Cold War Intensifies + Berlin + Cuba Flashcards
(67 cards)
Why was NATO formed in 1949?
Was created due to the increase of tensions between the East And West. After the Berlin crisis, the military powers in the West wanted to form an alliance.
What were the aims of NATO? What does it stand for? Who were the members?
NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Aims of NATO
1. Protect against a possible attack from the Soviet Union.
2. Agree to assist a member if attacked.
3. Strengthen relationships with the West.
Members were the Western Countries, (USA, UK, Canada etc)
Why was NATO a positive impact in the West? Why did it increase tensions? What did it lead too?
Showed that they were now officially prepared to use military in Europe, having full involvement.
Increased tensions, and it led to the Soviet Union creating their own military alliance, the Warsaw Pact.
Why was the Warsaw Pact formed in 1955?
The creation of NATO increased tensions, hence the Soviet Union also needed to come together for military presence.
Also, West Germany joining NATO would of meant a Powerful West Germany threatens the East.
What were the aims of the Warsaw Pact? Who was involved?
Aims
1. Protect against a possible attack by the USA or it’s NATO allies.
2. Agree to assist a member if attacked.
3. Strengthen relations between countries in the East.
Members included the ‘Eastern Bloc’ countries (e.g Poland, Romania..)
What was the impact of the Warsaw Pact?
It confirmed the separations between the East and the West.
The presence of two military alliances in Europe would increase risk of war, and led to both groups increasing military power.
What was the timeline of the ‘arms race’?
1945 - Atomic bomb used by the US.
1949 - The Soviet Union tests and deploys their first atomic bomb.
1952 - The US develops the Hydrogen Bomb
1953 - The Soviet union develops their first Hydrogen Bomb.
1957 - Both the US and Soviet union test and launch Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)
What was the difference between the atomic bomb and Hydrogen bomb? (Detonation, Power and Destructive Ability)
Detonation - Atomic bomb was nuclear fission, Hydrogen bomb was Nuclear Fusion.
Power - Approximately 1,000 kilotons was the Atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb was 10,000 kilotons (unit of TNT)
Destructive Ability - Atomic bomb had a blast radius of 5 square miles, Hydrogen bomb had a blast radius of 44 square miles.
Why were ICBMs so powerful/effective?
ICBMs, carried nuclear warheads and did not have to ben flown to have an impact, they could hit a target over 2700 miles away.
What were the causes of the Arms Race? What were the consequences? (3 for each)
Causes
1. Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
2. Increased competition of between soviet union and US.
3. Fear of attack.
Consequences
1. Increase in the US and the soviet union’s army, naval submarines and Nuclear Weapons.
2. Competition between the two countries in the space race.
3. Nuclear Weapons became a deterrent to war between the US and Soviet union.
Who was the new US president in 1952? What was his attitudes with the Soviet Union?
President Eisenhower became president, he was anti-communist but feared Nuclear Warfare so worked with the Soviet Union in improving relations.
When did Khrushchev become leader of soviet union? What was his beliefs? What did he do? What was his attitudes against the US?
He became leader in 1956, he thought Stalin abused his power, and the process of de-Stalinisation occurred. Lifted some censorship, release of political prisoners, increased consumer goods.
He aimed to improve relations with the US.
How did the change in leadership in 1953-56 improve relations? What happened in Austria in 55?
There was an economic motivation due the excess money used on arms race but they could not come to a conclusion.
The powers could not agree with issues on Austria and its disarmament, and how Germany could be governed. Overall, they could not be too collaborative.
What was the situation in Hungary in 1956? (Think ; students soldiers) When was order restored?
Start of October 1956, Protests were occurring in the capital which were violent.
Students led a peaceful demonstration asking for freedom, the secret police retaliated violently, when students attempted free they were shot.
Soldiers began to join the protests.
By 24th October, order was restored in Budapest.
Who was Imre Nagy? Why did Khrushchev appoint him?
Nagy was previously a prime minister of Hungary, but he was removed in 1949, and served again between 1953-56.
He was appointed because people liked Nagy and limited reforms would stop Hungarians from protesting.
What did Nagy’s reforms entail? (4 with explenation)
- Leaving the Warsaw Pact - On the 1st November, 1956 he announced that Hungary would be removed from the Pact.
- Withdrawing Soviet Troops from Hungary
He persuaded Krush to remove soviet troops, this was liked by many. - Releasing political prisoners - Many were innocent.
- Reorganising the government - Include non communist politicians, to end the one party state.
How did Khrushchev stop the Hungarian Uprising?
- Sent an invasion force of 1,000 troops on 4th November 1956.
- Nagy and his followers fought these troops, he contacted the West asking for support.
- The invasion killed 20,000 Hungarians. Causing an end to the Uprising.
- Established a stronger Communist Leader.
- Nagy was kidnapped, and in July 1958, he was executed.
What were some of the ideas surrounding that the USA should invade Hungary? What were the opposite ideas? What happened in the end?
USA Should Help Hungary
1. Khrushchev’s repression went against Human Rights.
2. Nagy’s government ideas matched the democratic values of the USA.
3. Hungary could be used as a key place for the US in terms of placing weapons.
USA Should NOT help Hungary
1. Had a foreign policy of containment.
2. Nuclear war could occur if invaded.
3. Still distrusted communist governments/countries.
Eisenhower did NOT invade.
How did relations between the US and Soviet Union change after the Hungarian Uprising? (5 ideas written)
They worsened, because
1. Krush’s repression shocked and appaled the West.
2. Krush increased power.
3. Tightened the Warsaw Pact.
4. Ruined the USA’s reputation as they did not take the opportunity to free Hungary from Communism.
5. Proved that the USA did not back what they said, which would make satellite states less likely to rebel and increased Soviet Union’s confidence.
What were the causes and consequences of the Hungarian Uprising? (3 for each)
Causes
1. Fuel shortages and poor Harvest.
2. Discontent and protest about the lack of freedom in Hungary.
3. Imre Nagy’s Reforms.
Consequences
1. The USA’s reputation as a protector of freedom is ruined.
2. Worsening the relationship between the USA and Soviet Union into the 1960s.
3. Khrushchev had tighter control of Eastern Bloc through Warsaw Pact.
In the Western Berlin, what were living conditions? In Eastern Berlin, what were conditions like? What did this lead to?
Western Berlin - High living standards and freedom. Good Economy
Eastern Berlin - Low living standards and restrictions. Bad economy.
This led to people migrating to West Berlin from East Berlin and becoming refugees.
What caused the refugee crisis in 1958? What did this lead too?
There were many factors that led to the crisis, the poor living conditions and lack of freedom of speech led to people not wanting to live in the East.
There was a revolt in the East, and the police calmed this down. But many left east as there was this idea of ‘free movement’ (Moving sides with legal docs etc)
The West struggled to house these new citizens as so many were arriving, the population of the East fell leading to open job vacancies.
How many Germans left East Berlin by 1958? What did Khrushchev do with the figures and why?
Three million Germans had left East Germanay. Due to censorship, the Soviets did not want to disclose such information. So Krush increased the figures to aid negations with the West.
What was the Impact on the refugee crisis? What happened due to this?
There was a skill gap in the GDR as they knew West Germany would pay higher wages if they migrated.
There was a huge loss of income, it was a propaganda failure for Krush, and he had to take action.