Cuban missile crisis, nuclear deterrence between two superpowers was greater than the idea of nuclear war duereality of mutually assured destruction. This caused the US and Soviets to pursue detente. Led to the Nuclear Test Ban treaty signed in 1963 prohibited all forms of nuclear tests except underground testing (post Cuban Missile Crisis)
2) Citizen of both side realized the possibility of nuclear war
With berlin blockade that wasn’t a threat, soviets did not have an atomic bomb
3) Berlin blockade, they were few nuclear weapons and US had an atomic bomb monopoly. Whilst in Cuban missile crisis - they were enough to destroy them world. There were still 100 Soviet nukes in Cuba when the standoff ended whereas as the nuclear stockpile of the United States, consisting of more than 3,500 warheads, was six times that of the Soviet Union.
Describe the Berlin Crisis from start to finish
Berlin Crisis, 1958- 1961
Problems in east German, lack of skilled workers, and freedom to travel into west berlin where goods were much cheaper led to the scarcity of goods in East Berlin and a wealth gap between East and West Berliners. Threatened stability of East Germany. Thus, on November 10 1958 Khrushchev gave a speech demanding that the Western powers of the United States, Great Britain, and France pull their forces out of West Berlin within six months. This ultimatum sparked a three-year crisis over the future of the city of Berlin that culminated in 1961 with the building of the Berlin Wall. Looking for a way to stop the flow of people from east to west and a means to check the growing military power of West Germany, Khrushchev insisted in his November 1958 speech that it was time for the United States to pull out of the city. The west interpreted his speech as an ultimatum, and U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower became determined not to give in to Soviet demands. Khrushchev wanted the Western garrisons out of West Berlin as a precursor to reunifying the city, but Eisenhower believed that protecting the freedom of West Berlin required an ongoing U.S. presence. Although Khrushchev and Eisenhower made some progress toward mutual understanding during talks at Camp David in the United States in 1959, relations became tense after the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 spy plane canvassing Soviet territory in 1960. At that point, talks ceased, and the Soviet premier appeared willing to wait for the U.S. presidential elections to take place so he could begin anew with the incoming administration.In the summer of 1961, President John F. Kennedy met with Khrushchev in Vienna to address the ongoing issue of Berlin, in addition to the countries’ competing interests in Laos, and the question of disarmament. Although they agreed to further discussions on Laos, they found no solution to the Berlin problem. In the wake of the conference, Khrushchev once again gave the United States six months to withdraw from Berlin. Kennedy responded by activating 150,000 reservists and increasing defense expenditures, in preparation for a potential conflict over the future of the city. Unwilling to face a potential nuclear escalation over the city, Khrushchev prepared to take his own form of action. On the morning of August 13, 1961, Berliners awoke to discover that on the orders of East German leader Walter Ulbricht , a barbed wire fence had gone up overnight separating West and East Berlin and preventing movement between the two sides. The barbed wire fence was soon expanded to include cement walls and guard towers. The Berlin Wall would prevent the West from having further influence on the East, stop the flow of migrants out of the communist sector, and ultimately become the most iconic image of the Cold War in Europe. Shortly after the wall was erected, a standoff between U.S. and Soviet troops on either side of the diplomatic checkpoint led to one of the tensest moments of the Cold War in Europe. A dispute over whether East German or Soviet guards were authorized to patrol the checkpoints and examine the travel documents of U.S. diplomats passing through led the United States to station tanks on its side of the checkpoint, pointing toward the East German troops just beyond the wall. Concerns that U.S. forces would either attempt to take down the wall or force their way through the checkpoint led the Soviet Union to station its own tanks on the East German side. A wrong move during the face-off could have led to war, and any conventional skirmish between two nuclear powers always brought with it the risk of escalation. Instead, Kennedy made use of back channels to suggest that Khrushchev remove his tanks, promising that if the Soviet Union did so, the U.S. Army would reciprocate. The standoff ended peacefully. The Berlin Wall remained in place until November 9, 1989, when the border between East and West Berlin was reopened and the wall itself was finally dismantled.
August 12- 13 1961 till November 9, 1989.
Significance:
`1) Wall was a symbol of the division between east and wes
2) It was an ideological defeat for soviet ( crisis signified how socialism was inferior to capitalism economically)
