Events In Europe

Question 1

Berlin Blockade

Answer 1

Causes;
Different aims, the USSR wanted Germany to remain weak since the Nazi invasion of Russia while the western powers wanted to restore Germany so it could be a barrier against communism
Different economies, by 1948 the western zones of Germany and Berlin were on the road to economic recovery mainly because of Marhsall Aid. The same could not be said of the Soviet zone as during the same period the Soviets removed a significant amount of resources from the eastern zones to compensate for war damage

Question 2

Consequences of the Berlin Blockade

Answer 2

1. Tensions increased between the superpowers
2. The policy of containment could be seen to have worked as communism had failed to spread into Berlin
3. In April 1949, NATO was set up
4. All hopes for the reunification of Germany was now gone
5. The Soviets viewed NATO as an aggressive alliance resulting in them forming the Warsaw Pact

Question 3

Hungary

Answer 3

Main causes of uprising; Poverty, oppression, help from Yugoslavia, promises from the West to help them, Catholicism being banned by the communist party, nationalism

The dissent was crushed by 6,000 Soviet tanks. 30,000 died as a result and a quarter of a million fled westward. Nagy was arrested and executed

The USSR feared a gap in the Iron Curtain leaving it vulnerable to attack. The West chose not to assist Hungary despite their promises as they viewed it as too risky to confront the USSR in Eastern Europe

Question 4

Berlin ‘59-61

Answer 4

Reasons for growing tension; Inspiration from the Hungarian Revolution, many easterners wanted to be a part of the capitalist west, Khrushchev was concerned West Berlin was being used as a centre for western espionage

After another wave of people moved to West Berlin and labor shortages began to rise, Khrushchev demanded West Berlin is handed over to the Soviets. When Kennedy refused to do so Khrushchev ordered for the construction of the Berlin Wall in August 61

The wall became a symbol of the divisions of Berlin

Question 5

Czechoslovakia

Answer 5

Prague Spring was started by Dubcek who saw the growing Czechoslovak tensions against communism. He started reforms he called “socialism with a human face” which included; freedom of speech and press, less centralised economic control, development of foreign trade, removal of restrictions on travel abroad and reduction in the powers of the secret police

The Soviets did not appreciate these reforms and feared it would lead to the destruction of the Iron Curtain. Other leaders of communist countries expressed similar concerns. In the end Brezhnev ordered the invasion of 400,000 troops into Czechoslovakia