Internal Threats to the Soviet System - East Germany,Hungary and Poland Flashcards
Why was there expectations of change in the eastern bloc between 1953-56?
Khrushchev’s denunciation of Stalin
improved relations with Yugoslavia and the west
Khrushchev’s acceptance of “many roads to socialism”
Who was the leader of East Germany in 1953 and what was his rule like?
Walter Ulbricht
had a hard line approach
What happened in east Germany in June 1953?
Ulbricht raised production quotas without increasing wages
provoked demonstartions across east Germany
How many protested in East Germany?
400 000 workers
What was the US reaction to the Berlin rising?
They didn’t act but used it as anti communist propaganda
What happened in Poland in 1956?
Communist polish leader Boleslaw Beriut died in february 1956
the polish people wanted Wladyslaw Gormulka to take over (he was a less strict communist)
there were large demonstrations in Poznan
Who took over as the Polish leader?
Wladyslaw Gormulka
Khrushchev wanted him to stand down but he was very popular so Khrushchev let him take power
Did Poland get any reforms?
Yes, Gormulka was allowed to introduce reforms if Poland remained committed to the Warsaw pact
showed the divisions in the communist world
Mao supported the Polish reformers
Who was the Hungarian leader in 1956 and what kind of rule did he have?
Matyas Rakosi
A dictator
What were Hungarian protesters calling for?
free press
multi party democracy
Hungary withdrawing from the Warsaw pact
When did Nagy become premier of Hungary?
July 1956
What did Nagy do when he was in power?
He agreed to the demands of the Hungarian people
USSR saw this as an open revolt
When did the USSR enter Hungary?
tanks entered on the 4th November
When did the uprising end?
11th November
How many were killed in the Hungarian uprising?
3500
