6. How secure was the USSR's control over Eastern Europe?

Question 1

What happened in Hungary, June 1956?

Answer 1

Rakosi was overthrown, he was unpopular due to his hardline Communist policies

Question 2

When was Rakosi overthrown?

Answer 2

June 1956

Hungary

Question 3

Who replaced Rakosi after he was overthrown?

and when?

Answer 3

Gero, but he was then replaced by more popular Nagy in October 1956

Question 4

What were some of Nagy’s ideas?

Answer 4

1. wanted to hold free elections
2. total withdraw of Soviet army from Hungary
3. planned to leave the Warsaw Pact

Question 5

Which one of Nagy’s ideas could Khruschev not accept? Why?

Answer 5

He couldn’t accept Hungary leaving the Warsaw Pact - could cause other countries to leave too

Question 6

What happened in November 1956, and its consequences?

Answer 6

• thousands of Soviet troops + tanks moved into Budapest
• 3 000 Hungarians killed in subsequent fighting, 200 000 fled
• Nagy was executed
• Communist Kadar took over: 35 000 anti-Communist arrested and 300 executed

Question 7

Explain all events in Hungary in 1956.

Answer 7

1. June: Rakosi, hardline Communist + unpopular, overthrown
2. Gero replaces him, but then was replaced by + popular Nagy in October
3. Nagy wanted free elections, total withdrawal of Soviet army from Hungary + planned to leave Warsaw Pact (not in booklet but I think is relevant: wanted impartial elections, declare Hungary neutral in Cold War + restore farmland to private ownership)
4. Khruschev couldn’t accept Hungary leaving Warsaw Pact
5. November: 1000s of Soviet troops + tanks moved into Budapest
6. 3 000 Hungarians killed in subsequent fighting, 200 000 fled, Nagy executed
7. Communist Kadar took over: 35 000 anti-Communist arrested and 300 executed

Question 8

Describe the events of the Berlin Wall.

Answer 8

1. Many Germans living in East Berlin - fleeing to West Germany (inferior living conditions, lack of freedom/wealth)
2. 13th August 1961: East German soldiers erect barbed wire fence along frontier of East/West Berlin - quickly replaced by concrete wall
3. Checkpoint Charlie: only crossing point
4. People who tried to defect - shot
5. 27 October 1961: Soviet tanks pulled up to Checkpoint Charlie - US and Soviet tanks faced each other all day
6. Eventually tanks pulled back
7. Kennedy: “not a very nice solution, but a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war”

Question 9

What were the Salami tactics?

Answer 9

used by Stalin to take over Eastern Europe
1. Shared power in a coalition government after free elections
2. Took over civil service, media, security and defence
3. Forced their opponents out of office (threats and bribery)
4. Outlawed all opposition parties
5. Fixed elections to ensure Communist victory
6. Executed opponents to leave them in total control of communist states in Eastern Europe

Question 10

Why did the USSR want to take over Eastern Europe?

Answer 10

• buffer zone to protect the USSR from future attacks
• spread communsim
• Germany had invaded USSR through Finland, Poland, + Romania: didn’t want this to repeat
• Churchill: ‘seeking totalitarian control’

Question 11

What factors led to tension beween US and USSR?

Answer 11

2. Kennan’s telegram - tension, worried US, they thought USSR wanted global domunation
3. Stalin claimed future wars were inevitable due to capitalism/imperialism - tension
4. Atomic bomb situation - mistrust
5. US/USSR disagreed about Germany’s future, US wanted less punishment

Question 12

What was a major reason for the deteriorating relationship between US and USSR?

Answer 12

Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe - in the West, seen as expansionist and communist propagation, danger to the free world

Question 13

Why did the USSR bloacked Berlin?

Answer 13

• Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak, concerned when their economy began improving
• Stalin provoked by new currency introduced in West Berlin
• B + F + USA combined their zones in 1946 w/o Soviet consultation
• Stalin wanted to include all Berlin in Soviet zone
• Stalin testing commitment of US to Berlin

Question 14

Describe the Berlin Blockade.

Answer 14

1. June 1948: Stalin blockades all rail, road and canal links into West Berlin
2. USA found loophole: sending supplied by airplane, USSR couldn’t shoot them down (act of war)
3. By Sept 1948, 48 800 tonnes per day flying in
4. May 1949: Blockade called off

Question 15

Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 15

• propaganda victory for USA (Airlift)
• NATO established
• Worldwide awareness of Cold War
• hopes for united Germany ended
• West Germany (FDR) and East Germany (DDR) set up
• Ended bad feeling between W Germans and Americans