Hungary (1956) Berlin (1959-61) and Czechoslovakia (1968).docx

Hungary (1956) Berlin (1959-61) and Czechoslovakia (1968)

Hungary, 1956

• Stalin died in 1953

• By 1955, Nikita Krushchev had become leader of the USSR. He said he wanted a thaw in the Cold War. In 1955-56, Krushchev:

• Apologised for how Stalin treated Yugoslavia

• Denounced Stalin’s policies

• Said he wanted a peaceful ‘co-existence’ with non-communist nations

• De-Stalinised the USSR

• The USA hoped there would be more freedom in Eastern Europe

• Because this was slow to happen, there were riots and demonstrations in Poland and Czechoslovakia in July 1956

• A full-scale rebellion had happened in Hungary in October-November 1956.

• The USSR sent in tanks to restore order.

Berlin,1959-61

• In Berlin it was possible for people to flee to the Capitalist West for a better quality of life.

• Two million people, mostly skilled workers, escaped this way. Leaving the USSR embarrassed.

• Krushchev was also worried that West Berlin was being used for spying on the communist East.

The building of the Berlin Wall

• By 1960 so many people were escaping to West Berlin it caused labour shortages in the East.

• To end the situation, in August 1961, he ordered a massive wall to be built to permanently divide the city.

• Anyone trying to cross the wall risked being shot.

The response of the West

• America protested but did nothing.

• In private the USA was relieved. Berlin was a cause of tension which the Soviets had now closed down.

Consequences and impact on relations

• Anti-communist feelings in the West increased.

• The Berlin Wall became a symbol of divisions between East and West.

Czechoslovakia,1968

Causes of ‘Prague Spring’

• Khrushchev was replaced by Leonid Brezhnev in 1964.

• In January 1968, Alexander Dubcek became leader of Czechoslovakia.

• There had been demonstrations directed against the lack of civil rights and the poor standard of living.

• Czechs hated that their industrial products were sent to the USSR while they lived in poverty

• Students resented restrictions. Writers wanted freedom of speech

• Dubcek wanted Czechoslovakia to remain communist but knew reform was needed.

• He introduced an ‘Action Programme’ of political and economic reforms that included:

• Freedom of speech

• More economic freedom

• Increased foreign trade

• Allowing travel abroad

• Reducing the power of the secret police

• These reforms became known as ‘Prague Spring’

Soviet Response

• Brezhnev was afraid these reforms would lead other countries to do the same.

• In July, The USSR and other communist countries wrote to Czechoslovakia to object. Dubcek said they would remain in the Warsaw Pact.

• Brezhnev ordered 400,000 troops into the country on August 20th 1968.

• It officially was a Warsaw Pact operation, but was really mostly Soviet.

• Dubcek told Czechs to show opposition through peaceful resistance. There were instances of violent resistance despite this.

• Dubcek was called to Moscow and subsequently said the ‘Prague Spring’ had ended.

• He resigned and was replaced by Gustav Husak

• 80 people were killed and Dubcek was demoted not executed

• There was hardly any violent resistance to Soviet invasion, but some students burned themselves to death in protest.

Response of West and impact on relations

• Invasion didn’t damage relations much, although communism became even less popular in the West.

Brezhnev Doctrine,1968

• Brezhnev now said communist countries must act together to prevent communist countries turning capitalist. This was known as the Brezhnev Doctrine.