Final Exam

Question 1

Blitzkrieg

Answer 1

1939. German lightning warfare. Characterized by highly mobility and concentrated forces at point of attack., kind of warfare emphasizing rapid and mechanized movement; used by Germany during WWII

Question 2

Operation “Barbarossa”

Answer 2

code name for German invasion of USSR. Originally planned for spring of 1941, but delayed until June. Hitler believed he could defeat USSR before winter weather set in. Massive attack. largest military operation in human history in both manpower and casualties. failed because of fierce soviet resistance and German’s lack of preparations for winter weather.

Question 3

Battle of Moscow

Answer 3

1941. When Hitler moved into the Soviet Union and got within 25 miles of this very important Russian City, the Red Army undertook a massive counteroffensive. Hitler took direct command of the army and ordered push into the southern USSR to reach the oil fields and he mobilized the German economy to fight in this unexpectedly protracted conflict
      First major soviet victory…

Question 4

Blockade (Siege) of Leningrad

Answer 4

Fall of 1941. The city was encircled by German and finish forces lasting until 1944. Massive air strikes, warehouses were destroyed (they kept all of the food in one storage facility). Scarce amounts of food no way to replenish. Life roads, hunger and cold, many died.. over 1 million died in Leningrad.

Question 5

Babii Yar

Answer 5

Concentration camp near Kiev. Germans continued mass urder until Soviet army liberated Kiev in 1943. 100,000 to 200,000 killed. Significance because Germans were considered to be civilized cultured, western occupying force, but this opened the eyes of the holocaust to many western nations.

Question 6

Battle of Stalingrad

Answer 6

Aug 1942-Feb 1943. Intense street fighting, tremendous losses – Germans capturing most of the city. Soviets ended up flanking the Germans and encircling the Germans and started the soviet offensive. Largest battle of WWII and history. Significance: this battle turned the tide of the fighting on the eastern front and in WWII. The initiative largely now in allied hands.

Question 7

Georgii Zhukov

Answer 7

was a Russian career officer in the Red Army who, in the course of World War II, played a pivotal role in leading the Red Army through much of Eastern Europe to liberate the Soviet Union and other nations from the Axis Powers’ occupation and conquer Germany’s capital, Berlin. He is the most decorated general in the history of the Russian Empire,[citation needed] the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation.

Question 8

Lend-lease

Answer 8

Prior to the declaration of war, the United States contributed to the war effort. To aid the British cause, the policy of Lend-Lease was adopted in 1941. This policy provided arms, food, and raw materials to those nations antagonistic to the Axis powers. The United States introduced conscription, and constructed its army, air force, and navy. Moving from Neutrality to war. The timing of the supplies was more important then the amount.

Question 9

Battle of Kursk

Answer 9

WHO- Germans and Soviet Union
•WHAT- Major string of battles on the Eastern Front. It is known as the longest series of tank battles (especially at Prokhorovka). It was known as Operation Zitadelle [Citadel] by the Germans and was seen as a decisive Soviet victory.
•WHERE- Along the Eastern Front in Western Russia in the vicinity of Kursk
•WHEN- July- August 1943, after Stalingrad
•WHY- After the German defeat at Stalingrad they felt the need for a strategic counteroffensive into Russian territory to take the Soviets off guard and force somewhat of surrender.
•SIGNIFICANCE- This was a decisive Soviet victory, and was the last German offensive into the Soviet Union. It was also the first time a Blitzkrieg maneuver had been defeated before it could break through an enemy’s defenses. The German war machine was now struggling and their manpower slipping

Question 10

Andrei Vlasov

Answer 10

1901-1946. General of the “Russian Liberation Army” who collaborated with Nazi Germany during WWII. In general, hundreds of thousands of Soviet citizens collaborated with the Germans. Yet, overwhelmingly, the Soviet people remained loyal. The Germans were usually reluctant to use Russian units in battle against the Red Army, as the often proved unreliable. However, they were used in the East to fight anti-German Guerrillas.

Question 11

Tehran Conference

Answer 11

First major meeting in 1943 between the Big Three (United States, Britain, Russia) at which they planned the 1944 assault on France creating a second front, and agreed to divide Germany into zones of occupation after the war, December, 1943, a meeting between FDR, Churchill and Stalin in Iran to discuss coordination of military efforts against Germany, they repeated the pledge made in the earlier Moscow Conference to create the United Nations after the war’s conclusion to help ensure international peace

Question 12

Yalta Conference

Answer 12

, February, 1945 - Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met at Yalta to make final war plans, arrange the post-war fate of Germany, and discuss the proposal for creation of the United Nations as a successor to the League of Nations. They announced the decision to divide Germany into three post-war zones of occupation, although a fourth zone was later created for France. Russia also agreed to enter the war against Japan, in exchange for the Kuril Islands and half of the Sakhalin Peninsula.
Soviet control of the Poland

Question 13

Warsaw Uprising

Answer 13

1944. was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army (Polish: Armia Krajowa) to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union’s Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces.[9] However, the Soviet advance stopped short, enabling the Germans to regroup and demolish the city while defeating the Polish resistance, which fought for 63 days with little outside support.

.

Question 14

Potsdam Conference

Answer 14

The final wartime meeting of the leaders of the US, UK, SU was held as Postdamn, outside Berlin July 1945. How to administer punishment for Nazi German. Discussed the future of Europe but their failure to meaningful agreement soon led to the onset of the Cold War.

Question 15

Youth fronde

Answer 15

Youth were privileged in Soviet political and cultural system. Tended to be most vocal and critical group in society.
Many grew up fatherless/war veterans.
Many went to university. Forms of socialization.
Alternative existence appeared after the war. Groups formed not having to do with government.

Question 16

Stiliagi

Answer 16

People of style. Since 1940’s. Moscow and Leningrad.
Protest against the uniformity of behaviours and appearance.
Seen as ‘golden youth’, many of them children of soviet administrators.
Part of gradual rethinking of collective experience - ideas, change.
First steps in a new direction, toward a new more complex and conflict ridden culture.

Question 17

Marshall Plan

Answer 17

a set of foreign policies adopted by the US after WWII. Named after secretary of state George Marshall, the policies provided substantial aid to European countries, economies and democracies, many of which had been destroyed or severely damaged during the war. Helped marked beg. of cold war with no support to USSR.

Question 18

Berlin Crisis (Berlin Airlift)

Answer 18

First major Political military european incident of the cold war. it was about the occupation of the capital, Berlin and of post war Germany. USSR provoked with an ultimatum for western armed forces to be removed. This was the leading causes for the erection of the Berlin Wall. France/UK/US had to airlift supplies in. Had own currency. SU upset. 1948. After the crisis, two german states…

Question 19

Korean War

Answer 19

50-53. After WWII, Korea had been partitioned between north and south - north governed by SU, South by the US. After Russians withdrew from a communist regime, North invaded south. The United Nations raised international army led by US. it was the first use of the UN military force to enforce international peace.

Question 20

Anti-cosmopolitan campaign

Answer 20

Was a move against Western influence in the post war period as well as a move against the high amount of Jews within the USSR. The height of hostilities was between 46 and 52 with the use of secret police. Jewish intellectuals, publishes arrested. A competing religion would not be allowed in the state. Russian nationalism erupted.

Question 21

Doctors’ Plot

Answer 21

The most dramatic anti-jewish episode in the Soviet Union during Stalin regime, involving the ‘unmasking’ of a group of prominent Moscow doctors, predominantly Jews, as conspiratorial assassins of Soviet leaders. These doctors arrested for plotting to poison Stalin

Question 22

Lavrentii Beria

Answer 22

Supervised research and production of soviet nuclear weapons as well as missile production. Minister of fear - most influential soviet leader, second to Stalin.

Leningrad affair - helped plan it.
Mysterious events involving Stalins death. Went to power but was shot.
With his death ended the power the police. It was now the party leadership taking control.

Question 23

Leningrad Affair

Answer 23

48-52. Purge of over 1000 leading party officials and administration from Leningrad arrested July 1949… many executed… Done partly because communist ruler of Yogoslavia visited Leningrad and refused to submit to Stalin’s leadership.

Question 24

Georgii Malenkov

Answer 24

One of the prominent leaders of the USSR after Stalin’s death, was the Soviet primier from 1953-55. Was a member of the Anti-Party Group that attempted to get rid of Khrushchev in 1957. Was prominant in the purges, doctor’s plot, and terror along with Beria. He was representative of Stalinist tendencies in the face of Khrushchev as a reformer.

cult of personality should come to an end.

Question 25

Amnesty of 1953

Answer 25

March 1953, suggests amnesty of large number of concentration camps. Announces amnesty with to prisoners up to 5 years - mostly accused of common crimes. 48% of prison population was released.
Created many reactions in the populations, people saw convicts as released prisoners and did not treat them well. Crime rates skyrocketed.

Question 26

Virgin Lands Campaign

Answer 26

A Soviet agricultural campaign begun in the 1950s. It promoted farming in lands where it had never taken place before,, primarily in lands that were very marginal because the soil was poor or not enough water or heat was present to grow crops. Much of the land was in Siberia and Central Asia, especially in the Kazakh Republic

1954. 1000 of men and women moved to farms that were uncultivated lands.One of Krushvchev reforms. successful.

Question 27

20th Party Congress

Answer 27

Stalin, accused him of creating the cult of the individual, blamed Stalin for leaving USSR unprepared for German attack and break with Yugoslavia - quickly became public, dissociated USSR from Stalinist past, violent abuses, Khrushchev wanted to make it a more attractive model for developing nations - this and subsequent actions showed that the Soviets were willing to improve their image, relax tensions with the west and ease grip on Eastern Europe

Question 28

The Thaw

Answer 28

1954. Published by Ilya Ehrenburg, who had gained popularity during the Great Patriotic War. The Thaw was a rather amorphous text. Ehrenburg’s main goal in writing it was to capture the spirit of the time – the melting of allegorical ice in the people’s souls, the greater freedom and at the same time the great uncertainty. Despite its questionable literary quality, it was this novel that gave the name for the epoch of the 1950/1960s.

Question 29

Secret Speech

Answer 29

The common name of a speech given on Feb 25 1956 by soviet leader Khrushchev denouncing the actions of Stalin. The speech was a report to 20th party congress ‘on the personality cult and its consequences’.

first major break by soviet leadership from the long domination of Stalinism. It was presented as an attempt to draw the Communist Party of the Soviet Union closer to Leninism. Stalin was condemned for violating Leninist principles and communist party norms.

Question 30

Khrushchev’s housing reform

Answer 30

Massive program of affordable housing construction.
course of a decade, millions of families moved from barracks, dugouts and cramped communal premises to comparatively modern, although cheap separate apartments with central heating, sewage, running water.
Most successful social reform during soviet history.
Khrushchev’s housing reform something for which he was positively remembered in the soviet union during the decades to come.

Question 31

Socialist realism

Answer 31

Stalin required artists and writers to create their work in a certain style. Its goal was to show Soviet life in a positive light and promote hope in the communist future.
Government type of propaganda.

Question 32

Novyi mir

Answer 32

Journal meaning ‘New World’. The most authoritative literary journal in the country. Read by millions - mostly intelligentsia, many workers. Heigh 50-60
Lead to discussions on the thaw.
Politically dangerous.
New developments compared to Stalin…
Stalin would have had him killed.
Upsurge in social criticism in literature. Going against social realism.

Question 33

Not by Bread Alone

Answer 33

Novel that retained many features of a socialist realist production novel.
Became the banner of the thaw.
It gave people the opportunity to complain about range of social issues far beyond themes of book. Manifested new opportunities and enthusiasm for political self expression and exchange of ideas inspired by 20th party congress.
School teacher opposed by beaurocratic wanted to promote invention no one cared for. Critique of Soviet system.

Question 34

Warsaw Pact

Answer 34

Mutual defence treaty between eight communist states of central and eastern europe in existence during the cold war. the founding treaty was established under the initiative of the Soviet Union - signed May 1955 in Warsaw. Warsaw Pact was a Soviet military reaction to the integration of West Germany into NATO. Similar to NATO but with sate lit communist nations in Europe to defend against Western powers.

Question 35

Hungarian Revolution

Answer 35

occurred in 1956. It was led by students and workers, Liberal communist. Forced Soviet soldiers to leave an promised free election, renounced Hungarian military alliance with Moscow. Revolution was crushed by Soviet Union. It began a war with the Austrian monarchy, whose royal governor the people of Hungary had overthrown.

Question 36

Moscow World Youth Festival

Answer 36

Summer 1957. Foreign students come to Moscow to meet hundred of thousands soviet people. Soviet young people profoundly impressed with western popular cultures. Fascination with western skyrocketed. Western film/music became inseparable. It was a symbol of Soviet openness.

Question 37

The Pasternak Affair

Answer 37

October - November 1958.
Fundamentally reinterpreted Russia’s experience of the revolution and civil war.
First major ethical and philosophical reassessment of the revolution and the civil war to come from within Russia.
Novel traced many origins of many evils that plagued Russia.
Questions the foundations of society that even the 20th party congress did not attempt to disturb.

Question 38

The Party Opposition of 1957

Answer 38

Intense struggle between Khrushchev and Malenkov.
Malenkov principle of collective leadership. Khrushchev principle of democratic centralism.

the last party opposition. Malenkov and his associated tried to depose Khrushchev. The same people who played a decisive role in getting rid of Beria but now, in a similar scenario, the generals sided with Khrushchev and not his rivals. This saved him but - above all else it was the support of the apparatus of the central committee, which was closely related to the military. At the Plenum, regional leaders stated that the army would unequivocally support the decision of the central committee, Report given that Khrushchev’s opponents were linked to the Terror, this information profoundly compromised them. It was implied that if these men were in power, the old leaders would likely resort to terror again. Plenum ended in complete defeat of the opponents. The key issue being the Terror, anyone associated with it was permanently compromised. It showed that Khrushchev, although victorious, was to a great extent dependant on the support of the party apparatus and could not rule alone.

Opponents lead to the terror - looked good on him.

Question 39

Councils of the economy

Answer 39

1957. Khrushchev took an active interest in trying to reform the old Stalin-era mechanism of economic administration. In 1957, he began the project of decentralizing industrial management, many branch ministries in Moscow were liquidated and their powers handed down to newly created “council of the economy” in the regions. Decentralization did not make industry much more efficient, however -because the producers still largely lacked market incentives to work. The economy was slowing down.

Question 40

Yuri Gagarin

Answer 40

1961, was the first person to travel into space. Soviet. the soviets early successful space mission spurred the US to increase their efforts in this field
Almost reached communism.
Greatest soviet science achievement. Lead to 22nd…

Question 41

Novocherkassk riots

Answer 41

May 1962. The price of dairy and meat increase to stimulate agriculture sector - highly unpopular.
Food shortages got worse, worst time in history, first time that Soviets imported grains from outside Russia.
Riots broke out due to increased prices, food shortages, increased pay cuts.. police failed to dispense rioters. Army called in, fired on crowd.
Khrushchev’s popularity at its lowest.

Question 42

22nd Party Congress

Answer 42

Khrushchevs goals: reclaim leadership of communism (over china) to establish enthusiasm for communism in russia. denounces Stalin.
20 years..
Crusical blow to stalin name. re naming streets. anything related to stalin.
removed body.
attack on terror attacked boldly.
more forward, publicized.
Major water shed on soviet history. attacked boldly. He bacame greatly criticized.

Question 43

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Answer 43

Wrote “one day in the life of ivan denishovick”… labour camps/concentration camps. published during intellectual movement. Khrushchev loosened government controls on literary works allowing these books to be published legally. opposed communism through his writings. Many soviets identified with Ivan as a symbol of the suffering they had endured under Stalin
Terror problem that they had to deal with. Who are the enemies we are searching for.

Question 44

Cuban Missile Crisis

Answer 44

international crisis Oct 1962. closest approach to nuclear war at any time between US and USSR. US discovered Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba, pRESIDENT jf Kennedy demanded their removal, annouced naval blockade of island… Khrushchev acceded to demands week later. US removed from turkey,

Question 45

U-2 incident

Answer 45

1960. The incident when an American U-2 spy pane was shot down over the Soviet Union. The US denied the true purpose of the plan, forced to when the USSR produced the living piolet and largely intact plane to validate their claim of being spiel on aerially. Incident worsened East-West relations during Cold War. Great embarrassment for the US.

Question 46

Berlin Wall

Answer 46

A fortified wall surrounding West Berlin, germany built in 1961 to prevent east Germany citizens from traveling to the West. It demolition in 1989 symbolized the end of the Cold War. This wall was both a deterrent to individuals trying to escape and a symbol of repression to the free world.

Question 47

Sino-Soviet split and border conflicts

Answer 47

1960s. The process of parting with Stalin’s legacy produced a serious diplomatic crisis for the Soviet Union; the split with China. Mao Zedong was severely resentful about the denunciation and the dismantling of Stalin’s cult in the Soviet Union. The other reason for the split of the Soviet rapprochement with the West, which Mao regarded as a sign of weakness - especially after the Cuban Missile Crisis, which he perceived as a defeat. 1963, the Chinese and Soviet communist parties exchange formal letters and sever ties. After the split, the situation on the border became increasingly intense. Potential danger of a nuclear was before both sides decide it would be too costly.

Question 48

Khrushchev’s removal from power

Answer 48

1964. In October, prepared plot of the top party leaders deposed Khrushchev. At the time, he was on vacation and by the time he came back everything had been decided; no one supported him this time. He was stripped of his rank and forced into retirement. Brezhnev was successor. the bankruptcy of Khrushchev’s economic course was evident by then. The only question that significantly interested the people was what would happen to Stalin’s legacy and the issue of the Terror?

Question 49

Leonid Brezhnev

Answer 49

Seized power from Khrushchev and became leader of soviet Communist party in 1964. Under his reign, Soviet Union began a period of stagnation and limited re-Stalinization. Ignored human rights provisions.Criticized for making the period of economic stagnation, the overlooking of serious economic problems eventually leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Question 50

Kosygin reforms

Answer 50

Late 1960’s. Series of unsuccessful reforms to give factory managers the power to set prices, wages and productions quotas. Had little effect because they were stubbornly resisted by the bureaucracy and adopted by few enterprises.
Widely talked about in the press.
Giving greater autonomy to enterprises. Worked for a little, back fired.

Question 51

Siniavskii-Daniel’ affair

Answer 51

1965. They were arrested for publishing their literary works in the west. Much of the writing dealt with legacy of Stalin’s terror and possibilities of it’s return.
      people did not like them, but supported them due to freedom of speech, bIRTH of human rights movement.

Question 52

Détente

Answer 52

1969-1979.. 70’s. Period of relaxed tension between the communist powers of the Soviet Union and the US set up by Nixon. Established better relations between these countries to ease Cold war. Ratified European territorial boundaries established after WWII and committed the signers to recognize and protect the basic human rights.
Ended with war of afghanistan.

Question 53

Samizdat

Answer 53

Literature suppressed by the Soviet government, secretly written, printed and distributed; also the literature itself. began appearing in the 1950’s first in Moscow then Leningrad, then throughout Soviet Union. Original carbon copies passed to reader to reader. It showed the strength and power of media.

Question 54

Solidarity

Answer 54

Polish trade union created in 1980 to protest working conditions and political repression. Began nationalist opposition to communist rule that led in 1989 to the fall of communism in eastern europe.
Protesting communism. After so many years, nothing is changing.
Signi.. leaderhsip on the defensive. Brezniv on the decline.

Question 55

Anti-corruption campaigns of the 1980s

Answer 55

Andropov’s most famous initiative was the series of massive criminal investigations of corruption of in the top party leadership. The attack on bribe taking. The attempt to eliminate corruption was meant to cure the economy from its numerous flaws, however, corruption was not the cause but the effect of the general malfunctioning of the economy. The police methods of restoring ‘order’ could only fail. Brought back the rigid administrative methods of party control over the economy not seen since Stalin’s days. KGB attack on the police - overall, about 100,000 police officers were fired. The Uzbek affair - corruption and bribery in the cotton industry, first secretary of the communist party commits suicide. Perhaps the most important effect of the campaign against corruption was that the media coverage of the prosecution of court officials created the widespread impression that the entire power structure was profoundly corrupt. At the same time, quite a few party leaders were displeased. It was under Andropov that the word mafia appeared in Soviet discourse, with regards to corrupt officials. Not real changes in the economy but absolute need for it- Andropov proved to be an inefficient leader.

Question 56

South Korean Boeing incident

Answer 56

September 1983.
Soviet anti- aircraft defense forces shot down south korea passenger plane allegedly mistaking it for a spy plane.
Just under 300 dead, no contact between the navigation services..
It created uproar in the world, aggravated by the fact that soviet leadership initially tried to deny the fact of shooting down the plane.

Question 57

Mikhail Gorbachev

Answer 57

Head of Soviet union 1985-1991. Liberalization effort improved relations with the west, he lost power after his reforms led to the collapse of Communist government in eastern Europe. foreign polcy brought end to the cold war. He brought about the age of reform, implementing openness, economic restructuring, democratic ideals to reform SU. Won Noble Peace Prize for dissolution of soviet union.
Gorbachev came back… central to fall of SU.

Question 58

Perestroika

Answer 58

1985. A new term for the proposed changes - ‘reconstruction’. In May, 1985, Gorbachev spoke to Leningrad leadership and called for massive changes in the economy, as well as politics and mentality; no clear program but a bold statement. Brought him at odds with party leadership, which gave him immense popularity among the population.

Question 59

Acceleration

Answer 59

Many people expected Gorbachev to continue Andropov’s course of bringing the country back to order, a time idealized at the moment. Gorbachev knew this and initially sought to maintain continuity with Andropov’s policies. The slogan of intensification was remodeled to ‘acceleration’. Sharp criticism of Brezhnev’s style of leadership, Gorbachev suggested that the country’s economy had been stagnant for many years. At the June 1985 All-Union Conference on issues of scientific-technical progress, Gorbachev suggested a program of changes along these lines (while reviving many old time plans from Andropov and Khrushchev). New practice of state approval of output. Reconstruction, Acceleration and State Approval popular media slogans. Problem of too much rhetoric and few practical recipes for reforming. Only recipes known to the party were the old ones, and these failed miserably.

Question 60

Chernobyl’

Answer 60

86. Nuclear power plant in Ukraine suffered two large explosions releasing large amounts of radioactive materials. worst nuclear accident in history and thousands continue to be impacted by disaster. End of Soviet censorship. Nuclear energy lost much support after this accident. Economic and technical decisions made in one state can have environmental consequences for other countries.

Question 61

Glasnost

Answer 61

Policy implemented by Gorbachev. 1980s’ providing opportunities for free speech, association and press in SU. Ended most censorship of media. Result was a burst of awareness of the problems and corruption of the Soviet system.
Pandoras box.
Brought the system down.
Policy of reconstruction.

Question 62

Repentance

Answer 62

Film. 1984
Economic liberation.. defence of the free market. Uncensored, viewed by millions, exploited Stalin past. main theme of Stalin legacy came back to entire intellectual life in USSR in all media.

Question 63

August 1991 coup d’état

Answer 63

Introduction to an ‘emergency situation’. Declared president was sick and could not govern due to health reasons. VP declared acting president. President was under house arrest, would not sign this decree of emergency situation.
Represented 1917. Taking place under slogans that became widespread and dominant in political culture.
Forget to arrest democratic reader.

Question 64

Belovezhskaia Pushcha Agreement (Belavezha Accords)

Answer 64

New loose confederacy came to replace the union “the commonwealth of the independent states. It was the ending of the USSR.
After seven decades of the soviet union, no one needed it anymore, reaction better than anything else. People kept silent.

1991. At the meeting in the Belovezhskaia Pushcha national park, the leaders of the three principal Slavic republics of the Soviet Union - Yeltsin (Russia), Kravchuck (Ukraine) and Shushkevich (Belarus) - signed an agreement terminating the existence of the Soviet Union. It was finished. Replaced by a loose confederation of republics. People met the dissolution with complete silence.