Resistance in Eastern Europe 1956-1984

Why did people rebel in Poland 1956?

Stalinist policies leading to goods shortages and harsh work demands, brings workers close to revolt

What did Poznan workers demand in June 1956?

Bread, liberty, freedom

What happened to demonstrators in Poland 1956?

They were attacked by Polish tanks and bullets

How many were killed at the Polish uprising 1956?

74

What happened to young protesters at the Polish uprising 1956?

They were put on trial

What did the Polish people want to achieve with the Polish uprising 1956?

Withdrawal of Soviet troops

Why did Stalin imprison Gomulka 1956?

He was chosen by Polish communists without consulting Kermlin

Whose support does Gomulka has in Poland 1956?

The Polish army and the people

What did Gomulka promise Stalin 1956?

To be loyal to Warsaw Pact

Why were the Hungarian people upset in 1956 towards communism?

It is very easy to be put in jail for political reasons under the dictatorship of Rakosi

Did the Kremlin leadership approve of Rakosi?

No

What was Rakosi forced to do in Hungary 1956?

Feign illness and reign

What happens after Rakosi steps down Hungary 1956?

Stalin put in place someone who is willing to enforce a larger Soviet influence on Hungary—Nagy

What inspired thousands of Hungarians to protest

Gomulka’s success

What did Hungarian students and workers demand 1956?

Free speech, disbanding the secret police, withdrawal of Soviet troops

What happened after 4 days of fighting in Hungary 1956?

Nagy arranged a ceasefire so Soviets withdrew

Who took over Prime Minister as revolutionaries won the fight in Hungary 1956?

Nagy

What do the revolutionaries trust Nagy to do Hungary 1856?

To bring radical changes to the government system

What did Nagy declare Hungary 1956?

That Hungary is a neutral country and is divorced from the Warsaw Pact

Why was Britain’s attention diverted from Hungary 1956?

Britian and France are invading Suez in 1956, which America disapproved of

How did the USSR invade Hungary that made resistance impossible?

Over 1k tanks were deployed

What happened to Nagy at the end of the Hungarian rising 1956?

Nagy was executed

Who was then appointed leader in Hungary and imposed Moscow’s rule brutally?

Kadar

How many Hungarians fled to the West after the 1956 rising?

180k

How was the Hungarian rising a threat to Soviet rule?

Nagy’s newfound power gave revolutionaries morale, Soviet’s influence on Hungary could be removed and it can inspire revolution in other satellite states

Why couldn’t the West count on international support to aid uprisings in Easter Europe?

Most Asian and Middle Eastern states in the UN refused to give a resolution calling for Soviet troops to be withdrawn from Hungary

What have the West accepted?

The brutal control of USSR over Eastern European

What did the failure of USA to intervene reveal?

The limitations of the US’ containment policy

Why did the USSR not remove Gomulka from power?

The USSR needs Poland to be under its influence so it can act as a buffer zone against the West

What did Dubcek promote in Czechoslovakia January 1968?

Democratic reforms with thin a socialist system

What did Dubcek have no intention to do Czechoslovakia 1968?

Abandon collective agriculture or state owned industry or leave the Warsaw Pact

What are some of Dubcek’s policies?

Freedom of speech, free press and multi party democracy, consumer based economy

How did crowds support Dubcek?

Tell foreign troops to go home, throw missiles at Russian tanks

How did the USSR respond to Czech protesters 1968?

Used machine guns to fire at crowd, at least 4 shot dead

What did the Warsaw letter of 1968 do?

Denounce Dubcek as a threat to the socialist movement and shouldn’t be tolerated

How did Johnson do USA condemn the USSR response to Prague spring 1968?

Says the USSR clearly violated the UN Charter

What happened to Czechs despite soft policy of resistance?

70 civilians were killed, ~70k fled

What is the USSR afraid of after Prague Spring?

Czech economic links with West Germany, revolutionary ideas spreading to other Eastern countries and being within the communist government

What did 20 divisions from the USSR, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria do August 1968?

They invaded Czechoslovakia, arrested Czech leaders and took them to Moscow where Brezhnev threatened them until they abandoned reforms

What is the 1968 Brezhnev doctrine?

Statement that the USSR and allies would invade any communist nation deviating from its communist duty

What’s the impact of the Brezhnev Doctrine 1968?

End hope of change, extend Cold War until 1989