The Cold War In The 1950s

Question 1

Impacts of the Korean War, 1950

Answer 1

25 June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, ended July 1953
- UN force from 16 countries came to help South Korea
- USA spent $67 billion and lost over 30,000 soldiers in order to stop communism spreading (domino effect) - border established at the 38th parallel
- Usa now committed itself to supporting countries in Asia against communism (SEATO in southeast Asia)
- Other consequences included: défense budget tripled, Greece and turkey encouraged to join NATO by USA, USA strengthen land forces in Europe , Soviets made army bigger in défense: 2.8 mill - 5.6 mill in red army

Question 2

Arms race

Answer 2

• 1945: USA atomic bomb, 1949: USSR
• Nov 1952 usa tested hydrogen bomb (1,000 x more powerful than atomic)
• August 1953, soviet hydrogen bomb
• 1957: both USA and USSR test ICBM (5,000km range)
• MAD
• very expensive

Question 3

New Leaders and Peaceful Co-existence

Answer 3

• Jan 1953 Eisenhower, strongly anti-communist, aware of nuclear danger
• 5 March 1953 Stalin died, struggle for power with no successor for 3 years

Less tension: Feb 1956, de-stalinisation and peaceful co-existence speech by Khrushchev
- Iron curtain became an agreed border
- July 1953, Korean war ended
- summit meeting in geneva July 1955 (cooperative atmosphere, no agreement on disarmament and Germany) & agreement on Austria’s governing 1955
- Both sides wanted to spend less on arms - hope for peace?

Question 4

Warsaw Pact, 1955

Answer 4

May 1955, west Germany joined NATO (very close to Soviet Bloc) so Warsaw Pact formed
- Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, bulgaria, Albania, east Germany

Question 5

Hungarian Uprising, 1956

Answer 5

• Rakosi ruled Czechoslovakia 1949-56, arresting 300,000 and killing 2,000
• Nov 1956, Hungarian uprising inspired by de-Stalination speech (crushed)
• October 1956, Imre Nagy replaced Rakosi and proposed reforms such as leaving the Warsaw Pact, becoming neutral and power sharing with non-communist groups
• 4 nov, tanks rolled into Budapest, 20,000 killed and Kader replaced Nagy, June 1958, Imre Nagy executed
• no interference from west, despite encouragement for revolt and Marshall plan offering aid
• Khrushchev came away stronger, faith in usa was lost for satellite states revolts, relations worsened with western disapproval