Cold War Rivalries 1955-63

Question 1

Extension of the Arms Race

Answer 1

• After Stalin’s death soviet foreign policy rather contradictory
• Peaceful coexistence but then supported revolutionary regimes and were stock pilling nuclear weapons
  
  • To do with Mao’s challenge to be leader of the communist world
• Only after the Cuban missile crisis that both countries seemed to reconsider nuclear policies
• March 1954 USA tested H-bomb 1500 times more powerful that the one on Hiroshima
• By 1955 they had tested ones that were 100 times more powerful than the first attempt
• USA created Strategic Air Command led by General Curtis LeMay from 1948

Question 2

Strategic Air Command (SAC)

Answer 2

• Organisation set up for the defence of the US
• Role was to provide 24 hour readiness
• By 1957 SAC had become an efficient all jet force focused on strategic bombers

Question 3

New Delivery Systems

Answer 3

• From 1957 USSR was able to develop missile delivery systems for Nuclear warheads
• Summer of 1957 tested first ICBM and in October put first satellite into orbit
• Eisenhower reinforcing that the u were winning the arms race
• US 1959 SLBM Polaris, The Thor and minuteman (ICBM) systems
• USSR had developed SS-6 system and replaced with more manoeuvrable SS-7

Question 4

Gaither Report

Answer 4

• First presented the idea of a missile gap
• Revealed gaps between Soviet and US technology predicted 100-30 lead in ICBMs favouring the Soviets
• America’s long term prospect was on the highest danger as the USSR’s power increased

Question 5

U-2 Spy Plane

Answer 5

• Unauthorised reconnaissance flights started in 1950
• Range of 2600 miles and could fly at 75,000 feet enabled it to be out of radar and missile attacks until 1961

Question 6

Strategic Bomber Numbers

Answer 6

USA:
1956 - 560
1960 - 550
USSR:
1956 - 60
1960 - 175

Question 7

SLBM Numbers

Answer 7

USA:
1962 - 145
USSR:
1962 - 45

Question 8

ICBM Numbers

Answer 8

USA:
1960 - 295
1964 - 835
USSR:
1960 - 75
1964 - 200

Question 9

USSR Space Race

Answer 9

• 4 October 1957 USSR claimed first victory having sent first satellite into orbit, Sputnik
• November dog ,Laika, sent into ten day orbit in Sputnik II
• Sputnik II had convinced USA that USSR could launch nuclear missiles from it
• Sputnik undermined the effectiveness of massive retaliation strategy
• Led by Sergi Korolev
• October 1959 first satellite to orbit the moon was launched
• 12 April 1961 first manned satellite launched, Yuri Gagarin.

Question 10

USA Space Race

Answer 10

• Sputnik created sense of urgency
• September 1958 authorised $1 billion in the space technology
• 6 December 1957 US’s Vanguard rocket crashed on its takeoff
• By 1962 had successfully launched 63 space missions
• From 1960 US discover program was providing long range intelligence - enabled to gather more in one capture than the four years of U-2

Question 11

Hallstein Doctrine

Answer 11

• 1955 Khrushchev recognised GDR as independent state
• West Germany had diplomatic relations with USSR but did not want to form indirect recognition of divided Germany
• Hallstein Doctrine announced the FRG would regard the recognition of the GDR and would end diplomatic relations with such states (USSR)

Question 12

What Influenced Khrushchev’s Thinking with the Berlin Crises

Answer 12

• Soviet space programme appeared to dominate over US space program
• West Germany now a member of NATO and could be equipped with nuclear weapons
• USSR’s hold on parts of Eastern Europe were fragile
• No restrictions on the GDR allowing citizens to leave the country
• West had not yet recognised existence of the GDR

Question 13

Second Berlin Crisis 1958-9

Answer 13

• 27 November 1958 USSR issued a 6 month ultimatum to the West demanding the withdrawal of troops from West Berlin and Berlin to be declared a ‘free city’
• Because of this the Hallstein Doctrine would be an irrelevancy
• 31 December Western powers rejected the ultimatum
• This alarmed FRG especially when Harold Macmillan visited Moscow February 1959 and when Khrushchev invited to Camp David talks
• West Germany leader Konrad Adenauer feared an American Betrayal

Question 14

Third Berlin Crisis August 1961

Answer 14

• 2.7 million people had fled from East to West between 1949-61
• Destroying East Germany’s Economy
• Nikita Khrushchev and Walter Ulbricht decided Berlin had to be sealed off
• 13 August 1961 barbed wire was placed and soon replaced by a concrete wall and only four recognised crossing points

Question 15

Fourth Berlin Crisis October 1961

Answer 15

• Began when East German guard wouldn’t let Allan Lighter across the border
• US responded by sending military escorts with diplomats to border points
• Checkpoint Charlie key crossing
• US had M48 Patton Tanks
• USSR had T-55 Tanks
• Separated by 100m

Question 16

What did Berlin Wall Symbolise

Answer 16

• June 1963 Kennedy to Berliners said ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ and showed the West’s commitment to defend freedom and control expansionist communism
• GDR’s economic crisis was solved immediately
• West had reached a degree of recognition of the GDR