Peaceful Co-existence Flashcards
What and who was involved in ‘De-Stalinisation’?
-Collective leadership of Malenkov, Molotov, Bulganin and Khrushchev to end one-man rule
-Reforming Secret Police (now KGB)
-Arresting and executing Beria (Head of Secret Police who wanted to be Stalins hard-line successor)
-New course in economical policy (emphasise on production goods)
When was Khrushchev’s Secret Speech?
1956
When did Stalin die?
March 1953
What was said in Khrushchev’s Secret Speech and When was it?
1956, Khrushchev attacked Stalin for:
-Promoting Cult Personality
-Using purges and persecution to consolidate power
-Going against Leninist ideas
What was the impact of Khrushchev’s Secret Speech?
-USA regarded it as real change in USSR
-China was shocked= Problems with Mao
-Created expectations of reform among Satellite States and Eastern Europe (such as Hungarian Revolt 1956)
Why did the Soviets pursue Peaceful Co-existence?
-Believed that eventually Communism will over take Capitalism
-Confident that USSR’s economy would overtake the West (1929-56 Soviet economy risen by 1.9% whereas USA’s was 1.3%)
-Both sides had established spheres of influence in Europe (gave them security)
-Economical and military implications of the Nuclear Arms Race
Cut in the Red Army
-To try and convince USA of peaceful intentions
-Happened from mid 1950’s
-Reduced Army from 5.8 mil to 3.7 mil
-Further cuts of 33% in early 1960’s
-Also cute Red Army to save military costs that went into nuclear weapons (believed this was better protection)
What happened at the Austria State Treaty?
-Happened in 1955
-Removed all foreign troops
-Declared Austria an Independent State
-Paved the way to the Geneva Conference of 1955
-Marked first occasion since 1945 that Soviets left any part of Europe Willingly
When was the Berlin Rising and what happened?
-1953
-East German leaders increased production quotas with no increase in pay
-Led to 400,000 workers protesting for lifting quotas, free elections and strike
-Response= arresting and executing protest leaders
-USA still did not intervene in the Eastern Bloc
What happened to Poland in 1956?
-June 1956, anti-government protests in Poznan
-Khrushchev relented into making Gomulka leader in Poland
-Poland remained in the Warsaw Pact
-Demonstrated conflict within Communism in aEurope and Khrushchev’s unpopularity
-Zendong supported reformers
What happened to Hungary in 1956?
-Hungarian gov declared it neutral state and pulled out of Warsaw Pact
-USSR saw it as open revolt
-4th Nov Red Arm entered Budapest to reassert control by force
-By 11th Nov Nagy was replaced, 35,00 protested were arrested,300 leaders killed and back to one party gov
-USA’s ‘Radio Free Europe’ failed as they did not intervene for help
When was the ‘New Look’ policy and what did it state?
- Created by Eisenhower in 1953, that emphasised nuclear deterrence to military forces
- Massive retaliation
- Military budget costs and expansion of nuclear budget
- Using alliances (NATO) and covert ops (CIA)
What were the impacts of the crushing of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 on the West?
-Revealed limitations of the ‘New Look’ policy
-America took 25,000 Hungarian refugees
-Realised that any direct US involvement in Hungary meant nuclear war with USSR
Why did Eisenhower want better relations with USSR?
-Military background made him aware of destroying civilisation through nuclear war
-Military spending of 12 of GNP meant it might affect living standards
-Intelligence gathered by U-2 Spy Planes showed that USSR was behind in the arms race (advantage for negotiations)
When was the Geneva Conference and what was agreed?
-1954
-Ceasefire declared and French troops were to be withdrawn from Vietnam
-Loas and Cambodia= declared independent states
-Vietnam temporarily divided into South vs North
-Re-election for the re-unification of Vietnam in 1956 but got canceled by Diem
When was the Geneva Summit and what happened?
-July 1955
-Agreements could not be reached on Germany, European Security and ‘Open skies’ initiative
-Germany= USA rejected Germany as a neutral state, refused to recognise East Germany and USSR didn’t want free elections and re-unifications of Germany
-Security= USSR wanted joint security, no NATO or Warsaw, USA didn’t agree
-‘Open Skies’= USA stated that that both sides should be allowed to take aerial photos, USSR rejected
When was Camp David Summit and what happened?
-September 1959
-Only involving USSR and USA
-Happened after death of anti-Communist, Dulles
-Leaders unable to reach agreements on important matters such as Germany and disarmament
When was the Paris Summit and what happened?
-May 1960
-Less successful
-West=French and West German’s scared that USA would give ground to Soviets
-USSR= under pressure from China for being ‘soft’ towards West
When was the Vienna Summit and what happened?
-June 1961
-Aggressive stance by Khrushchev as Kennedy was inexperienced and humiliated by Bay of Pigs incident
-Only thing that was agreed was the neutral and independent Laos
What was the U-2 incident and when was it?
-1960
-US U-2 Plane was shot down by Soviet missile
-Pilot, Gary Powers, was captured
-Initially, US tried to cover it up
-But USSR displayed the U-2’s equipment
-USSR demanded an apology for spying and lying
-Eisenhower to admitted to the truth, said U-2 planes would stop but refused to apologise
-Paris Summit= Khrushchev stormed out
-Cancelled Eisenhower’s visit to Russia
What was the German Question and when?
-1958-61
-Germany joined NATO and USSR created the Warsaw Pact
-West rejected East-West German talks
-Khrushchev under pressure by East Germany to guarantee GDR security
-As West refused to recognise East Germany
What was the second Berlin Crisis and when?
-1958-59
-Khrushchev attempted at a Germany resolution: WB de-militarised,East-West talks commence, access to Berlin handed over to East Germany
-Rejected by the Western powers
-Dulles stated NATO would retaliate if Western access to Berlin was denied
What was the third Berlin Crisis and when?
-August 1961
-Soviets wanted US to back out of Berlin and recognise East Germany
-US disagreed- it was crucial to their security
-July- Kennedy publicly increased military armed forces and said that USA would not be driven out of Berlin
-Led to Khrushchev building a wall overnight
What was the fourth Berlin Crisis and when?
-October 1961
-US diplomat, Clay, could not enter Berlin
-Clay responded by providing US military patrol to escort him into Berlin
-US tanks positioned themselves at Checkpoint Charlie
-33 Soviet tanks entered East Berlin on 27th Oct ‘61
-10 faced US tanks at Checkpoint Charlie
-US garrison, NATO and Strategic Air Command were put on alert
-Khrushchev authorised to return fire
-Kennedy contacted Khrushchev directly and proposed a joint removal of forces
-After 16 hours, tanks on both sides withdrew
