USSR in Eastern Europe Flashcards
Hungary 1956
Communist leader Rákosi was removed June 1956 after divisions in the party. Rákosi asked USSR for help but they said no and retired him for health reasons
New leader Gerö, still too communist.
October 56 Nagy new government. Announced plans for free elections, private ownership of land, withdrawal of Russian troops.
Wanted to leave Warsaw Pact
Hungary date
1956
USSR response to Hungary wanting to leave Warsaw Pact
Ordered Russian troops in November and after two weeks fighting 3,000 Hungarians dead 7-8,000 Russians 200,000 Hungarians fled to Austria Nagy executed
Czechoslovakia when
1968
What happens on Czechoslovakia 68-9
Novotry
Strict communist
Forced to resign in 67
After Novotry
Dubeck Reforms More freedom Independent trade unions As censorship eased, people launched public attacks on communism known as Prague Spring. People had new ideas
How did soviets respond to Prague Spring
Czechoslovakia was one of the most central placed and strongest
Worried about spread of these new ideas
Tried to slow dubeck
Performed very public training exercises along Czech borders
Thought about imposing sanctions but was worried they would run to the west for help.
But 20 august 68 soviets sent the tanks in
Little bloodshed as Czechs stayed calm
A few things solidarity wanted
A trade union who wanted More pay End censorship Some welfare benefits Broadcasting of Catholic Church services Election of factory managers
Why did the USSR give into solidarity in 1980
Union was strongest in those industries most important to the government
In The early years it wasn’t seen as an alternative of communism
Lech Walesa was very careful
Union was very popular
Had the support of the Catholic Church
Government was waiting solidarity to split up
Was growing in the west
Why did the soviets clamp down on solidarity in 81
Solidarity was acting as a political party
Poland was on chaos with food shortages, low wages and unemployment
Solidarity was in chaos so were just pushing the communists harder
Soviets had had enough
What happens to solidarity 81
December
President, general Jaruzelski. Fearing soviet army intervention suspended solidarity and arrested many of their leaders.
1990
Walesa became president of Poland
Berlin Wall
Built 61
Why Berlin Wall built
To stop flow of people from east to west (cause e
West standards were so much better
Border of Germany closed
1952 but Berlin was a loophole
1958 Khrushchev …
Demanded west leave Berlin
West said no
Khrushchev left it at that
When did wallpaper
12-13 th August 61 traffic stooped and wall was built
What did the wall show
Soviet defeat. Had to have a wall to keep people in
Kennedy: it’s not a very nice solution but a wall is a heck of a lot better than a war
Gorbachev took power when
When did communist control collapse
1985
1989
Events of 89
Jan, Hungry free elections
May, Hungary remove border fence
June, Poland free elections. Solidarity
Sept, people start using hungry Austria border to escape east
Oct, Gorbachev visits east Berlin and sacks president Honecker
November, wall comes down & Prague calls for free elections
Dec, free Prague elections. Romania secret police fire on demonstrators. Furious, communist party headquarters overthrown and president Ceaseseu
Gorbachev policies
Glasnost: open
Perestroika: economic reform
Demokratizatsyia: accountable
Rise of solidarity
July 80: government increased price of meat
August 80: Gdansk shipyard led by Walesa started free trade union
30 August 80: government agreed to all 21 of solidarity’s demands
Sept 80: membership grew to 3.8 million
Oct 80: solidarity 7 million and officially recognised by government
Jan 81: 9.4 million
