Problems Faced By The USSR Flashcards
Results of Stalin’s death
In 1953 Stalin died and by 1955 a new leader Khrushchev emerged. He was determined to carry out political and economic reform and he criticised Stalin in a famous speech in 1955. In Poland in 1956 protests against the strict USSR control were defused with a programme of reforms and liberalisation under Gomulka. Poland still remained in the Warsaw Pact and Khrushchev seemed reassured that the USSR’s security was safeguarded
Hungary
In the 1946 election in Hungary the Communist Party gained only 17% of the vote. However since 1948 it was ruled by a pro-Stalin dictator called Rakosi. In 1956 popular unrest in Hungary forced the resignation of the unpopular Rakosi. This gave hope to Hungarians looking for freedom from Russian control. In October 1956 anti-Soviet demonstrations led to the new communist leader Nagy announcing free elections and that Hungary would leave the Warsaw Pact and become a neutral country. It was felt that Khrushchev was not as strict as Stalin and would compromise like he did in Poland
Khrushchev, however was equally determined to keep Russian control over Hungary and was determined not to allow Hungary leave the Soviet Bloc. Khrushchev sent the Russian army and 100 tanks into Hungary. After fierce fighting in which thousands were killed and
180,000 fled, the rebels were defeated. Nagy was executed and pro-Russian government was installed led by Kadar. Many in Hungary felt betrayed by the failure of the USA and the West to help
Germany
West Berlin posed a more subtle threat to Russian control over East Germany and East Berlin. During the 1950s about two million, mainly young skilled workers, left East Germany through West Berlin. They were attracted by the political freedom and better standard of living available in “the Golden West”. Khrushchev tried unsuccessfully to persuade President Kennedy to compromise and allow Russian control of Berlin
In August 1961 Khrushchev ordered the East German authorities to build a wall to seal off East Berlin from the three western sectors. The Berlin Wall stopped the movement of people from east to west. The Berlin Wall became a concrete symbol of the Cold War and showed the lengths to which Russia would go to maintain control
Czechoslovakia
Khrushchev fell from power in 1964 but his successor Brezhnev was equally determined to retain Russian control in Eastern Europe. Brezhnev regarded any reduction in Russian infl uence as a threat. Economic problems in Czechoslovakia led to criticism of Russian control. In 1968 the new Communist leader Dubcek wanted to introduce modest political and economic reforms yet remain in the Russian sphere of influence and in the Warsaw Pact. This “Prague Spring” worried Brezhnev who feared demands for reform and unrest would spread throughout Eastern Europe
On 20th August 1968 forces from the USSR and four other Warsaw Pact countries invaded Czechoslovakia to restore order. The Czechs adopted a policy of passive resistance and avoided open conflict. Russian control was reasserted and Dubcek was removed from power. In November 1968, Brezhnev issued “the Brezhnev Doctrine” which stressed that countries in Eastern Europe had to remain fi rmly within the Russian sphere of influence. Russian control over Eastern Europe remained unchallenged for the next two decades
How control over Eastern Europe was maintained
In Poland protests in the summer of 1956 led to the appointment of a new more popular Communist leader, Gomulka. There was also an agreement to end persecution of the Catholic Church and a withdrawal of the USSR army. Popular unrest spread to Hungary and forced the removal of the ruthless Stalinist Rakosi. By October 1956, a new government led by Imre Nagy took control. Nagy’s government wanted social and economic reform and the withdrawal of the Russian army. It also planned to leave the Warsaw Pact and make Hungary a neutral country in the Cold War
On 4 November 1956 thousands of Russian soldiers and tanks moved into Budapest. They met fierce resistance. In two weeks of bitter fighting thousands were killed. 200 000 Hungarians fled across the border to Austria to escape Communist control. Nagy was captured and executed. The West protested but offered no military help to the Hungarian rebels. A new leader, Kadar, introduced some reforms but Hungary remained behind the Iron Curtain
How control was maintained in Berlin
Berlin was a divided city during the Cold War where Communism and Democracy came face to face as free movement was permitted between the four sectors. During the 1950s the standard of living improved faster in the West and the contrast was most apparent in Berlin. During the 1950s over 20,000 each year took advantage of this freedom to move to the West. The Russians feared that this exodus of mainly educated young people would undermine Communist control in East Germany
On 13 August 1961, East German soldiers ended all free movement from East to West Berlin. Soon a concrete wall divided the city. It was patrolled by East German guards and hundreds were shot trying to escape. The USSR had succeeded in preventing further loss of population but the wall became a symbol of the division of Communism and Democracy at the heart of the Cold War
Czechoslovakia
By 1968, Brezhnev was the Russian leader. He faced a challenge to Russian control of Eastern Europe in Czechoslovakia. In 1967 a new leader, Dubcek, proposed a policy of “Socialism with a human face”. He wanted Czechoslovakia to remain Communist within the Russian sphere of influence. In the Prague Spring more freedom of speech and travel was introduced with more economic freedom and reduced powers for the secret police
Brezhnev became concerned that these reforms would undermine Russian infl uence in Eastern Europe. In August 1968, USSR and Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia. The Czechs refused to openly fight as in Hungary in 1956 but used non-violent non-cooperation tactics.Again there was sympathy in the West but no help
The Wall was patrolled by East German guards and hundreds were shot trying to escape. The USSR had succeeded in preventing further loss of population but the Wall became a symbol of the division of Communism and Democracy at the heart of the Cold War
Western inaction
The USSR remained in control of Eastern Europe between 1956 and 1968 but it faced resentment in many countries. It used force in Hungary and Czechoslovakia to maintain control. It built the Berlin Wall to prevent an exodus to the West. The Brezhnev Doctrine in 1968 reaffirmed the determination of the USSR to keep control of Eastern Europe. It was also clear that Russian control meant that these countries had to have a communist government. In all three cases between 1956 and 1968 the West showed sympathy to those seeking to break free from Russian control but did not give direct assistance
