Krushchev, Eisenhower, JFK and the Thaw Flashcards
What was the new Soviet policy 1956/57?
Peaceful coexistence or the thaw
What prompted the change in policy?
Stalin’s death was an opportunity for dialogue
Kruschev wanted a policy of Destalinisation as outlined in his secret speech 1956
Stalin had made many foreign policy mistakes e.g. failure of the Berlin blockade, defection of Yugosalvia from Cominform in 1948 and the formation of NATO
The defence industry accounted for a third of expenditure in 1950 - this took resources from consulner goods and agriculture
Kruschev promised improvements
What achievements were made under peaceful cooexistence or the thaw?
Summits took place after 1953 to open up dialogue
An armistice was signed in Korea
A constructive meeting was held with Berlin foreign ministers in Jan 1954. They disagreed over the reunification of Germany but Molotov the Soviet foreign minister proposed an all German govt with reps from E and W. The West disagreed and argued that E Germany would need free elections first
When was the Geneva Conference?
April 1954
What was achieved at he Geneva conference?
armistice in Korea
USSR and USA agreed to let the French withdraw from Indo China
Why did Dulles question the agreement to let the French withdraw from Indo China?
Endorsed communism in Vietnam
When was he Austrian state Treaty?
1955
What did the Austrian state treaty agree?
Troops would withdraw and Austria would become a neutral state
Later the West agreed to withdraw forces from W Germany
What was Eisenhower’s role in the Geneva conference?
Said he atmosphere was cordial
US and USSR agreed on cultural and scientific exchanges
Eisenhower proposed open skies with spy planes freely going over each territory to verify each others nuclear stockpiles was rejected
Discussions over reunification of Germany were hamperreed by W Germany joining NATO
Krushchev suggested NATO and the Warsaw pact be replaced by a collective security body but was rejected
How was the Geneva summit a breakthrough?
First meeting of major heads of govt since 1945
What did Krushchev say in his speech at the 20th congress of the communist party 1956?
We want to cooperate and be friends with the US in the interest of peace and security
If good relations are not forthcoming will lead to an arms race
He followed Lenin’s priciplae of peacefu coexistence with states of different social systems
The only alt would be the most devastating war in history
What was the impact of the Soviet reconciliation with Yugoslavia and the secret speech 1956?
Triggered unrest in E Europe
What happened in Poland 1956?
The workers in Poznan revolted in June 1956 over increased work targets
The revolt was repressed
To appease the public the Polish communists party turned to the popular former leader Gomulka
why were the USSR concerned about Gomulka?
They thought he would press for Polish independence so they flew to Warsaw in Oct 1956 to prevent Gomulka’s election
How did Gomulka reassure Khrushchev?
Won the election and said he wouldn’t withdraw from the warsaw pact
Did the USA miss an opportunity in Poland 1956?
Yes they failed to help roll back communism in Poland
What happened in Hungary 1956?
Poland encourgaed Hungary to demand the replacement of the repressive Matyas Rakoski with the moderate Imre Nagy
Khrushchev agreed with this, but riots in Hungary broke out. The Soviet ARmy could not retore order
Nagy negotiated the withdrawal of the Red Army on 28 Oct 1956
Nagy declared an intention to share power with non communists and pull out of the Warsaw pact
Khrushchev was incensed mobilised his army who killed 20,000 Hungarians
Nagy was executed and replaced with Janos Kadar
