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Flashcards in Cold War 2 Deck (24)
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0
Q

What suggests that the first theory of Khrushchev’s intentions for the Cold War is correct?

A

(1955)Visited Britain&USA; said that ideas of supporting Communist revolution over & necessary to live in peace with West (peaceful co-existence); (July) Summit Meeting Geneva - USA, Britain, France, USSR; closed down Cominform, released 1000s political prisoners, invited Tito (Yugoslavia) to Moscow; said wanted to improve living standards Soviet citizens & Eastern Europeans

1
Q

What is the first theory of Khrushchev’s intentions for the Cold War?

A

Did a lot to thaw tension, thought ‘peaceful co-existence’ was essential for world peace

2
Q

What is the second theory of Khrushchev’s intentions for the Cold War?

A

Attempt to thaw it was incomplete (partial)

3
Q

What suggests that the second theory of Khrushchev’s intentions for the Cold War is correct?

A

Planned to reduce arms expenditure; denounced Stalin as tyrant - removed statues, secret police less active, more consumer goods produced (de - Stalinisation) BUT satellite states (e.g Hungary) not allowed to de-Stalinise as much - worried about losing buffer

4
Q

What is the third theory of Khrushchev’s intentions for the Cold War?

A

Did not thaw out Cold War necessarily, ‘peaceful co-existence’ only solution’

5
Q

What suggests that the third theory of Khrushchev’s intentions for the Cold War is correct?

A

1955 West Germany admitted to NATO, so Warsaw Pact set up. After Warsaw Pact USSR cancelled wartime alliances w/ Britain & France; 1956 revolts against Communism in Poland & Hungary ruthlessly put down; 1957 Space Race; 1960 Nuclear Arms race; 1961 Berlin Wall

6
Q

Why were the Hungarians unhappy in 1945?

A

Lack of cultural freedom: control on press etc, no freedom of expression/speech, children only educated on Communist way
Rule by fear: government ruled by AVO (secret police) who used terror methods, leader of Catholic Church imprisoned
Poor living standards: industrial workers - low pay, severe food shortages bc collective farming, industrial productions not used to benefit people - sent to USSR
Presence of Soviet troops: created atmosphere similar to Germans in ww2, Red Army stationed in large towns& cities

7
Q

Why was there an uprising in Hungary in November 1956?

A

1947: Communist control tightened. All non-communist parties banned. establishment of terror state
1949: leader of Catholic Church - life imprisonment. Standards of living deteriorated
1955: Rakosi(communist leader) threw Nagy(non communist leader) out of government
1956: Rakosi was sacked to try stop demands of independence. Nagy made prime minister. NOV - UPRISING

8
Q

Why did the USSR invade Hungary in 1956?

A

Gov control of press & radio ended, non-communists allowed to participate in government, free democratic elections promised - made Communism look bad. Nagy announced Hungary would leave Warsaw Pact - threatened Soviet Union’s military safety

9
Q

What were the results of the Hungarian Uprising for the USSR and Communism?

A

Seen as military victory for Khrushchev

USSR looked cruel & brutal

10
Q

What were the results of the Hungarian uprising for Hungary?

A

4000 killed & 200,000 fled to West
Hungary returned to being a pro - communist state
Nagy arrested & executed
Hard-line communist government set up under Janos Kadar

11
Q

What were the results of the Hungarian uprising for the West?

A

USA unable to ‘roll back’ communism
NATO poor reputation: ‘No Action: Talk Only’
West more afraid of USSR - increased Cold War tension
1000s of British people resigned from Communist party

12
Q

Explain the U.S. Developments in the space race from 1945 - 1970

A

1950: announced space exploration programme
1955: plans to develop man-made satellite
1958: (Jan) Explorer I satellite, (Jul) NASA
May 1961: First American man in space
1961-1970: Apollo manned space programme
1962: John Glenn orbited Earth
1965: (May) First American space walk
1969: (Jul) Neil Armstrong surface of moon Apollo 11

13
Q

Explain the Soviet developments of the Space Race from 1945 - 1970

A

1957: (15 May) Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile: launch missile into space & bring it down on target in USA, (Oct) satellite in space (Sputnik), (Nov) Sputnik II, more advanced, carried a dog
1959: (Sept) Luna II reached moon (Oct) Luna III pictured other side of moon
1961: first human in space
1963: first woman in space
1965: (Mar) first space walk

14
Q

What were the events of the U2 crisis may 1960?

A

1 May - A U2 plane flown by Gary Powers brought down by Soviet missile. Films & tapes recovered from plane
5 May - USSR announced shooting down of U2. Eisenhower denied it was spying
7 May - Khrushchev announced that Powers will be put on trial for spying
14 May - Khrushchev refused to attend Paris Summit meeting unless all U2 flights cancelled & Eisenhower apologised
16 May - Eisenhower cancelled U2 flights but refused to apologise. Khrushchev walked out of Summi

15
Q

What were the results of the U2 crisis for the USA?

A

John F Kennedy president 1960
Acceleration of espionage - government tried to find new spying methods/systems
Eisenhower & republicans recieved criticisms abroad
Americans blamed for crisis - reputation shattered

16
Q

What were the results of the U2 crisis for Cold War tension?

A

‘Thaw’ & ‘peaceful co-existence’ ended as Khrushchev had proved that USA were spying
USA placed armed forces on alert - expected retaliation from USSR - led to USSR rearmament, building of nuclear missile sites across world
Paris Summit Meeting cancelled - progress towards peaceful solutions halted, no Test Ban Treaty on nuclear weapons, no disarmament
China & USSR brought closer together - Chinese convinced the peace with USA would never happen

17
Q

What were the aims of East Germany after 1949?

A

Create Communist state
Forge strong relationship with USSR
Keep German economy weak
Retain Germany as member of Communist Bloc

18
Q

What were the aims of West Germany after 1949?

A

Ensure survival of capitalism
Strengthen Germany’s relationship with West
Rebuild strong economy
Use Germany as trading partner

19
Q

Why did Khrushchev build the Berlin Wall?

A

Stop people moving from East to West
Force East Germans to remain Communist
Stop East Germans seeing a ‘better life’ in west
Stop skilled workers leaving East
U2 crisis showed that west could not be trusted

20
Q

What were the consequences of building the Berlin Wall for Berlin?

A

Number of people moving from East to West reduced
Not a war over Berlin issue
No of deaths attempting to cross the wall 136 - 200

21
Q

What were the consequences of building the Berlin Wall for Kennedy and the USA?

A

Propaganda victory - could portray Khrushchev as a dictator

Kennedy criticised by some for not acting in an aggressive manner

22
Q

What were the consequences of building the Berlin Wall for Khrushchev and the USSR?

A

Khrushchev seen by West as a dictator
If communism was so perfect, why was it necessary to turn it into a prison?
East Germany gained more control over citizens
Had to give up hope of taking control of whole of Berlin

23
Q

What were the consequences of building the Berlin Wall for Cold War tension?

A

Khrushchev seen as aggressive/reactionary
War over Berlin issue avoided
Berlin - ‘battleground of Cold War’ for almost 30yrs
136 People died trying to cross wall