Main Events 1949-56

Question 1

What was Comecon used for?

Answer 1

Controlling the economies of Eastern European countries under Soviet influence

Question 2

When was NATO founded?

Answer 2

1949

Question 3

What did NATO agree to?

Answer 3

If one member was attacked, all members would come to their defense

Question 4

When was the Warsaw Pact set up?

Answer 4

1955

Question 5

What was the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 5

A military alliance set up by the USSR that tied the countries of Eastern Europe more closely to Moscow

Question 6

What was the Arms Race?

Answer 6

A race between the superpowers to build bigger and more destructive weapons

Question 7

What were the key features of the nuclear arms race that developed in the years 1945-53?

Answer 7

• The USA used a nuclear bomb in 1945, by 1949 the USSR had caught up
• By 1953 both countries had the more powerful H Bomb and large numbers of weapons were developed in the 50s and 60s

Question 8

Why were people living in Eastern Europe unhappy?

Answer 8

• Communism had been forced upon them
• In all communist states, there were no other political parties allowed
• There was no freedom of speech and the state controlled the media
• The standard of life was generally low

Question 9

Why did people expect improvements after Stalin died?

Answer 9

• USA had a new President, Eisenhower - more friendly
• Khrushchev seemed to be more moderate and spoke about peaceful co-existence with the West

Question 10

What happened in 1955?

Answer 10

Khrushchev withdrew Soviet troops from Austria

Question 11

What happened in 1956?

Answer 11

Khrushchev surprised many by attacking Stalin and beginning a programme of de-Stalinisation

Question 12

Why did protests start in Budapest?

Answer 12

Hungarians wanted to get rid of Rakosi, the ‘mini-Stalin’ Prime Minister

Question 13

What did Khrushchev do in response to protests?

Answer 13

He seemed to accept the need for change and ordered the replacement of Rakosi for Imre Nagy

Question 14

What reforms did Nagy introduce?

Answer 14

1. He set up a new government which included non-communists
2. Called free elections
3. Announced Hungary’s withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact

Question 15

Why did the Soviets crush the Hungarian uprising?

Answer 15

He could not afford to let Hungary break free as other countries in Eastern Europe would follow so he ordered an invasion

Question 16

How did the Soviets crush the Hungarian uprising?

Answer 16

There was bitter street fighting; thousands of Hungarians and Soviet troops were killed in the fighting and Nagy was arrested and executed

Question 17

What did Hungarians do after the uprising?

Answer 17

Called on the West for help but Western leaders did nothing despite speaking out against the Soviets

Question 18

Why did the West not do anything in reaction to the uprising?

Answer 18

1. It was afraid that military action would lead to war
2. The UK, France and USA were focused on the Suez Crisis