The Cold War and USSR control over Eastern Europe

NATO

• established in 1949.

• A military alliance of capitalist countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

Why was NATO established in 1949?

• Stalin had installed Communist governments in most E. European countries.

• China and N. Korea also communist allies.

• The West feared smaller democratic countries were vulnerable to Soviet attack.

• American military could place weapons in member - nations.

What did NATO symbolize to Stalin?

• NATO acted as a deterrent.

• Intent on stopping the spread of communism.

• America now had a military presence in Europe.

The Warsaw Pact (Krushchev)

• Established 1955 (in response to NATO)

• A military alliance of communist countries.

situation in Poland (Soviet controlled by 1947)

• peasant based economy.

• traditional hatred of USSR.

• 2 Governments in London and Lublin.

• Soviet troops remain after liberation (WWII)

• opposition leaders arrested and murdered.

• 1947: rigged elections give communists 80% of vote.

• poland becomes a satellite state for Russia

situation in Hungary (Soviet controlled by 1948)

• agricultural based economy

• didn’t support communism

• soviet troops remain after liberation

• secret police discredit and persecute rival politicians.

• In 1947 rigged elections gave the communists control of the coalition government.

• The Social Democratic Party and Communist Party merged in 1948, giving the communists control of Hungary.

situation in Czechoslovakia (Soviet controlled by 1948)

• Democracy established before 1939 (when it was invaded by Germany)

• strong public support for communists

• Foreign Minister Jans Masaryk (popular non-communist politician) murdered in March 1948

What was the Truman Doctrine?

• March 1947

• $400 million economic and military aid sent to Greece (from American President Truman)

What did the Truman Doctrine symbolize?

• word divided between ‘the free, and the oppressors.’

• provided open-ended commitment to defend free countries threatened by aggressive neighbours.

• American intervention in Greece marked new era in USA’s attitude to world politics.

Greece, Turkey, and The Truman Doctrine

• After Nazis left the Greece, a civil war broke out between Monarchists and Communists.

• Britain didn’t have resources to help the monarchists, so Truman Doctrine aid sent.

• Turkey - Stalin saw opportunity to access the Black Sea and The Middle East.

The Marshall Aid Plan

• announced by Secretary of State George Marshall in June 1947.

• aimed to stabilize European economies.

• Marshall Aid also applied to Western zones in Germany.

Iron curtain

• Churchill, March 1946

• referred to the boarder between democratic and non-democratic countries (the barrier between Communism and Capitalism.)

Causes of The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949)

• Stalin believed America was using Marshall Aid to increase their control in Germany - Stalin wanted to show his authority.

• Deutschmark and Trizonia introduced in Western zones.

• Stalin embarrassed with difference in living standards between East and West blocks.

Events of The Berlin Blockade

• Stalin cut all road, rail and canal links to West Berlin.

• ‘Operation Vittles’ ferried food and fuel into Berlin.

• It lasted 10 months, with over 200,000 flights landing around 9000 tonnes of food and fuel per day.

Why did the blockade fail?

• warm winter reduced the need for fuel.

• Operation Vittles well organised.

• B29 bombers showed Stalin the West wouldn’t tolerate any sabotage.

FDR

Federal Republic of Germany (East)

GDR

German Democratic Republic (East)

Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Hungary 1956?

Repression and Control

• secret police restricted freedoms.

• 2000 people executed and 100,000 imprisoned.

• communist government in power, despite only winning 17% of the vote,

• Russian language forced upon the people: street signs replaced in Russian, and Russian imposed as the language used in schools.

Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Hungary 1956?

Economic issues and Religion

• all food and industrial goods produced in Hungary were sent to Russia, instead of being used in Hungary.

• communists banned religion (Cardinal Mindszenty imprisoned and tortured.)

Hungarian Uprising - October 1956

• Budapest students demand an end to Soviet occupation and pull down huge statue.

• Soviet soldiers open fire on the protesters.

• Imre Nagy appointed new Prime Minister

What changes did Imre Nagy implement in Hungary (a liberal reformer appointed by the Soviets to ease turmoil)

1. Democracy

2. Freedom of Speech and religion 3.

3. Release of political prisoners 4.

4. Hungary to leave the Warsaw Pact

Outcome of the Hungarian Uprising

• USSR re-takes control of Hungary after 3 weeks.

• Nagy is executed.

Czechoslovakia 1968 - Dubcek

(Dubcek had a good relationship with Brezhnev)

• ‘Communism with a human face’ (promised reforms.)

  1.Farmers allowed to setup private farms outside of government control

  2. Freedom of movement

• 3. Increased rights for trades union and workers

• 4. Freedom of the press and the speech. An end to censorship.

Despite these reforms, Dubcek didn’t leave the Warsaw Pact.

USSR response to Dubcek’s reforms - invasion

soviet troops invade Czechoslovakia, thousands flee the country, and Dubcek is removed from power.

USSR’s response to Dubcek’s reforms - Brezhnev Doctrine

• Soviet policy to control all communist countries in Eastern Europe.

• all countries had to be one party states.

• mandatory membership of the Warsaw Pact.

• military force against those who oppose the Doctrine.

Name 3 ways why the Hungarian Uprising and Prague Spring failed

1. no international response

2. USSR determination

3. Soviet Military Strength

Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961 -

Living conditions in the West

• Minimal resources and job opportunities in East Berlin.

• East Berliners attractied by wealth and freedom in West Berlin.

Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961 -

Propaganda and The Brain Drain

(… Khrushchev isn’t happy…)

• Citizens leaving East Germany made the USSR look weak.

• Young, educated, skilled workers were leaving East Berlin in pursuit of better job opportunities.

• East German economy needed skilled workers.

2.6 million people left East Germany between 1949 and 1961 (15% of the population)

What was Solidarity?

• Polish national trade union

• Established in Gdansk,1980.

• Became a political party which took power from the Communists in Poland

Why was Solidarity successful?

• non-violent, so as not to provoke Government aggression.

• members of solidarity from all areas of society.

• well organised, with its own newspaper.

• Between 1980 and 1981, ten million Poles joined from all walks of life. About 80% of the workforce had membership.

Role of Gorbachev in the collapse of Communism -

policy

• Glasnost enabled freedom of expression and media.

• Perestroika enabled economic reform and private ownership of industry within the eastern bloc.

• terminated the Brezhnev Doctrine and wouldn’t intervene with countries that broke free from communism.

The collapse of Communism and Afghanistan

• Soviets engaged in a war with the Mujahideen (1979-1989).

• war proved to be expensive and demoralizing.

The collapse of Communism and President Reagan

• Reagan increase military spending by a third, which the Russian economy couldn’t compete with. ($32.6 billion)

• Star Wars program established (Strategic Defense Initiative that build ballistic defense missiles to protect America from USSR missile attack)

• America developed neutron bomb

• Reagan and Gorbachev sign treaties to limit nuclear weapons.

• Reagan supported anti-communist governments in Europe.

• INF treaty 1987 - The Treaty agreed to the elimination all nuclear missiles with a range between 500-5500 km. Stockpiles started to be reduced.

what was the Prague Spring under Dubcek?

January 1968 - August 1968

a period of political liberalisation in Czechoslovakia, under Dubcek’s leadership.

Describe the achievements of Lech Walesa in Poland (4)

• leader of Solidarity, and was successful in persuading the polish government to agree to the following demands during the Lenin Gdansk Shipyard strike:

  • catholic church allowed to broadcast church services.

  • worker’s pay matches rise in prices.

  • workers allowed to form trade unions without influence of communist government.

  • end of media censorship.

  • legalises right to strike.

how and why was Solidarity banned in 1981?

• In February 1981, the prime minister of Poland resigned and the leader of the military, Generał Wojciech Jaruzelski, took over.

• December 1981, the government made moves to take back control.

• ❖Jaruzelski negotiated with the leader of Solidarity, Lech Walesa, for several months.

• ❖On 13th December, Jaruzelski claimed to have records of a planned coup by Solidarity and declared martial law.

• The military arrested most of Solidarity's leaders, including Walesa, and suspended the organisation.

how and why did Solidarity become re-instated in 1985?

• 1985, Gorbachev introduced glasnost that released political prisoners across the Eastern Bloc. These included the leaders of Solidarity.

• 1988, the Polish government negotiated with Walesa to end strikes caused by further economic difficulties and price rises.

• April 1989, Solidarity is legalised again and wins every seat it contested in the new Polish parliament.

• 1990, Lech Walesa becomes the first democratically elected president of Poland.