The global war 1953-1963

When was the Warsaw pact signed?

1955

When was the Geneva agreement signed?

1954

Who was shot down in 1960, leading to an increase in tensions?

Gary Powers

When was the Cuban revolution?

1959

When was the Suez crisis?

1956

What was the Suez crisis?

Britain, France and Israel launched a military operation against Egypt, initially gaining some control over the Canal

However, after intense pressure from the USA as well as Britain loosing a lot of money, the troops retreated and Egypt gained ownership of the Canal

When was the Berlin wall built?

1961

What was the warsaw pact?

A collective treaty between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European bloc countries

What was the arms race? (with examples)

USSR & USA trying to out-do each other in terms of weapons and competing for having the most capability to start war

By the end of 1995 both had hydrogen bombs, USA had 560 strategic bombers while the USSR had 60

Who won the space race?

The USA, by 1962 they had done 63 space missions compared to the USSR’s 15

Explain the Berlin crisis?

West Germany was a part of NATO which meant that they had access to nuclear weapons & had much better conditions compared to East Germany

In 1958, the USSR gives the USA an ultimatum, leave West Berlin before 6 months but it was rejected

By 1961 30K East Germans were fleeing each month = no young skilled workers for East Germany

What were the US attitudes towards Cuba?

Caribbean was considered the USA’s backyard so they were determined to keep stability there for their own interests

The USA had a huge influence on Cuba but were overtly hostile to Castro’s communist Cuba

How did the Cuban Missile Crisis lead to confrontation between the super powers?

USA was anti-castro while the USSR provided him with political, economic and military help

Soviet nuclear missiles were deployed in Cuba in 1962 where the USSR could easily bomb the US

Soviets provided fighter planes, bomber & 1400 ground troops

Briefly describe the Cuban missile crisis

U2 Spy planes found Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba

Kennedy decided to take McNamaras idea of a naval blockade on offensive weapon shipments to cuba. Impact a couple days later, 1st Soviet ships to reach the quarantine either stopped dead in the water or turned around

After negotiation, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles if the US removed their nuclear weapons from Turkey (where they could strike USSR) & not invade again

It was all over in 13 days

Why was the Cuban missile crisis significant?

Brought the world closer to a nuclear war then ever before

Resulted in the 1963 creation of an emergency ‘hotline’ connecting the Kremlin and the white house

Growing awareness of the need to create some control over the nuclear arms race by planning restrictions, Moscow Test Ban treaty 1963

What did the 1963 Moscow Test ban treaty enforce

Sanctioning of testing Nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water

What was the Batista regime?

Anti-communist, corrupt leader who got overthrown by Castro but he received economic & military aid from the US

Who was Mikoyan?

Soviet first deputy premier who visited Cuba in 1960 and gave Castro $100 million

When was the polish uprising?

1956

Briefly describe the risings in Poland

Workers went on strike in protest of wage cuts and poor conditions, anti-communist armed uprising

Gomulka elected in Communist party & threatened by Khrushchev so Gomulka couldnt make reforms that threatened communist rule or the unity of the soviet bloc

When was the Hungarian uprising

1956

Briefly describe the risings in Hungary

De-stalinisation led to reform, inspired by Poland

Reformers put pressure on the gov, freedom of speech etc & the gov couldnt control the resulting violence - Soviet troops forced to leave Budapest under soviet pressure

What is peaceful coexistence and why did Khrushchev want it

Two opposing ideologies existing side by side without war

communist states within the soviet bloc would be able to concentrate resources on internal improvements & progress rather than on preparation for an ideological war against the west

Bullet point the austrian state treaty 1955 main points

Closely linked to the policy towards Germany

Austria = divided into occupation zones, giving economic aid to USSR who wanted Austria to be part of their sphere of influence

By May, it was decided via this treaty that they’ll all withdraw & Austria would be neutral

Showed serious intent of cooperation between the Main powers and removed a source of conflict

What is the U-2 Affair?

1960- USSR shot down Gary Powers in a U-2 spy plane which was trying to take pictures of USSR military bases

Data from the U-2 planes showed that the USSR was loosing, missile gao is in the USA’s favour

Who was Ho Chi Minh?

Leader of North Vietnam, leader of the Indochinese communist party since 1930 & leader of the Vietminh since formation in 1941

Principally a nationalist, secondly a communist

Wrote letters to the USA, believing that they’d help him fight against French Imperialism

Very liked

What did the Vietminh do?

Fight against Japanese and french occupation

Who was diem?

Corrupt leader of South Vietnam, came into power in 1955 through rigged elections

Cancelled the unification elections scheduled in 1956 by the Geneva conference

Finally held elections only in South Vietnam in 1959 because of US pressure but those were only rigged, e.g. not allowed to post names or policies of other candidates

What was the national liberation front?

Communist army in South Vietnam made up of both guerrilla and regular army units, recruited from both North and South Vietnam

Its purpose was to set free South Vietnam from what it saw as US imperialism, Aimed to create a unified, sovereign and independent Vietnamese state

What were Kennedy’s policies towards the conflict in Asia

Ensuring South Vietnam is democratic = fundamental importance to making south-east asia democratic, containment and domino theory

Counterinsurgency = Combat communism through a combo of military, political, economic and social actions

Leads to 1961 report recommendations, Increase in helicopter force to aid counterinsurgency, Greater training support for South Vietnamese army, increase in number of US combat forces, Some strategic bombing of North Vietnam