The Three Crisis of 1956 Flashcards
Nikita Khrushchev
1956 - 1964
New Leaders? New Policies? New Direction?
Peaceful Coexistence
De Stalinization…
Summit Meetings with West
”Thaw” in Cold War?
Suez Crisis - 1956
In 1954 Gamal Nasser became President of Egypt– Nationalist
In July 1956 he nationalizes the Suez - threaten to British interests in region
1956 Israel goes to war against Egypt – secretly assisted by Britain and France
War ends in military success for Israel – gained Sinai etc
Britain and France land troops in canal zone
US refused to support Anglo-French desires or claims - forces forced to withdraw
UN peacekeeping force sent to separate armies of Egypt and Israel
Arab-Israeli conflict continues, Arab states refuse Israeli independence
Britain and France no longer the powers once were to impose will
Sign of increasing US strength in solving issue post war world
Polish Succession
1956
Poland within the Soviet sphere after occupation of East Europe
1956 Khrushchev in power, Stalinist communist leader in Poland
The Communist leader died and unclear direction of party
Communist party divided – hardliners, reformers, moderates
New leader – Wladyslaw Gomulka imprisoned but released
He was considered a more moderate leader that would bring reforms
Series of strikes and disorder begin to break out in Poland – change
Gomulka began to initiate series of reforms which threatened Moscow
Ultimately Gomulka promised to stay within the Soviet sphere - Warsaw
No major reforms to take place – reversal of all that had been done
The Hungarian Crisis
1956
Background Information
Life in Eastern Europe difficult – shortages in food, housing, goods
Many Eastern European resented economic demands – Comecon
Many Eastern European nations modeled on Stalinist Russia – censorship, control
Hungary within Eastern sphere – under repressive leadership of Mathias Rakosi
Regime was repressive, with secret police, lack of freedoms and choice
Many in Hungary without basic necessities – blamed USSR for conditions
Many also resented educational restrictions, troops stationed, and attack on Church
1953 Stalin dies – many begin to look at this as opportunity for change
1956 Hungary – series of anti-government protests and street demonstrations
Rakosi is forced to step down and new moderate leader – Imre Nagy - replaces
Hungarian Revolution Events that Take Place
Series of anti-government strikes begins to sweep throughout Hungary
Army begins to join with some of the protestors
Nagy begins to call for series of reforms that moves Hungary outside USSR
Free elections in region
End to censorship and ban on non-communist political parties
Economic improvements and free market economy
More trade with US and Western Europe
Removal of Hungary from Warsaw Pact and withdrawal of Soviet forces
Wave of revolutionary activity sweeps through Hungary
Nagy began to back revolutionaries – they in turn took revenge on communists
Too much for the Russians! – who invaded (Warsaw)
Hungarian Revolution
Reaction of Russians
November 1956 Soviets re-entered Budapest
Army sent to crush rebellion and install leader – Janos Kadar
Leader is Stalinist hardliner – end to all reforms etc and movement
Hungarians attempted to fight back and looked to west for help
West refused to intervene in struggle – despite calls on free radio
Many Hungarians killed and some escaped to Austria and west
Imre Nagy himself was executed for the event
Hungarian Revolution
Significance of the Event
US and UN did into intervene in event – within Soviet sphere
Policy of containment does not apply to situation – internal matter
World attention was also busy at the time – dealing with Suez
Soviet Union used its veto to block any United Nations action
World opinion on USSR sours due to the event – US must contain
USSR would be unwilling to allow any reform or change in region….
