Cold War Section 2 Flashcards
1
Q
What was the brain drain?
A
- Followed formation of two dictions in Germany in 1949, differences were beginning to arise between the two.
- West Germany received Marshall Aid n became a prosperous country w a high standard of living
- East Germany received much less help from ISSR and economic policies were VERY unsuccessful
- Many restrictions of the people’s freedom n were closely monitored by secret police
- By 1958, 3 million ppl had crossed the boarder, these ppl included engineers, technicians n teachers (workers East Germany highly depended on)
2
Q
Consequences of brain drain
A
- East Germany receiving less help led to low standard of living and shortage of basic food.
- Due to restrictions on ppl’s freedom, many East Germans decided to migrate to West Berlin from where they could free,y travel around the country.
- Not only was East Germany losing valuable ppl, but this was also a propaganda disaster for communism.
3
Q
Khrushchev’s Berlin ultimatum
A
- 27 Nov 1958, K demanded that Berlin should be demilitarised n Western troops were to withdraw n Berlin should become a free city (w its own independent government)
- Gave them a time limit of 6 months
- If they failed to meet these conditions, K would hand over control of all routes into Berlin to the gov of East Germany
- This meant that Western were forced to acknowledge East Germany was a legitimate country
4
Q
Consequences of ultimatum and brain drain
A
- major impact on US-USSR relations
- The West saw this as an attempt to spread communism
- Both countries had a large number of nuclear weapons, meaning that there would be great casualties is they decided on war over Berlin
- Summit meetings: Geneva, Camp David, U2 crisis, Vienna
5
Q
Summit meeting: Geneva (May 1959)
A
- Foreign ministers met (significant as only reps were there)
- Held in Geneva, Switzerland (politically neutral land)
- Both sides put forward proposals, but no agreements made (shows countries were not working well together)
6
Q
Summit meeting: Camp David (Sept. 1959)
A
- Eisenhower n Khrushchev met for 1st time face-to-face in presidential ranch (significant as it shows US trust)
- No agreements made but USSR withdrew ultimatum (relations improving)
- Further talks planned in Paris for following summer (intentions to work together to make changes)
7
Q
Summit meeting: U2 crisis (1 May 1960)
A
- USSR shot down an American U-2 spy plane over land
- US tries to claim that it was a weather plane blown off-course but pilot (Gary Powers) admitted to being on a spy mission after Soviet interrogation
- Eisenhower refused to apologise saying that the spy missions were unavoidable
8
Q
Summit meeting: Vienna ( June 1961)
A
- Kennedy had a policy of building up US’s military forces n trying to resolve difficulties with USSR
- Khrushchev believe Kennedy was inexperienced n would be able to use him. His rep had also suffered after the failed US invasion of Cuba at ‘Bay of Pigs’
- ## Khrushchev renewed the Berlin Ultimatum at this summit n ultimately no decisions were made
9
Q
Consequences of reinstatement of Berlin ultimatum
A
- JFK n Khrushchev relationship became strained
- JFK increased spending on armed forces by 2 billion to protect the US (shows that the US was prepared to fight over Berlin)
- The building of the Berlin Wall
10
Q
What was the Berlin Wall?
A
- On the 12 Aug 1961, East German troops built a barbed wire fence around Berlin and between East n West Berlin, which later became concrete.
- This was used to prevent East Germans freely travelling to West Germany
- Consequence of Berlin Ultimatum
11
Q
Consequences of building of Berlin Wall
A
- Brain drain was solved
- Berlin physically split into East n West ideologies
- Escape attempts ( one woman threw a mattress out her window, landed but later died from her injuries)
- Families split for nearly 40 years
- Other attempted escapees were shot w 130 ppl killed
- JFK’s ‘ich bin ein Berliner’ speech, also was treated like a ‘rockstar’ as he was showered with flowers n ppl chanted his name
12
Q
Importances of building the Berlin Wall
A
- Berlin physically split into East n West ideologies
- Partially propaganda for USSR - wall showed that USSR had to ‘lock’ ppl into East Berlin to keep them from leaving
- Less likelihood that US n USSR would go to war over Berlin - Kennedy said ‘a wall is better than war’
- Shows that East n West could no longer peacefully negotiate
13
Q
What was the Cuban Revolution 1959?
A
- A military n political effort to overthrow the gov of Cuba between 1953 n 1959.
- Fidel Castro overthrows Cuba’s pro-US gov.
- Cuba only 90 miles away from Florida
- American businesses heavily invested in Cuba.
- New Castro gov took over all land n became communist.
- US banned import of Cu an sugar which threatened bankruptcy
- Castro becomes allied w Khrushchev n Soviet Union
14
Q
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis 1962?
A
- A 13 day confrontation between the governments of the US and SU, when American deployments of nuclear missiles in Italy n Turkey were matched by Soviet deployments of nuclear missiles in Cuba.
- Khrushchev’s plan to put missiles on Cuba, protecting Cuba and placing missiles within striking distance of US
- Vienna summit - Khrushchev thinks Kennedy is weak. 25th Sept 1962 114 SU ships to Cuba w warheads n long range missiles
- Kennedy’s advisors r split into ‘hawks’ and ‘doves’.
- Hawks want aggressive policy e.g. attack Cuba w nuclear weapons.
- Doves advised caution , recommending diplomatic strategies
- An immediate suggestion was a naval blockade to stop the 114 ships
15
Q
What were the ‘13 days’ 16th Oct - 28th Oct 1962?
A
- Closest world has ever been to a world war during the Cold War time period
- 20th - US naval blockade
- 22nd - Kennedy publicly declares blockade n calls on Khrushchev to recall ships
- 23rd - Khrushchev sends letter - SU will break through blockade
- 24th - 18 SU ships turn around to avoid confrontation. Kennedy demands removal of missiles or SU invasion
- 25th - SU n US on high alert. Kennedy writes to Khrushchev
- 26th - SU to remove missiles if no US Cuban invasion
- 27th - SU secret letter - SU remove missiles in Cuba if US not invade n remove missiles in Turkey
- 28th - Secret deal accepted - no one knows US missiles removed from Turkey
16
Q
What was the Bay of Pigs 1960?
A
- Eisenhower agreed to a scheme where Cuban exiles in USA were trained by the CIA to then invade Cuba n remove Castro. Kennedy continued this, assuming Castro was unpopular.
- 1500 Cuban exiles in Florida, w some US backing, attempted the plan
- The force was defeated in 2 days n the US were humiliated
- Relations strengthened between the SU and Cuba as Castro asks SU to defend Cuba.
17
Q
Bay of Pigs: Kennedy’s plan
A
- Kennedy became president in 1960 n decided to hatch a new plan to support plant to replace Castro w a capitalist government
- His plan was to instruct CIA to train n equip a group of Cuban refugees.
- They invaded the Bay of Pigs in April 1961
- The ppl of Cuba supported Castro’s government
- The US-backed force was defeated within 2 days
- In spite of victory, Castro felt vulnerable n feared another US attack so turned to USSR for more support.
18
Q
Consequences + Importance of Cuban Missile Crisis
A
Cons:
- Khrushchev authority questioned
- Outer Space Treaty signed 1967
Imp:
- NATO is weaker
- Khrushchev kicked out
19
Q
Consequences + Importance of Cuban Revolution
A
Cons:
- Cuba relationship with USSR very good
- Cuba relationship w USA worsens
Imp:
- Cuba-USSR relationship was now not purely trade; military alliance
20
Q
Consequences + Importance of Bay of Pigs
A
Cons:
- Castro asked Khrushchev for support
- Castro showed images of wrecked planes to journalists
- Humiliation for USA
Imp:
- USSR and Cuba relationship stronger as it was now military alliance
- Defeat became public humiliation for USA
- Communism was growing
21
Q
What led to the Prague Spring happening?
A
- Czechoslovakia satellite state of SU
- Communism disliked by majority of general population
- Secret police ran Czechoslovakia, n ruined political opponents
- Czech economy struggling
22
Q
Who was Novotny?
A
- Antonin Novotny became leader in November 1957, disliked
- Followed Stalinist
- Attempt to fix economy failed, n Czech unhappy w lack of free will and censorship
- Student Protest in 1966
23
Q
Who was Dubcek?
A
- Dubcek was former leader of Slovakian Communist Party
- Brezhnev replaced Novotny w Dubcek, his acquaintance
- Dubcek rose to power January 5th 1968
24
Q
Socialism w a human face
A
- Overhaul the most confining parts of communist life
- Reform the Czech economy
- Permit more cultural freedom
25
What was the Prague Spring?
- Political opposition groups being allowed
- More power given to Czech opposition as opposed to Brezhnev
- Less press censorship
- Freedom of speech. Assembly, travel and religion
- Less power given to the secret police
- Some capitalist components added to Czech economy
- Increased trade with the West
26
Brezhnev’s predicament
- Brezhnev put in a tough spot as he and Dubcek were friends but Prague Spring was threatening to destroy Eastern Bloc and Soviet grip Czechoslovakia
- Brezhnev tried to get Dubcek to reconsider Prague Spring but Dubcek stood his ground
27
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
- B ordered 500,000 of his troops to invade Czechoslovakia and they arrived on Aug 20th 1968
- Many Czechs protested against the invasion
- A week later, Aug 27th, Dubcek announced end of Prague Spring reforms, which came into effect in October of that year
- Dubcek was arrested and told by B that he betrayed socialism. He has to sign Moscow protocol
- Gustav Husak replaced Dubcek as leader of Czechoslovakia
28
Reactions to Prague Spring
- Majority of students, intellectuals, workers and younger Czechoslovakian Communist Party members were very happy about Prague Spring
- Artists and writers (e.g. Milan Kundra) wrote literature about the flaws of the Soviet communist system
- Older Czechoslovakia Communist party members and Brezhnev disapproved Prague Spring, as well as Brezhnev’s allies in Eastern Bloc
- Dubcek reassured Brezhnev that Czechoslovakia and the USSR would stay allies and Czechoslovakia would remain a part of the Warsaw Pact
29
International reactions to Czechoslovakian invasion
- All condemned invasion but sent no military aid to help the Czechoslovakians
- USA - Tried to file resolution w UN but USSR vetoed it. US too busy w Vietnam to help Czechoslovakia
- Western Europe - French n Italian communist parties outraged and split from USSR’s communist style, creating two sides of communism; Soviet communism in the East n Eurocommunismnin the West
- Eastern Europe - Yugoslavia and Romania distanced themselves from Soviet Union n started relationship with China
30
What was the Brezhnev doctrine?
- 26th September 1968 - Brezhnev doctrine created
- Stated that Soviet Union had the right to invade a country in Eastern Europe that was dangerous to the Warsaw Pact and Eastern Bloc
31
Consequences of Prague Spring
- Led to invasion
- Led to Brezhnev Doctrine
- Led to weakened relations w Yugoslavia n Romania
- Worsening US-USSR relations
32
Importances of Prague Spring
- Soviet Union seen as aggressive internationally after invasion; esp as it was very similar to Hungarian Uprising 12 years prior
- Reiterated for Eastern European countries that they can’t count on other countries for help
