1958 - 1970: Cold War Crisis

What was the Brain Drain?

The emigration of intellectuals from East Germany to the West.

East Germany couldn't build up resources or its economy as a result, they also couldn't develop enough to rival the West.

It also encouraged more to defect and a resentment of the USSR and Communism

How many people were leaving East Germany each day at the height of the brain drain?

2,000

When was Khrushchev's Berlin Ultimatum? What did it state?

27th November 1958 - Demanded that Berlin should be demilitarised and Western troops should be withdrawn, as it's in the Soviet zone it should be the territory of East Germany.

When was the Geneva summit? What happened?

May 1959 - first summit meeting, held in neutral Switzerland.

Ideas were put forward about how Berlin should be governed, but no agreement was reached. Eisenhower invited Khrushchev to America for further thoughts.

When was the Camp David summit? What happened?

September 1959 - Eisenhower and Khrushchev meet face to face for the first time.

No agreement was made about the future of Berlin, but Khrushchev withdrew his Berlin Ultimatum. Agreement to talk in Paris next.

When was the Paris summit? What happened?

May 1960 -

On the 1st of May, 13 days before the summit was due to start, the Soviets had shot down the American U2 spy plane, piloted by Gary Powers. Americans claimed it was a weather plane, but the Soviets had proof it wasn't.

Eisenhower was embarrassed by what happened and Khrushchev walked out of the meeting, a total failure.

When was the Vienna summit? What happened?

June 1961 -
(JFK became president in January 1961)
Khrushchev wanted to take advantage of Kennedy's political inexperience, and America's embarrassment at their failed invasion of Cuba in April 1961.

Khrushchev renewed the 1958 Berlin Ultimatum. No final decision was made on Berlin.

Afterwards, JFK increased American armed forces spending by over $2 billion

When was the Berlin Wall built?

August 12-13, 1961

How long was the Berlin Wall?

165km

When was John. F. Kennedy's "Ich Bin ein Berliner" speech?

26th June 1963 - explained his view that the Berlin wall showed the greatness of the West

Impact of Berlin Wall?

1. Ended refugee crisis (brain drain)
2. Divided families and streets/ buildings (people tried to escape while it was being built)
3. Powerful symbol of division

How far is Cuba from America?

90 miles

Who was in control of Cuba in the 1950s?

Military dictator Fulgencio Batista- he was pro-America, so the Americans didn't intervene

What happened in 1957 - 1959 Cuba?

Fidel Castro lead a socialist revolution and overthrew Batista - he gained support from 1957 and in 1959 he lead the Cuban revolution- wants to remove American influence and nationalise the country

What was the plan for the bay of pigs, 1961?

Cuban exiles would be trained and sent into Cuba to overthrow Castro, they were to be given air support and equipped with American equipment. The exiles consisted of 1,500 men and were called 'Brigade 2506'

When did the Bay of Pigs invasion begin?

April 17, 1961

Why did the Bay of Pigs invasion fail?

the exiles had very little military experience and the USA didn't want to be linked to the invasion so drew out their air support.

Castro's government found out beforehand and put their 20,000 strong army on alert

What were the consequences of the Bay of Pigs invasion, 1961?

it made Castro's position stronger, embarrassed the US, and improved Cuban and Soviet relations

When did Cuba convert to communism?

end of 1961

When was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

16th - 28th October 1962

When was a naval 'quarantine' put in place around Cuba? What is this?

21st October 1962- a naval blockade is out in place but it's called a quarantine to lessen the severity of its implications, as blockades are usually used in war, which JFK wants to avoid at all cost

What is discovered on the 23rd of October 1962?

Soviet missiles in Cuba are ready to launch

What happens on the 26th October 1962?

Whilst Kennedy prepares to invade Cuba, with 12,000 troops in Florida, Khrushchev sends a letter in which he promises to remove the missiles if Kennedy publicly guarantees that the US will not invade Cuba

What happens on the 27th October 1962?

A U2 spy plane is shot down over Cuba and the piolet is killed. Khrushchev sends another letter in which he states that, in addition to not invading Cuba, the US must withdraw their missiles from Turkey

What happened on the 28th of October 1962?

Kennedy agreed to Khrushchev's letters, as long as the removal of missiles form Turkey remains a secret. Khrushchev announces the removal of ICBMs from Cuba- crisis is over

What was set up, and when, as a consequence of the Cuban missile crisis?

20th June 1962- a hotline was set up between the White House and the Kremlin to allow for better communication and the prevention of any repeats of the crisis

Impacts of the Cuban missile crisis on Khrushchev and Kennedy?

Khrushchev- Soviet leaders thought that he was weak for stepping down

Kennedy- regained his reputation that had suffered from the bay of pigs and silenced critics

When was the limited test ban treaty signed?

1963 - Test Ban Treaty which began the process of ending the testing of nuclear weapons.

Who was Novotny?

hard line communist leader of Czechoslovakia, disliked by everyone

When did Alexander Dubcek replace Antonin Novotny?

1968- he reformed Czechoslovakia

When did Leonid Brezhnev take over as leader of the Soviet Union?

1964

What was Dubcek's 'socialism with a human face'?

April 1968- a series of reforms designed to give communism a more people friendly approach

What was the Prague Spring of 1968?

1968- the introduction of a series of reforms:
- the powers of the secret police were lessened
- rights for fair trials were introduced
- the introduction of trade and travel with the West
- freedom of speech and removal of censorship
- formation of trade unions and opposition political groups
- democratic elections

When do Soviet tanks take up positions on the Czech border?

June 1968- Brezhnev is initially supportive of Dubcek's reforms but is worried that Czechoslovakia will leave the Warsaw pact

What happened on the 18th of August 1968?

a final threat is issued to Dubcek to un-do his reforms - he refuses

When did the USSR invade Czechoslovakia?

20th August 1968 -
500,000 troops entered the country. 1,000 were arrested and 170 were killed; Dubcek was sent to Moscow and his policies reversed, Czechoslovakia remained under Soviet rule for 20 years

When was the Brezhnev Doctrine? What did it state?

September 1968- a capitalist threat in any communist country is a threat to all communist countries, and the USSR would intervene

Who was brought in to replace Dubcek?

Gustav Husak- hardliner communist