4- Berlin Cuba and Czechoslovakia Flashcards
How was Germany divided in 1950 and how did this cause a refugee problem in Berlin?
Since 1949 Germany divided into two democratic west Germany and East Germany under control of communist SU. West Germany received Marshall aid and during 50s became a wealthy country with high standard of living. East Germany did not receive the economic aid and governments economic policies in 1950s were unsuccessful east Germans suffered a lower standard of living. Limits on what people could say and do secret police kept a watch on the actions f ordinary citizens. In 1953 Riots against government and the soviets restored this with armed forces.
Many East Germans chose to leave home and move to west Germany. Knowing the quality of life in West Germany was much higher they crossed the border just to travel from east to west Berlin. and were officially in part of West German territory.
By 1958, 3 million east Germans over a6th of the countries entire population had crossed to the west. Many of the workers were the exact kind of people east Germany needed to builds its economy. Skilled workers teachers engineers knowing they could have higher wages in West Germany
Khrushchev did not want to allow this situation to continue they were losing valuable people and communism was facing a propaganda disaster. In Berlin people had the choice between the communism east and capital west and making it clear they preferred the west
What was Khrushchev’s Berlin ultimatum?
Khrushchev decided for this to end the whole of Berlin had to be part of East Germany. If the western allies left Berlin It would be harder for the people of Berlin to get into west Germany. He knew they would have to be forced out.
In November 1958, Khrushchev demanded that the the western countries should recognise east Germany as an independents country. They still believed Germany should be reunited and did not want to recognise as a separate country
On 27 November Khrushchev issued his Berlin ultimatum he demanded that Berlin should be demilitarised and western withdrawn and that Berlin should be a free city. The west had 6 months to make these changes or Khrushchev would hand over all routes into Berlin to the gov of east Germany.
What were the impacts of the Berlin ultimatum on relations?
Khrushchev threat to hand over control of transport to east Berlin was good it would force the western powers to talk to east Germany authorities about access to Berlin forcing them to accept east Germany as a legitimate country.
Major impacts on international relations. West Angered by Khrushchev demands and saw his actions as another example of how the SU was seeking to extend communism. Khrushchev saw his demands as essential action to solve the western controlled areas in communist east Germany stop the refugee problem
By 1958 Both the SU and the USA had a large number of nuclear weapons neither side wanted war. No one thought this issue was serious enough to justify nuclear war there was a series of talks to solve the Berlin problem
What happened in the meetings between 1959 - 1961 to solve the ‘Berlin Problem’?
Geneva, May 1959
First summit meeting between the foreign ministers of the various countries held in Geneva in Switzerland. Both sides made proposals for how Berlin should be governed no agreement was reached. Further talks took place.
Camp David, September 1959
Eisenhower and Khrushchev met face to face for the first time no agreement about way forward for Berlin but Soviets agreed to withdraw Berlin ultimatum. Meeting appeared to establish better relations between to leaders further talks to happen in Paris.
Paris, May 1960 U-2 incident
As various parties prepared for Paris talks SU made an announcement destroying chances of talks being sucessful. May 1 they shot down American U-2 spy plane flew over SU/ Americans claimed it was weather aeroplane but SU interrogated pilot admitted it was spying mission. Eisenhower refused to apologise saying this could not be avoided. Khrushchev walked out of meeting.
Vienna June 1961
In January 1961 Kennedy became president of USA. Who wanted to resolve the difficulties with the SU.
Khrushchev believed that Kennedy was inexperienced and advantage could be taken over him He also saw Kennedy’s reputation had been affected after Cuba invasion. Khrushchev wanted to renew Berlin Ultimatum.
Kennedy was concerned at what Khrushchev was doing but did not want to look weak. No final decision. Personal relationship became very strained. After Vienna Kennedy decided to increase spending On US armed forces by over 2 billion to protect the US if war broke out between fighting Berlin.
How did worsening relations cause Khrushchev to build to Berlin wall?
Khrushchev’s tough line of Berlin forced western powers to become involved in talks however unfortunate side effects. Tensions between east and west grew. More east Germans crossed to the west in case Khrushchev closed the border. On one day up to 40,000 crossed the border. On action from Khrushchev leader Walter Ulbricht closed the border. On night 23 august East German troops build barbed wire fence around Berlin between east and west
Soon a concrete wall 165 km began. Discussions over Berlin was split and the refugee problem of east Germany solved.
What was the impact of the Berlin wall in Germany?
Berlin wall cut through streets and buildings. By the end of the summer the wall was finished along the 43 km section across centre of Berlin 2 walls one facing east and the other west. Seperated a zone no man lands wit booby traps, barbed wire minefields all guarded of lookout towers machine gun nest.
In desperation some tried to cross the wall guards instructed to shoot anyone making attempt 130 people killed.
What were the impacts of the Berlin wall on east and west Germany?
When the wall was first built outrage in west Germany relations worsened west had hoped for a reunification of Germany. SU considered it some protect in east Germany quickly silenced by the secret police
Building of the Berlin wall improved relations issue of refugees cursing west been a problem had strained relations. Now stream of refugees had been cut off once the protest were over it was possible to improve relations.
What were the negative impacts of the Berlin wall of the two superpowers?
SU
Khrushchev had to abandon plans to unite Germany under SU control. Wall showed that the SU had to lock people into east Germany to stop the leaving. Given choice they preferred capitalism over communism.
USA
SU had closed the border without consulting the USA people could not escape communism
What were the positive impacts of the Berlin wall of the two superpowers?
SU
Wall had stopped refugees leaving for the west through east Berlin. Wall sent the west a message that communism would survive in Berlin and that any attempt to reunite Germany under western control would fail.
USA
Wall showed Khrushchev had been forced to accept western control in western Berlin now that did not think he could bully Kennedy anymore who’s reputation was restored. West Berlin became a symbol of freedom and defiance against communism.
How did the Cuban revolution cause them to become a threat to USA?
In Jan 1959 a group of revolutionaries. led by Fidel Castro overthrew Fulgencio Batista the head of the pro American government of Cuba. Eisenhower was concerned about the revolution as there were close links between Cuba and the USA. US buisnesses had invested heavily in Cuba much of land owned by Americans. Oil refineries telephones network all controlled by US. New leader of Cuba Castro was a nationalist who did not want his country’s economy to be under US control creating tension between US and Cuba threatening world peace.
What were the consequences of the revolution on tension?
American government reluctantly recognised the new government but refused to provide economic aid unless Cuba follow guidelines set out by international monetary fund.
In May 1959 the Cuban government took over all land in Cuba owned by foreigners. It paid compensation to previous owners, but the US government refused to recognise the scheme. Castro took away the land.
Castro had already begun appointing communist to his government when, in February 1960 he made an agreement with the SU. Khrushchev agreed to provide economic aid. There was a secret clause saying Cuba would receive arms from the SU.
USA was extremely concerned that a pro-Soviet was being established becuase Cuba was so close. The USA decided to take action to try bring Cuba into line. In July 1960 Eisenhower reduced the amount of goods purchased by from Cuba. Then banning all trade with the country. In January 1961. USA broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba.
How did a pro-communist gov being established in Cuba lead to USA intervention in Cuba and the bay of pigs incident?
President Kennedy did not want an ally of communism close to American territory. Therefore gave his support to a plan agreed by CIA and Eisenhower. The CIA suggested group of Cuban exiles trained to launch invasion to overthrow Castro. Sending Cuban exiles would make the attack look like a Cuban counter revolution so USA was not involved
In 17 April 1961, an invasion force of around 1,400 Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of pigs in Cuba. The USA hoped they would overthrow the Castro regime and put the US gov back into control/ The attempt was a failure because:
Volunteers had little military experience of around received some training could not compete with Cuban army
The USA wanted to present the attack as a Cuba effort to get rid of Castro. They could not send US ground forced or air strikes to support the attacks
Castro’s gov found out about invasion plans there were 20,000 soilders read and waiting to fight off 1,400 invaders.
The USA and the exile army wrongly thought that most of the Cubans would support them but many were happy with Castro.
Public humiliation came to the Americans.
What were the effects of the bay of pigs incident on international relations?
Bay of pigs was humiliating and embarrassing failure for the USA. They had previously accused the SU of building an empire in EE. It looked like hey were trying to restore US independence in an independent country by supporting armed uprising against its government.
The SU was quick to notice the happiness of the Cuban people under a pro communist Castro. They had little support for the Cuban exiles to restore Pro-American government. They bay of pigs incident led to stronger relations between Cuba and the SU. After defeating the invasion. Cuatro declared himself to be communist and asked Khrushchev to help him defend himself against future attacks from the US. In Sep 196, Khrushchev publically announced that he would provide arms to Cuba.
Kennedy was concerned by this. Cuba would now have the modern military equipment and training from Soviets experts. If SU placed nuclear weapons in Cuba. USA would be under threat. Kennedy warned Khrushchev that he could not allow the SU to use Cuba as a base to threaten to the USA. Khrushchev assured he had no intention of doing so this was not the case.
What was the Cuba missile crisis?
On October 1962. US spy plane took pictures that the SU was building missile launch sites in Cuba. The US knew the missiles launched from these sites could reach US cities. US intelligent agencies informed PK that Soviets were on its way to deliver supplies, to enable the nuclear missiles to be fired at the USA.
Khrushchev told Kennedy that he would not put nuclear weapons in Cuba then he did and there were reasons why:
In Europe, NATO had missiles based in Turkey a short distance from the SU. Khrushchev believed it was time for the US to feel under threat. and for the the missiles in Turkey to be removed.
The building of the Berlin wall was presented by many Soviet critics as a failure for Khrushchev could restore his reputation.
Khrushchev may also wanted to put missiles in Cuba he feared another US attack. If US overthrew Castro would be a defeat for communism. Kennedy was concerned SU had to be stopped from putting nuclear missiles in Cuba.
What were the 13 days of the Cuban missile crisis?
In Oct Kennedy called together an executive committee to discuss how US should react.
Kennedy decided not to launch an attack. Instead he set up a naval blockade around Cuba he called it a quarantine. No ships would be allowed to pass through the blockade without the US permission. Many US expected the SU to ignore the blockade then the US would have to sink their ships and war would follow. Kennedy was prepared forward.
Khrushchev had no desire to start a nuclear war. On 23 October he ordered Soviet ships to turn around . The US did not know about this. They taught the Soviet ships were sailing towards the blockade and that any minute they would be forced to fire on the ships to stop them break through possible causing nuclear war. Americans were relieved. The US left Cuba.
