Pressures on the USSR Flashcards
1
Q
Khrushchev’s removal and establishment of Brezhnev
A
- Cuba and Berlin Crisis was seen as failures by Party leadership
- His policies failed to improve standard of living and availability of consumer goods
- September 1964 absent form the Kremlin for five months in this time party insiders planned his removal
- Attacked by the members of Soviet leadership and Khrushchev accepted his fate and retired
2
Q
Crisis in Czechoslovakia 1968
A
- Brezhnev believed stability in Eastern Europe was through Economic revolt
- Ota Sik proposed a command economy
- end centrally planned economic
targets - allowing individual enterprises to
function - communist party that responsive to
public opinion - existence of workers rights
- end centrally planned economic
- Communist party in 1966 would not take place and Sik argued for political reform so USSR felt like they had to make changes
3
Q
Prague Spring 1968
A
- Antonin Novotny pressured into resigning and replaced by Dubcek
- Dubcek was an advocate for political reform and wanted a new start to socialism and this isn’t what the Soviets wanted
- Dubcek eliminated press censorship
- His actions coincided with Student issue in Poland
- April 1968 Dubcek announced Action Plan in which wanted to achieve socialism
- Communist Party would retain leading role but allow other parties like (KAN) Club of non-committed party members
- Dubcek assured Soviets would stay with Warsaw Pact
- When soviets had no reaction to this they pushed the boundaries even further
4
Q
Soviet Invasion
A
- Warsaw pact countries conducted military exercises in Czechoslovakia in June 1968
- The leaders of the other countries had a meeting 14-15 July
- By end of July Dubcek had six meetings with Brezhnev hoping for the Communist Party to split
- Warsaw Pact forces invaded Czechoslovakia on 20-21 August
- Warsaw Pact faced no international action protests in China and Romania
5
Q
Brezhnev Doctrine 1968
A
- Brezhnev expanded upon responsibility of communist states to protect the whole of communism
- Thousands of Czechslovaks demonstrated in Prague 1968
- Dubcek remained in power until April 1969
- New government lead by Gustav Husak
6
Q
Relations with China
A
- Sino-Soviet alliance was defunct by 1962
- Mao felt he was superior in the communist world and accused Khrushchev of revisionism
- Khrushchev believed Russia first communist state so he should be leader
7
Q
Actions Soviets took
A
- Indirectly supported China in border disputes with China in 1959
- Withdrew Soviet technology from China in 1960
- Refused to provide with a prototype atomic bomb
- Didn’t notify China of his decision to place Nukes on Cuba 1962
8
Q
Actions Chinese Took
A
- Provoked USA through bombing Taiwanese held islands Quemoy and Matsu in 1958
- Criticised Khrushchev for not using nuclear weapons
- Criticised Khrushchev for betraying Cuba
9
Q
Division Deepens
A
- 1964 China called for the return of territory that chad been claimed by USSR
- Brezhnev believed Soviets and China had to settle their differences and support NV
- Further strained by Malinovsky incident
10
Q
Malinovsky incident
A
- At Sino-Soviet talks in late 1964 Soviet defence minister Malinovsky suggested to a Chinese delegate Marshal He Long that China should get rid of Mao just as USSR removed Khrushchev
11
Q
Vietnam
A
- April 1965 USSR requested a meeting with China and NV but it never happened
- USSR proposed Soviet air force base in Southern China at Kunming purpose store 12 Mid-21 fighter planes and therefore Mao rejected the idea
12
Q
Cultural Revolution
A
- 1966 Mao embarked on Cultural revolution moving away from purity of Chinese Revolution
- Led to Mao strengthening his own power by eliminating potential rivals
- USSR embassy in Beijing was besieged by red guard mob and threatened to burn the embassy down
13
Q
Border Disputes
A
- USSR decided to station troops in Mongolia and Eastern Kazakhstan February 1967
- Border talks failed
14
Q
A
