NATO and The Warsaw Pact and Stalin Vs Khrushchev Flashcards
Why was NATO established?
NATO was formed as a response to the Berlin Blockade. It was used as a shield against blockade.
Why didn’t Stalin like NATO and what did he claim about it?
Stalin believed NATO was offensive not defensive like Truman claimed. However it was offensive even though Truman claimed to Stalin it wasn’t. It also meant Russia was surrounded by NATO countries.
What was the purpose of NATO?
The purpose of NATO is that it’s an alliance of countries to show power against Stalin and to stop the spread of communism.
What was the significance of the existence of NATO and the Warsaw Pact?
The effect in Cold War relations was that it increased tension.
What did Stalin claim about NATO?
He claimed it was not a shield and was aimed at the USSR. There was no need for the formation of NATO as no one intended to attack the countries.
Was NATO aggressive?
The treaty was aimed at the USSR and had aggressive characteristics so is not really self defence.
What year did Stalin die?
1953
Who took over form Stalin?
Nikita Khrushchev.
He was born in 1894 in a village in Ukraine to a poor family.
He helped in the Russian revolution.
What was the difference between Khrushchev and Stalin?
- he talked of peaceful co-existence with the West when he came to power. He made plans to reduce expenditure on arms.
- he began a programme of de-stalinisation in which all traces of Stalin’s iron control in both the SU and Eastern Europe were removed.
- he wanted to improve the living standards of ordinary soviet unions and those of Eastern Europe.
What did Khrushchev keep the same form Stalin’s control?
Stalin had created a buffer against attack from the West. Khrushchev continued this policy. In 1955 he created the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance of communist counties.
What did the Warsaw pact do?
It contained all the communist countries of Eastern Europe except Yugoslavia but it was dominated by the USSR.
What did Khrushchev shut down?
Khrushchev relaxed the iron curtain control of the USSR. He closed down Cominform and seemed to be signalling to the counties of Eastern Europe that they would be allowed greater independence to control their own affairs.
What could perhaps suggest that Khrushchev rising to power helped thawed the Cold War?
- he visited Britain and America in 1955 when he became leader of the USSR.
- closed down Cominform, released thousands of political prisoners. He invited Tito of Yugoslavia to Moscow.
- wanted to improve loving standards.
- in July 1955 a summit meeting was held in Geneva. This was first since 1945 that the USA, UK, China, France and USSR attended it was seen as a turning point even though not much was decided.
What suggests Khrushchev’s did not attempt to thaw the Cold War?
- in 1955 when West Germany was ad opted to NATO Khrushchev set up the Warsaw Pact.
- after the Warsaw Pact the USSR cancelled its wartime alliance with Britain and France.
- in 1956 revolts against communism in Poland and Hungary were ruthlessly put down by communism.
- he built the Berlin Wall
- he entered the space race and arms race with the USA.
What was the aim of NATO?
To provide collective security for its members ; an attack in one would be an attack on all.
The USA provided funds to improve the military for European members, US bases were built and US troops stationed in Europe.
