Increased tension

Divided Berlin, Cuban Missile Crisis, Czechoslovakia and the Prague Spring (From the second section: Cold War Crises)

What was the refugee problem in Berlin?

Millions of East Germans crossed the border to go to West Berlin → the population increased, so the economy benefitted from this. East left with a skill shortage.

What was Khrushchev’s Berlin Ultimatum?

Stated all of Berlin belonged to East Germany and wanted Western troops to retreat.

How did the superpowers attempt the Berlin Ultimatum?

Summit meetings: (most important is the Paris summit)

What was the relationship like between the US and Cuba before the Cuban revolution?

Before 1959, Cuba was very closely linked with the US in terms of business and trade.

Who was responsible for the Cuban revolution?

Fidel Castro - Cuba has a socialist revolution, and the US did not want to deal with the new government. It did not want a socialist country in their sphere of influence.

What was the US government/CIA’s response to Castro’s regime?

The CIA tried to assassinate Castro with no success, and instead convinced Kennedy they needed to invade Cuba to contain communism.

Describe the Bay of the Pigs incident

The CIA told Kennedy that they would make the invasion look like a Cuban revolt - they trained Cuban exiles and disguised old American planes to look like they were Cuban. They also told him that Castro’s control of Cuba was very weak, and that most Cubans hate Castro.

What actually happened was that the planes were recognised as US planes and photographed, and the information was published. Everyone knew that the US backed the invasion. Castro knew of the invasion in the advance and has 20,000 of his troops meet the 1400 troops from the US. The US were forced to surrender. Most Cubans actually didn’t want their old leader (Batista) back due to corruption.

What were the consequences of the Bay of Pigs incident?

Ended all chances of the US maintaining a relationship with Cuba. Castro announced he was a communist ,and started building closer ties with the USSR, later leading to Cuba being involved for military defence.

What was the impact of Soviet Rule on Czechoslovakia?

Their economy and living standards declined. Any opposition was crushed, and as a result, communist rule became very unpopular.

What are some important facts about Dubcek?

Dubcek became a Czechoslovakian leader, he was a good leader of the Soviet ruler at the time, Brezhnev. He was a communist, and supported the Warsaw pact but wanted communism better and easier to live under - he called this ‘Socialism with a human face’.

What was Prague Spring?

A period of political freedom following Dubcek’s reforms.

Give some examples of Dubcek’s reforms

Relaxation of censorship meant more political freedom. More democracy meant other political parties were allowed alongside the communist party. Soviet control was reduced, and the market was introduced to more capitalist elements. The powers of the secret police were also reduced.

This was welcomed by the public, and more people started writing books that were more critical of the communist regime.

How did the rest of the communist world respond to Dubcek’s reforms?

Older Czeholslovakian communists were horrified, since they feared it would lead to the collapse of communism. Brezhnev was now in a dilemma where he would either have to go against his ally and freind, or risk these reforms spreading to other countries, which could lead to the collapse of the Eastern bloc.