6.4 - 1946-55: Why was NATO created in 1949?

Question 1

CZECH CRISIS 1948

Answer 1

CZECH CRISIS 1948

Question 2

What was the state of the Czechoslovak government at the beginning of 1948?

Answer 2

There was a genuine coalition government

Question 3

What did President Benes and Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk have in common?

Answer 3

They were both non-communists

Question 4

When did Washington start to see Czechoslovakia as very much in the Soviet sphere of influence?

Answer 4

After Stalin forced them to not receive Marshall Aid

Question 5

Why did the Czechoslovak government appeal to the USA for aid in 1947?

Answer 5

There was a poor harvest which left Czechoslovakia in a difficult economic situation

Question 6

What did the USA say in response to the appeals from Czechoslovak government?

Answer 6

They would only help if Czechoslovakia received Marshall aid

Question 7

What did the USSR promise Czechoslovakia during the economic crisis?

Answer 7

600,000 tons of grain

Question 8

What did the Czechoslovak Foreign Trade Minister Ripka say in response to the USSR providing them 600,000 tons of grain?

Answer 8

‘Those idiots in Washington have driven us straight into the Stalinist camp’

Question 9

What happened after the Soviets offered them the grain?

Answer 9

Several political parties resigned from government, hoping to force an election

Question 10

What did many Czechoslovaks blame the communists for?

Answer 10

The failure to receive Marshall aid

Question 11

What did the communist party convince president Benes to do after expecting to do badly in an election?

Answer 11

They convinced Benes to allow them to form a government without the parties who had resigned

Question 12

What did the communists control after entering the government?

Answer 12

They controlled the police

Question 13

When was Jan Masaryk pushed out a window?

Answer 13

10th March 1948

Question 14

Who replaced President Benes after his death in June 1948?

Answer 14

Communist leader Klement Gottwald

Question 15

What treaty was signed in 1948 in response to the Czech Crisis?

Answer 15

Treaty of Brussels 1948

Question 16

What was agreed between the 5 European countries who signed the Treaty of Brussels in 1948?

Answer 16

That they would come to each other’s aid if one of the 5 was attacked militarily

Question 17

Why was the Treaty of Brussels not very significant?

Answer 17

It did not include the USA

Question 18

When was the North Atlantic Treaty signed?

Answer 18

4th April 1949

Question 19

How many countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty in April 1949?

Answer 19

12

Question 20

What was a significant advantage to the US in joining NATO?

Answer 20

It allowed the US military to base itself in the middle of Europe and respond quickly to any threat from the East

Question 21

What was signed in 1955 as a military pact by Eastern European countries?

Answer 21

Warsaw Pact

Question 22

When did the USSR successfully test an atomic bomb?

Answer 22

August 1949

Question 23

When did the Americans produce the first Hydrogen bomb?

Answer 23

1952

Question 24

When did the USSR produce a hydrogen bomb?

Answer 24

1953