The 'Second Cold War' 1956-62 Flashcards
When did Khrushchev come to power?
1956
What were Khrushchev’s aims + foreign policy?
-
De-Stalinisation + ‘Empire by Invitation’
- Improve conditions + ‘different roads to socialism’. Aimed to create Eastern bloc who accepted USSR domminance like US in west
- ‘Secret Speech’ 1956. Suggested autonomy
-
Soviet prestige
- Improve global position + be equal to US. Arms + space race
-
Nuclear diplomacy
- Suez, Berlin, Cuba
When + where did the Polish uprising occur?
1956 in Poznan
What were the causes of the Polish uprising?
Destalinsation
Return of Gomulka
Protests against poor working conditions
What were the main events of the Polish uprising?
Protests against poor working conditions led to calls for Gomulka to be made President again.
Heavy casulaties. Soviet tanks advance but withdraw after Gomulka promises loyalty
What were the consequences of the Polish uprising?
Hope of autonomy reduced
Hungarian Revolt
What were the causes of the Hungarian revolt?
Destalinisation
More liberal Gero
Tito pressured him to demand greater autonomy
Protests supporting Polish uprising
What were the main events of the Hungarian uprising?
- Protests turn violent - independant Titoist Nagy demanded as President. Gero gives way after radio stations in Budapest taken over
- Nagy withdraws from Warsaw Pact
- Heavy fighting against 30,000 Soviet troops, by Oct. Hungary mostly under rebel control
- Encouraged by Radio Free Europe, Suez diverts attention against pro-USSR Egypt
- More troops sent in + revolt put down. Nagy killed + replaced with Kadar
- US forces Suez withdrawal although Krushchev threatens with nukes
What were the consequences of the Hungarian revolt?
- Eastern hopes for autonomy dahsed
- Leaders must broadly follow Soviet example/policy
- Krushchev gains prestige + confidence from brinkmanship
- Renewed split with Tito
- Divisions within NATO, US seen as unreliable
What were the main events of the arms race?
- US H-bomb 1952, Soviets 1953
- US long range B-52 bombers 1955
- USSR first ICBMs 1957
- US Polaris subs by 1960s
- US fears ‘missile gap’ so huge spending
- Soviet boasts proven wrong by U2 spying
What were the main events of the space race?
- Sputnik 1957
- Gagarin 1961
- Apollo 1 disaster 1967
What were the consequences of the arms + space races?
- Increased Soviet prestige due to Space successes, although long-term economic problems (overspending)
- US significant arms lead, missile gap unfounded.
- Soviet overconfidence led to instability + push too far (Cuba)
- Long-term MAD established stability
When did the Berlin Crisis occur?
1958-61
What were the causes of the Berlin Crisis?
Msss migration from GDR led to fear of collapse
Krushchev overconfidence in nuclear threat
What were the main events of the Berlin Crisis?
- 1959 Ultimatium for West to leave Berlin -> free city
-
Negotiations in Geneva + Paris for nuclear free central Europe fruitless
- Ended by U2 Spy Plance Crisis 1960
- Kennedy implies no US action over Berlin
- Mass migration in 1961, wall built around West Berlin
