Cold War Unit 3 Flashcards
What happened in Berlin 1961?
The Berlin Wall was built
What is the date & time the Berlin Wall was built on?
13th August 1961 at 2pm
Who built the wall?
Soviet soldiers
What did the West say about the building of the wall?
They were outraged - they said it was a violation of human rights
What did many of the east Berliners do before the building of the wall?
They fled including doctors and other professionals
How long did the Berlin Wall last?
1961-1989
(28 years)
Properties of the wall?
Barbed wire followed by a concrete wall
3.6m high
27 miles long
Did the Berliners or the West expect the building of the Berlin Wall?
No - built without any consultation or communication
What were the places where people could be allowed into east Berlin?
They were called checkpoints
E.g. Checkpoint Charlie
3 reasons why the Berlin Wall was built?
- USSR wanted revenge in Berlin after the failure of their Berlin blockade in the 1940s
- Living conditions in East Berlin were poor and many fled to West Berlin including professionals (e.g. doctors) - USSR were thus fearful that they’d have no one left
- USSR became harsher after events such as U2 crisis and Hungary
What was the Soviets reasoning to building the Berlin Wall?
The western powers in Berlin used espionage on the east so the USSR said by building the wall, that they would stop such activity
Who was the first to be killed due to the Berlin Wall?
Peter Fletcher
How many people killed due to trying to cross the wall?
Approximately 140 people
What impact did the Berlin Wall have on relations?
-The USA thought the wall showed the aggressive nature of the USSR - showed that the USSR didn’t want to cooperate and would remain strict and cruel - they built it without consultation too
-JFK spoke publicly against communism in Berlin (Ich bin ein Berliner) - showed the USA and the west wouldn’t back down easily and wouldn’t be afraid to address this publicly
-USSR were more suspicious of the USA with espionage hence why they built the wall - they were more fearful - would do anything to protect themselves
When was the ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech said?
26 June 1963
What was said in the ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech?
Reassurance provided to Berliners
Said wall would eventually fall and that they should stay strong
What was the impact of the ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech on international relations?
Strong, defiant message
Put down the USSR’s hopes do drive the allies out of Berlin
Showed the allies weren’t afraid to publicly disagree with the USSR
Where is Cuba located?
160km from Florida (close to the USA)
What did Americans have in Cuba?
They owned most of the businesses and had a naval base there
Why did the Americans support Batista (the Cuban leader)?
He opposed communism - just like the USA
Why was Fidel Castro (the opposition leader) well liked in Cuba?
Charming, clever
Had a vision for a better Cuba
What happened to Batista?
He was overthrown by Castro and the communists
Why did relations between Cuba and the USA worsen as Castro took over?
Castro was communist
Castro took over the USA’s businesses on the island
What did President Eisenhower authorise in June 1960?
For the CIA to investigate ways of overthrowing Castro - supported and funded the Cuban exiles and investigated ways to distrust the Cuban economy (e.g. damaging sugar plantations)
How did Castro respond to US hostility?
Assured the Americans living in Cuba that they were safe
Allowed US to still have Naval base in Cuba
By 1960, Castro allied Cuba with USSR - signed an agreement that gave Cuba $100mil and gave Cuba arms
What happened with the USA and Cuba in 1961?
Bay of pigs
Why did the USA decide to act in Cuba in 1961?
New president- JFK
What did the Americans plan to do at the bay of pigs invasion?
Invade Cuba
Overthrow Castro using arms and equipment
Transport 1400 Cuban exiles back to Cuba to help overthrow him
What actually happened at the bay of pigs invasion?
When American forces arrived, 20,000 Cuban troops were waiting there with weapons
Invasion failed
Castro captured all invaders and killed them all within days
What did the bay of pigs invasion suggest about USA?
Unwilling to get directly involved with Cuba (sent exiles)
What do historians say about the bay of pigs invasion?
Further encouraged spread of communism - it was stronger and more powerful
Suggested to the USSR that JFK was weak
Made Castro and Khrushchev suspicious of USA’s policies
How may have the USSR felt after the bay of pigs invasion?
Proud - communism won again
Why were there tensions between USA and USSR over Cuba?
1952 - Soviet Union announced publicly that it was supplying Cuba with arms
1962 - Cuba had the best equipped army in South America
USA (specifically Florida) close to Cuba
What happened in October 1962?
The Cuban missile crisis
How did the Cuban missile crisis start?
14th October 1962 - American spy plane flew over Cuba - taking photos of missile sites in Cuba
Military experts said that there were nuclear missile sites being built by the USSR
16th October 1962 - Kennedy was informed about the discovery and formed a group of advisors - Ex Comm
What did the USSR and the USA come close to in the Cuban missile crisis?
Nuclear war
What did the USA find out on October 14th?
There was a missile site in Cuba - photos taken by a spy plane
What was the name of the committee formed by Kennedy?
Ex comm
What did Kennedy do on October 22nd?
A naval quarantine was ordered around Cuba
Sent a letter to Khrushchev to demand the removal of missiles
What did Khrushchev say on October 24th?
The blockade was an act of aggression
What happened on the 26th and 27th of October?
USSR removed missiles from Cuba in return for promise that USA wouldn’t invade Cuba
Second letter demanded removal of US Jupiter missiles from Turkey
U2 plane was shot down over Cuba
What happened in the evening of the 27th October?
Steps for removal of Soviet missiles under supervision of the UN and a guarantee that the USA wouldn’t invade Cuba
What did Khrushchev say on 28th October?
Sent out a public message that the missiles would be removed from Cuba
Summary of the events of the Cuban missile crisis?
October 14 - spy plane took photos of missile sites over Cuba
October 16 - ex comm formed
October 22 - naval quarantine around Cuba was ordered by Kennedy & he sent a letter demanding removal of the missiles to Khrushchev
October 24 - Khrushchev said blockade was an act of aggression
October 26 & 27 - USSR agreed to remove missiles from Cuba, USA agreed to removed Jupiter missiles from Turkey & USA agreed to not invade Cuba
October 28 - public message from Khrushchev saying missiles will be removed from Cuba
What was the 4 main impacts of the Cuban missile crisis on relations between USA and USSR?
- Direct ‘hot line’ between White House and Kremlin was set up
- Nuclear test ban treaty was signed in 1963
- Showed the USA were fearful - espionage & felt the need to set up quarantine
- USSR didn’t have negative intentions - reasonably made peace
What was life like in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s?
Communist country - media was highly controlled
Bad living standards
There was secret police (AVO/AVH)
Many people began to protest
How was the situation in Czechoslovakia similar to Hungary?
Propaganda used to keep control
Use of secret police
Bad living conditions
Public demonstrations
What happened in Czechoslovakia after the protests?
New leader appointed - Alexander Dubcek
Proposed a policy of “socialism with a human face”
Introduced several reforms - known as Prague springs
What were some of the reforms introduced in the Prague springs?
End of press censorship
Free elections
Increased standards of living
Opposition parties allowed
How did the USSR respond to the Prague springs?
NEW LEADER OF USSR: Brezhnev
20th August 1968 – The USSR moved tanks into Czechoslovakia
Dubcek was removed from power but was not executed
the USSR issued the Brezhnev Doctrine
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
Warsaw Pact countries weren’t allowed to abandon communism or else the USSR would get involved
How was the way the USSR handled Czechoslovakia similar to the way they handle Hungary?
Removed leaders who were less strict
Sent tanks to invade & used force in both
West did nothing
HOWEVER Dubcek wasn’t executed but Nagy was
What does Détente mean?
Relaxation of tensions e.g. Khrushchevs Thaw
What 6 main things happened in the 1960s that led to an increase in fears and suspicions?
Berlin Wall
U2 Crisis
Castro revolution
Cuban missile crisis
Czechoslovakia & Prague springs
Arms and space race
Why was the end of the 1960s a good time to have a détente?
Tensions were high
Cuban missile crisis - world came close to nuclear war
What were the 4 main reasons why there was a détente?
- Economic problems for the USA and USSR - inflation is USA and USSR had poor living conditions so needed to trade with the west SO both needed to trade with each other to improve their economy
- Weapons - both spent a lot of money on weapons and had enough weapons to end the world SO neither wanted world to end with nuclear destruction
- Oil - both sides were worried about conflict over the Middle East as it was important for oil SO didn’t want conflict as they both needed it for living
- Initiatives of President Nixon - in USA, he wanted better relations with USSR and wanted to continue Khrushchevs policy of peaceful coexistence SO both wanted peace with each other
What does SALT 1 stand for?
Strategic arms limitation talks
When was SALT 1?
1972
What was said at SALT 1?
It limited the number of ICBMs and Anti Ballistic Missiles on both sides
Allowed each side to use spy satellites to spy on each others sides
Agreement lasted 5 years
Who led SALT 1?
President Nixon
