Soviet control Flashcards
Introduction Soviet control
In 1953 Joseph Stalin died leaving Nikita Khrushchev in charge of the soviet union. BK In february 1956 Khrushchev Made a speech criticizing stalin and his reign of terror over the soviet union. He also promoted many roads to socialism. Many eastern european countries saw this as an opportunity to protest and try to get reforms. BK The soviet union then tried to maintain there control over poland and hungary in 1956 and berlin in 1961. F
This essay will argue that soviet foreign policy was ineffective in controlling eastern europe up to 1961.
Poland paragraph soviet control
The soviet union was not very effective in controlling Poland. In 1956 Gomulka, the leader of Poland, wanted to make reforms such as the de-collectivisation of farms and allowing trade with the west. KU These reforms were allowed to take place by Khrushchev so long as Poland agreed to remain communist and a loyal member of the Warsaw pact. KU This Soviet reaction potentially could be described as being an effective policy for controlling Eastern Europe on the part of the Soviets because it ensured Poland would remain part of the buffer zone while allowing it to prosper and keep the Polish people happy. A However, some would disagree that this was an effective policy to control Eastern Europe on the part of the Soviets because By giving in to the demands made by Polish protests they indicated to other satellite states that if they also protest they might get reforms as well. A+
Hungary paragraph Soviet control
The soviet union was ineffective in controlling hungary in 1956. After Gero stepped down as leader of Hungary In October 1956 due to massive protests, Imre Nagy was appointed as Party Secretary in Hungary by Khrushschev due to the hope, on the part of the Soviets, that he would control the ongoing protests. However when Nagy took power in Hungary, he wanted to get the red army out of Hungary and get Hungary out of the Warsaw pact. He also proposed multiparty elections. KU Soviet tanks then went to budapest on the 4th of november 1956 to force in a communist leader named Janos Kadar. KU This Soviet action potentially could be described as being an effective policy to control Eastern Europe on the part of the Soviets because It prevented Hungary from leaving the Warsaw pact or potentially electing a liberal leader in a multiparty election. It also ensured a communist puppet government giving the soviets more control over hungary. A However, some would disagree that this was an effective policy to control Eastern Europe on the part of the Soviets because it shows that the Soviets must resort to violence and oppression to maintain communism which reflects badly on their ideology. A+
Berlin paragraph soviet control
The soviet union was somewhat effective in controlling Berlin in 1961. Up until 1961 massive amounts of people were leaving Berlin, particularly young men who the soviets needed in their workforce. Approximately 3.3 million people fled to west Berlin. KU The East German Leader Ulbricht asked Krushchev to allow him to build the Berlin wall and Khrushchev agreed. The Berlin wall was built on the 13th of august 1961. Preventing movement between west and east berlin and therefore stopping the flow of migrants leaving the country. This Soviet action potentially could be described as being an effective policy to control Eastern Europe because it almost entirely prevented people from fleeing east berlin solving the problem of the workforce leaving. A However, some would disagree that this was an effective policy to control Eastern Europe on the part of the Soviets because it reflected badly on the soviet union to those on the outside who saw it as forcing people to stay in communist countries. A+
Conclusion soviet control
In conclusion, Soviet foreign policy was effective to a limited extent in controlling eastern europe between 1945 and 1961.
Even though they did successfully keep poland a member of the warsaw pact and part of the buffer zone their policy could only be described as effective to a limited extent because they conveyed with there response to poland that khrushchev will accept reforms when pushed emboldening further resistance
Even though Kruschev did prevent Nagy’s reforms in Hungary such as multi party elections which could weaken soviet control of the country. However their policy could only be described as effective to a limited extent because The violent nature of Operation whirlwind gave a negative perception of communism in the eastern bloc and internationally by resorting to violence and oppression.
Even though The soviet union prevented the flow of immigrants out of east germany by constructing the berlin wall, their policy could only be described as effective to a limited extent because They gave a bad impression of communism internationally when people saw communism was so bad they had to force their own people to stay.
In judgement it can be said that Soviet foreign policy was effective to a limited extent in controlling eastern europe between 1945 and 1961 as they ruined their reputation and created a negative impression of communism by oppressing the eastern bloc therefore weakening their influence.
