🌐 2. Cold War Crises, 1958–70 Flashcards
(11 cards)
1958 – Berlin Crisis Begins
November 1958
Soviet leader Khrushchev issued an ultimatum demanding that Western powers leave West Berlin within six months and make it a “free city”.
CAUSES:
-Berlin was divided
-Refugee crisis: Around 2.7 million East Germans had fled to the West via Berlin by 1958
-hrushchev wanted to stop the brain drain (skilled workers leaving)
What Khrushchev demanded:
-The West should withdraw from West Berlin within six months.
-Berlin should become a neutral, demilitarised “free city.”
-threatened to hand control of Berlin’s borders to East Germany — which the West did not recognise
Impact:
-Increased Cold War tensions
-Led to a series of summits (Geneva 1959, Camp David 1959, Paris 1960, Vienna 1961)
-Eventually led to the Berlin Wall being built in 1961
1959 – Geneva & Camp David Summits
1959 – Geneva & Camp David Summits
After the Berlin Crisis began in 1958, both superpowers met to discuss solutions in two major summits:
Geneva Summit – May 1959
-First meeting between foreign ministers of the USA and USSR since 1955.
-Both sides put forward proposals on Berlin’s future but no agreement was reached.
-However, they agreed to keep talking, which helped reduce tensions.
Camp David Summit – September 1959
-Khrushchev visited the USA and met President Eisenhower at Camp David.
-Again, no concrete agreement on Berlin, but Khrushchev withdrew his Berlin ultimatum.
-Marked a temporary thaw in relations — sometimes called the “Spirit of Camp David.”
Impact on the Cold War:
-Helped avoid immediate conflict over Berlin
-both sides were willing to negotiate
-underlying issues remained unsolved — tensions would rise again in 1960.
1960 – Paris Summit Collapses
Paris Summit in May 1960 was meant to continue improving US–Soviet relations after the Camp David Summit. But it completely collapsed because of the U-2 Spy Plane Incident
U-2 Spy Plane Incident – May 1, 1960
-Just before the summit, a US U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union.
-The pilot, Gary Powers, survived and was captured.
-At first, the USA claimed it was a weather plane, but the USSR produced the pilot and the wreckage, proving it was a spy mission.
-The USA was caught lying, embarrassing President Eisenhower.
Impact on the Paris Summit:
-Khrushchev was furious and demanded an apology
-Eisenhower refused to apologise, saying spying was necessary.
-Khrushchev stormed out, and the summit collapsed with no progress made on Berlin or arms control.
Impact on the Cold War:
-Relations worsened significantly
-Showed the lack of trust between the superpowers.
-Tensions would rise further at the 1961 Vienna Summit.
1961 – Vienna Summit
**1961 – Vienna Summit
June 1961, a summit was held in Vienna between the new US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev/meant to ease Cold War tensions — but instead, it made things worse
What happened:
-Khrushchev renewed his ultimatum
-Kennedy refused to back down
-was tense and unproductive — no agreements were made
Impact:
-Khrushchev believed Kennedy was inexperienced and tried to intimidate him.
-Kennedy responded by increasing US defence spending and preparing for confrontation.
-led to the building of the Berlin Wall (1961) to stop East Germans escaping to the West.
August 1961 – Berlin Wall Built
In response to the ongoing refugee crisis in Berlin and the failure of negotiations at the Vienna Summit, East Germany (GDR), backed by the USSR, began building the Berlin Wall on 13 August 1961.
Why it was built:
-Between 1949 and 1961, around 2.7 million East Germans had fled to West Berlin
-leaving were young and skilled workers — causing a “brain drain.”
- USSR and East German government wanted to stop the flow of people and protect communist control.
What the wall involved:
-A heavily guarded concrete wall surrounded West Berlin, cutting it off from East Berlin and East Germany.
-Included barbed wire, guard towers, landmines, and “death strips”.
-Crossing the wall without permission became nearly impossible.
**
Impact:**
-The wall became the most powerful symbol of Cold War division.
-USA protested but took no military action
-Stopped the refugee crisis, strengthening East Germany
-Kennedy visited West Berlin in 1963 and gave his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech — showing solidarity with West Berliners
1959 – Cuba Becomes Communist (Fidel Castro)
**1959 **
January 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista and established a new revolutionary government in Cuba
** Why it mattered:**
-Castro nationalised American-owned businesses and land in Cuba
-USA reacted by imposing a trade embargo (stopping sugar imports and other trade)
- pushed Castro towards the USSR for economic and military support
USSR involvement:
-Khrushchev welcomed Cuba into the communist bloc and began sending aid and arms.
- alarmed the USA — it now faced a communist ally of the USSR in its own backyard.
Why it increased Cold War tensions:
Cuba became a flashpoint in the Cold War.
Led directly to future confrontations, including:
The Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)
The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
April 1961 – Bay of Pigs Invasion
April 1961
Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed attempt by the USA to remove Fidel Castro from power in Cuba.
**
What happened:**
-CIA trained 1,400 Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and start an uprising against Castro
-April 1961, they landed at the Bay of Pigs, expecting support from the Cuban people
-invasion was a disaster: the exiles were defeated within 3 days and captured
Why it failed:
-Cuban population did not rise up against Castro.
-exiles were poorly equipped and trained
- USA failed to provide proper air support
-Castro’s forces were well-prepared and defended the attack
** Consequences:**
Huge embarrassment for the USA
Castro became more popular in Cuba
Cuba turned fully to the USSR for protection, including allowing Soviet missiles onto the island.
Led directly to the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).
October 1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis
**October 1962 **
** Causes:**
-After the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Cuba turned fully to the USSR for protection.
-After the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Cuba turned fully to the USSR for protection.
-Khrushchev wanted to:
+Defend Cuba
+Increase Soviet bargaining power
+Counter US missiles already placed in Turkey, near the USSR
** The 13-day crisis (16–28 October 1962):**
-Kennedy imposed a naval blockade (quarantine) to stop more Soviet missiles reaching Cuba
-Soviet ships approached the blockade line — tension was extremely high
-Secret negotiations took place between Kennedy and Khrushchev
** Resolution:**
-USSR agreed to remove missiles from Cuba
-USA secretly agreed to remove missiles from Turkey
-crisis ended peacefully, avoiding war.
Aftermath and impact:
-Hotline was set up between Washington and Moscow to improve communication
-Led to the 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
-Short-term win for Kennedy
-Tensions eased slightly afterwards — beginning of détente
1963 – Test Ban Treaty
1963 – Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
**
What it involved:**
-Signed by the USA, USSR, and UK in August 1963
-Banned nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater.
-Underground testing was still allowed
**
Why it mattered:**
-the first agreement to limit nuclear weapons development
-Showed that both sides were willing to reduce tension and avoid another crisis.
-step towards improved communication and détente
**
Impact:**
-Helped build trust after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
-Didn’t stop the arms race, but it slowed it down.
-Paved the way for future treaties like the Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) and SALT talks (1970s).
1968 – Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
1968 – Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
The NPT was a global agreement aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy
** What it involved:**
-Signed by major powers
-Countries agreed not to share nuclear weapons technology with non-nuclear states
-Nuclear states promised to work towards disarmament
-Non-nuclear states agreed not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons
** Why it mattered:**
-Helped limit the number of countries with nuclear weapons.
-Aimed to reduce the risk of nuclear war
-Encouraged international cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy
Impact:
-Became the foundation of global nuclear arms control.
Helped maintain a fragile balance during the Cold War.
January–August 1968 – Prague Spring
-early 1968, Alexander Dubček became the leader of Czechoslovakia and introduced a series of liberal reforms aimed at creating “Socialism with a human face.”
- Reforms included:
+More freedom of speech and press
+plans for a more open, democratic government.
+Greater freedom to travel abroad.
Soviet Reaction:
-USSR and other Warsaw Pact countries feared these reforms would weaken communist control and encourage similar uprisings
-August 1968, Soviet tanks invaded Czechoslovakia to stop the reforms
-Dubček was arrested and forced to reverse the changes
Brezhnev Doctrine:
-Announced after the invasion.
-Said the USSR had the right to intervene in any communist country where socialism was threatened.
-Justified Soviet actions in Czechoslovakia and any future interventions.
** Impact:**
- limits of liberalisation in Eastern Europe
-Increased tensions
-Made clear the USSR would use force to maintain control
