Origins of the cold war 1941-58: The Cold War Intensifies Flashcards
Timeline of Nuclear Arms Race
- 1945-USA drops 2 atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- 1949- USSR tests its 1st Atomic Bomb
- 1952-USA develops H-Bomb (H = Hydrogen)
- 1953- USSR develops H-Bomb
Significance of arm race chronologically
- Up to 1949, US had monopoly on Nuclear weapons to deter USSR
- US miltary figures, like Curtis LeMay and Douglas MacArthur, thought best strategy in event of war was nuclear weapons
- However mid-1950s deveopment of bigger warheads and delivery systems meant nuclear war would result in Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)
- Any Militaery confrontation between both sides could escalate to nuclear war
- Meant US and USSR had to find ways of stopping disputes becoming dangerous nuclear wars
Formation of Warsaw Pact
- A collective defence treaty with USSR, Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Albania, and Bulgaria
- Set up 14 May 1955 after West Germany’s entry into NATO 9 may 1955
Significance of Warsaw Pact
- formation of warsaw pact meant two oppsoing alliances in Europe seperated by Iron Curtain
- Both alliances planned for militry action against the other including nukes
- Warsaw Pact gave USSR direct control over armed forces of the sattelite states strengthening grip on Eastern Europe
Impact of Soviet rule in Hungary
- Hungary suffered under Stalin’s control
- Food and Industrial products shipped to Russia
- Any opposition ruthlessly wiped out
- Matyas Rakosi was a brutal ruler. Called himself ‘Stalin’s best pupil’, known as the ‘Bald Butcher’
- Communist rule became unpopular
Destalinisation’s effect on Hungary
when Stalin died, Krushchev took over. 1956 in his ‘Secret speech’, Krushchev hinted soviet control would relax
October 1956, Poor harvests and bread shortages meant Hungarians demonstrated against communist control with Stalin’s statues torn down and communists attacked. Krushchev appointed the more liberal PM Imre Nagy to de-escalate.
Destalinisation
Meant Soviet Union no longer saw itself as a dictatorship but as a one-party state, goverend by the Politburo with Krushchev as its leader
Nagy as Prime Minister
Nagy wanted reforms for Hungary:
* Leave Warsaw Pact and become a neutral country
* Hold free elections ending single-party communism
* UN protection from Soviet Union
This was a problem for USSR because if Nagy succeeded other Satellite states would follow and the warsaw pact would collapse
The soviet invasion of Hungary
- Krushchev disapproved of Nagy’s reforms and proposals. If Nungary left Warsaw pact many would follow
- Krushchev worried Nagy threatened communist rule, claiming communists slaughtered in Hungary. may be propoganda but communists and state security (AVH) attacked in violence of October 1956 in Budapest and other Hungarian towns/cities. Krushchev feared spread of unrest
- 4 November 1956, Krushchev sent 200000 Soviet Troops into Hungary to depose Nagy and restore order
Consequences of Soviet invasion of Hungary
- over 5000 Hungarians and 1000 soviet troops killed as result of invasion
- Nagy and government deposed
- Imre Nagy arrested, tried, and executed. Krushchev made example of Nagy to prevent rebellions in other communist countries
- New leader, Janos Kadar, appointed. Introduced 15 point programme, aimed to re-establish communist rule in Hungary. Kadar’s policies more moderate than other satellite states and resulted in Hungary having better living standards than other Satellite states. Hungarians now aware that US wouldn’t help them grudgingly accepted communist rule
International reaction and consequences to Invasion of Hungary
- UN condemned Soviet actions. Some countries boycotted 1956 olympics in protest but no further action taken
- USA supported Hingary’s uprising with money, medical aid and words. US accepted 80000 refugees from Hungary
- US couldn’t send troops due to risk of nuclear war
- Hungary was on its own against USSR and had to surrender
- Satellite states saw US wouldn’t defend them against USSR. Soviet control retightened over Eastern Europe
