History, How secure was the USSR control over Eastern Europe Flashcards
Two key groups that defeated Hitler’s forces
Local partisans, The Red Army of the USSR
Differing perspectives
Many communists believed Moscow offered the best source of protection, others on the left believed that their country should be fully independent without taking orders from the USSR (Josef Tito), and a third group wanted to ally with the US and the West
List the reasons why Hungary was resistant to Soviet control.
Hungary was a strongly religious nation and the Catholic church was a very powerful institution, Hungary was a join partner in the Austro-Hungarian empire, Hungarians were nationalistic
Who was Stalin’s main ally in Hungary
Matyas Rakosi
Give a summary of what happened in Hungary after Stalin died.
Anti-communist demonstrations in East Berlin were crushed my armies and police. The USSR troops withdraw from Austria that had stationed there since the end of second world war.
Opposition in Moscow
After Stalin died, Nikita Krushchev won control over the government. Rakosi was replaces by Erno Gero. Rajk’s funeral became a public demonstration. Students, soldiers, and workers rioted over Stalinist long term control over Moscow.
Define secret speech
A speech from Nikita Krushchev after Stalin died that stunned the audience from announcing a change of direction and criticizing Stalin dictator’s rule.
Define Radio Free Europe
Radio provided for people who lives in communist countries in Eastern Europe funded by the US and assisted by the CIA
Who was Nikita Khrushchev?
He was a Stalin loyalist in the 1930s and managed to win control of the communist party after Stalin’s death. Made the secret speech.
What did Krushchev did on 4 November
Sent 200,000 men and 2000 tanks to fight in Budapest (Hungary) that lasted for a week.
What was Czechoslovakia created out of?
Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1919.
Czechoslovakia was ________________ the strongest of the Eastern European countries.
economically
What happened in the winter of 1946/47?
Czechoslovakia was hit by the harsh economic condition.
What was Czechoslovakia created out of?
Austro Hungarian empire
Who was Jan Masaryk
A popular liberal and the only non-communist left in the government.
What did Jan Masaryk’s death do?
It encouraged the United States Congress to support the Marshall Plan.
What were the causes of opposition to Soviet Rule?
There were many protests, too much influence from communist leaders in Czechoslovakia, attitude hardened in the 1990s because economy was clearly failing, they wanted to relax communism but not ending it.
Define “socialism with a human face”.
Was meant to show socialist (in this context communist) that policies could and should be more about human rights than power policies.
Who became leader of the USSR after Khrushchev?
Leonid Brezhnev
What were Dubcek’s reforms?
- Freedom of speech
- Czechoslovaks were allowed to visit other countries beyond the iron curtains.
- Businesses could run themselves
- Workers’ councils could be formed
- A new parliament was to be freely elected
Define trade unions.
Organisations campaigning for increased wages and improved working conditions for members
What was Brezhnev’s reaction to Dubcek’s reform
Predictably negative
Which countries did Dubcek turn to for help and who were their leaders?
Romania and Yugoslavia Nicolai Ceaușescu and Joseph Tito
What did Brezhnev do in August?
Carried out his threat and sent in 200,000 troops and 2,000 tanks to capture Prague.
What were the two main domestic consequences?
An estimated of 150,000 people managed to escape the country into Austria and Germany during Soviet’s invasion.
A lone protest was made by a student names Jan Palach.
What were the two main external consequences?
The Chinese was furious with Brezhnev, because they disapproved the Hungarian invasion.
Give rise to Brezhnev doctrine.
What is Brezhnev Doctrine
Stated that Moscow had the right to interfere with military forces if any country in Eastern Europe attempted to abandon communism.
