Khrushchev and East-West relations 1955-60 Flashcards
1
Q
De-Stalinisation in Soviet Bloc
A
- Nikita Khrushchev wanted to redefine the relationship between Soviets and Eastern Bloc satellite states
- Wanted Long term political stability, economic growth and improved living conditions through de-stalinisation but without changing basics of communism
- 25th February 1956 Khrushchev delivered his ‘secret speech’
- Text circulated through Eastern Europe then reached US State Department
2
Q
De-Stalinisation
A
- Stalin ensured the Eastern European states that formed the Bloc served as clones to communist system developed during his control
- Stalinist system was characterised of a cult of personality, centralised planning and a secret police
3
Q
Poland June-October 1956
A
- Boleslaw Beirut unexpected death and Khrushchev nominated Edward Ochab as his successor
- After secret speech many poles demanded more political freedom and national soverinty
- 28 June workers went on strike in protest of wage cuts and poor working conditions and led to anti-communist uprisings
- October 1956 Gomulka was elected as first secretary as Polish United Workers Party
- Gomulka refused to cooperate nut Khrushchev conceded that Gomulka could be appointed first secretary if he agreed not to carry out reforms that alter communist rule
4
Q
Impacts in Poland
A
- Poles supported Gomulka as he preserved Polish path to socialism
- Gomulka balanced the need for security with the presence of Soviet troops in order to placate Moscow
- Polish rising showed that Russia would allow its satellites a bit of independence
- Force had not been used because China supported the Polish communist Party giving China a more leading role in the communist world
5
Q
Hungary October-November 1956
A
- October 22 students in Budapest demonstrated and listed 16 demands included
- Appointment of Imre Nagy as Prime Minister
- Withdrawal of Soviet troops
- Freedom of speech
- Free press
- Demonstrators were fired on by Hungarian secret police
- Workers soon joined students and took over local authorities
- 24 October Nagy Prime Minister
- 28 October Khrushchev agreed to withdraw troops from Budapest
- 31 October USSR reversed its decision because it feared the collapse of communism
- By 3 November 15 divisions of the red army and 4000 tanks surrounded Budapest
- 4000 Hungarians killed and 200,000 went into self imposed exile
6
Q
Impact of Hungarian Rising
A
- Lack of intervention from the west confirmed post-war status quo had been accepted. reassured the USSR that any further issues happen in Eastern Europe no Western intervention
- Rising demoted to a debating issue in UN
- Moves towards peaceful coexistence were compromised
- Rising showed that there was a need for social and political reform in Eastern Europe
7
Q
Degree of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’
A
- February 1956 20th Congress of the Communist Party was held
- Khrushchev had abandoned conventional Marxist-Leninist view that war between the two camps were inevitable
- He claimed that communism had become so powerful they would win without war
- Communist states within the Soviet Bloc would be able to concentrate resources on internal improvements and progress
- Stalin’s aggression had led to an escalation of expenses and government debt when Khrushchev wanted to concentrate Soviet resources on domestic developments
8
Q
Khrushchev’s Clear Foreign Policy
A
- Soviet Union must remain the unchallenged leader of the socialist society
- Firm grip must be maintained over Eastern Bloc countries
- Germany must be prevented from rearming
- USSR must continue to expand its nuclear capabilities
- Spending on military security has to be reduced
- International tension has to be defused
9
Q
Austrian State Treaty 1955
A
- Soviet policy to Austria had been closely linked to Germany
- Austria had been split into occupation zones and Soviets focused on receiving economic aid from Austria like Germany
- By 1955 USSR began to show serious intentions of embarking on negotiations over Austria
- May 1955 four occupying powers had reached an agreement
- Led to the removal of all occupational forces and declaration that Austria would be a neutral state
- This showed serious intent towards mutual cooperation
10
Q
Geneva Summit September 1955
A
- Khrushchev wanted to slow down the arms race because Russia needed serious conventional forces to ensure compliance over the Eastern Bloc
- Less confrontational relationship would protect Soviet Union national security and global superpower status
- Two major issues discussed nuclear disarmament and the future of Germany which no satisfactory agreement was reached
- It suggested the basis of peaceful coexistance but nothing actually agreed
11
Q
Open Skies Proposal
A
- Eisenhower presented open skies as part of an attempt to end the deadlock over the issue of superpower inspecting each others nuclear arsenals and taking a step closer to disarmament
- Khrushchev rejected the proposal
12
Q
Future of Germany
A
- Eisenhower proposed a reunified Germany, free elections and to ensure its own security which meant part of NATO
- Khrushchev would only contemplate accepting if Germany was demilitarised and neutral
- Refused to discuss the future of Eastern Bloc states
13
Q
Paris Summit May 1960
A
- Khrushchev visited the US in September 1959 to participate in Camp David talks
- Agreed to settle international issues through diplomacy rather than force
- Camp David talks served to calm down the issue of Germany and lead onto the Paris Summit May 1960
- Khrushchev heavily committed to peaceful coexistence and faced no major opposition form China or Soviet Hierarchy
- Khrushchev wanted an agreement to prohibit nuclear weapons in the Pacific and in Germany
- China’s nuclear arsenal close to completion by 1960
- American U-2 spy plane shot down over USSR
- Kennedy increased defence budget and promised more flexible conventional forces
- Favoured expansion of USA’s nuclear arsenal and made Polaris missile submarine force
- 25 July Kennedy called for a build up of NATO forces
