Cold War Key Topic 2 Flashcards
What was the Berlin Refugee Crisis?
-The Crisis in which, from 1949-1961, 4 million East Germans fled to the West through West Berlin as the standard of living was much higher and W. Gy was much richer.
-Most were intellectuals and so it was nicknamed ‘the Brain Drain’
-Embarrassing for Khrushchev and communism in general as communism was supposedly for the people but they fled to go to a capitalist society. He wanted to remove the symbol of capitalist prosperity from communist East Germany.
What were two consequences of Khrushchev’s Ultimatum?
1) The Summits: Geneva, Camp David, Paris and Vienna conference.
-Khrushchev’s ultimatum ordered for American troops to be withdrawn from Berlin in 6 months. They had to negotiate over the ultimatum and the future of Gy. At first, negotiations were positive and deadline was extended then dropped. However, before Paris Summit, an American U2 spy plane was shot down, Khrushchev demanded apology.
-Improved relations initially, then deteriorated as US wouldn’t apologise and K stormed out of meeting.
2) Construction of the Berlin Wall (12th Aug 1961).
-In order to prevent East Berliners from the Eastern Bloc fleeing to the West, the Berlin Wall had to be constructed with military guard towers monitoring it. Berliners could not cross it and so the refugee crisis was solved.
-Improved international relations as Khrushchev had a sense of security as qualified workers no longer fled, worsened K’s prestige as it was embarrassing that a wall had to be built, shows weakness of communism.
What were two consequences of the construction of the Berlin Wall (1961)?
1) The Refugee Crisis had been solved
-Due to the wall, East Berliners were now unable to move freely into the West, meaning more qualified workers stayed in East Berlin and E. Gy so standard of living increased.
-Improved international relations as Khrushchev felt a new sense of security as he had solved the crisis.
2) West won a propaganda victory
-The construction of the wall showed that the USSR had to build one in order to stop the refugee crisis and people from fleeing from communist society, showing capitalism’s superiority and wealth. 200 people died trying to cross the wall, showed people willing to risk lives to reach capitalist W. Gy.
-Improved prestige of JFK and capitalist countries as it showed how East Germans believed capitalism to be preferable.
What were some events leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962)?
-The Cuban Revolution- socialist/communist revolutionary Fidel Castro came to power following a revolution.
-The US refused to recognise this gov. and placed a trade embargo on Cuba, economic sanctions limiting trade, causing Cuba to become closer to the USSR, who offer them support.
-Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 when Cuban exiles were sent by the US in an attempt to overthrow Castro which was unsuccessful.
-Construction of Soviet missile sites in Cuba, the USA was in close proximity to them.
What were two consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion (1961)?
1) Cuba became closer allies with the USSR
-The USSR provided military defence to Cuba to help defend in case of future attacks from the US. Increased trade, eg Soviet oil and Cuban sugar exchanged.
-Improved relations between Cuba and USSR, deteriorates between US and Cuba.
2) Cuba becomes completely detached from the US
-Castro announced that he was a communist and was becoming closer in terms of trade and ideology to the USSR
-Deterioration of relations between US and Cuba as they had conflicting ideologies and increased tension due to Soviet missile sites in Cuba
What were the key events in the Cuban Missile Crisis (1961)?
-There was a US naval blockade around Cuba, stopping Soviet ships with missiles from reaching it.
-A US Spy Plane flew over Cuba, taking pictures of Soviet missile sites and military positions. Soviets shot down, killing the pilot.
-US ships chased down Soviet submarines, almost starting nuclear war.
-US and USSR reached a deal on removal of both sides’ weapons from Italy and Turkey (US) and Cuba (USSR).
-Soviet ships with more weaponry turn around.
What were two consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis (1961)?
1) Khrushchev forced to resign as Soviet Premier.
-He was seen to have brought the world to the brink of nuclear war by some and too weak to not go ahead with it by others. Removal of US Jupiter missiles in Turkey was private while their removal of missiles was public so it looked like a big loss for the USSR.
-Decreased prestige of Khrushchev as his successes were not public so it seemed like a humiliating loss for him, also forced to resign as Premier.
2) Hotline set up between White House and Kremlin
-Slow communication between the powers during the CMC led to them being brought to the brink of a nuclear war and so faster, direct communication was set up in 1963 between them.
-Improvement in international relations as there was faster communication for the leaders of the two superpowers who could resolve disputes peacefully and quickly.
What were some causes of the Prague Spring?
-Dubcek replaced Novotny as President of Czechoslovakia.
-Censorship was abolished in the news are multiple parties were introduced, allowing for opposition to communism and open criticism, posing a threat to comm. power in Cz.
-Dubcek strived for ‘socialism with a human face’ and had more liberal views which the USSR did not approve of.
-He was still a communist but wanted to win support by removing its worst features.
What were the key events of the Prague Spring?
-Dubcek become President of Cz, introducing reforms pushing for democratisation and ‘socialism with a human face’.
-Other parties were formed and there was open criticism of communists.
-Bratislava Agreement was signed in which Dubcek reassured Brezhnev he wouldn’t leave the Warsaw Pact.
-Tito was welcomed into Cz which worried Brezhnev so the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia.
What were two consequences of the Prague Spring?
1) Introduction of the Brezhnev Doctrine
-Brezhnev invade Cz with tanks and troops then released BD. BD stated that the USSR had the right to invade and use military force on any country in Eastern Bloc whose actions threatened the security of the whole Eastern Bloc, as he felt the Prague Spring had done.
-Policy change as a new doctrine had been introduced which changed foreign policy so that USSR could invade E. Bloc countries.
2) Division in communism in Europe
-After the Soviet invasion of Cz, communist parties in Western Europe (France and Italy) split from Soviet communism, developing Eurocommunism.
-This was because they were outraged by the Soviet invasion and believed it was unjust, declaring themselves independent from Soviet communism.
-Deterioration of international relations between communist countries as there was a divide between comm. and Eurocomm.
What were the international responses to the Soviet invasion of Cz?
-USSR: invaded Cz and introduced Brezhnev Doctrine to maintain power over satellite states.
-US: verbal condemnation of invasion but no military aid, embroiled in Vietnam War, unspoken deal with Soviets about military intervention.
-Western Europe: also verbally condemned without action as had no US support. Development of Eurocommunism.
