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GCSE CCEA history unit 2 > Flashpoints In Europe And The Impact On International Relations > Flashcards

Flashpoints In Europe And The Impact On International Relations Flashcards

1
Q

What did the western allies do in January 1947/48? What was the Soviet reaction to this?

A

Bizonia (47) and Trizonia (48)
A merging of the British and American (47) and French (48) economic zones in Germany and Berlin

This was perceived as the west grouping together against the USSR

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2
Q

What was the name of the West German currency introduced by the Allies

When was it introduced?

A

The Deutschmark

(Announced June 20th)
Introduced on 23rd June 1948

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3
Q

What was the name of the East German currency introduced by the USSR

When was it introduced?

A

The Ostmark

June 24th 1948

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4
Q

When did the Berlin Blockade start?

A

24th of June 1948

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5
Q

What did the USSR claim the Berlin Blockade was caused by?

A

Technical difficulties and essential repairs for the
- canal
- road
- rail
Links between East Berlin-West Berlin and West Germany-East Germany

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6
Q

Why did the USSR enforce the Berlin blockade in actuality? (3)

A
  • To prevent devaluing of the Ostmark, which was only recently introduced
  • to attempt to remove the Allies from Berlin and possibly Germany
  • most importantly, to regain control
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7
Q

When was the FRG (Federal German Republic or West Germany) given a constitution?

A

(7th) June 1948

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8
Q

How was the Berlin Blockade enforced? (3)

A
  • canal, rail and road links shut
  • soviet troops surrounded West Berlin
  • Gas, coal and electricity supplies were cut from the east
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9
Q

How many people lived in West Berlin in 1948?

A

2 million

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10
Q

What was the USSR’s stance on Germany, compare this with US.

A

USSR:

  • wanted Germany weak
  • also wanted to spread communism

US:

  • felt rebuilding Germany would benefit US economy
  • wanted to spread liberal democracy and capitalism
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11
Q

How long did the West Berliners have before they ran out of supplies?

A

6 weeks

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12
Q

How much money did the US invest in West Germany through Marshall Aid?

A

$1300 million

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13
Q

why was Berlin so important to the allies? (2)

A
  • symbol for freedom - microcosm
  • potential domino effect in Europe if Berlin became communist
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14
Q

What was the code name for the Berlin Airlift?

A

‘Operation Plainfare’

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15
Q

When did the Berlin Airlift formally start?

When did the first supplies arrive in Berlin however and where?

A

July 2nd 1948

June 26th, Templehof airfield.

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16
Q

By the end of the Berlin airlift, how much supplies were being delivered per day?

A

13000 tonnes

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17
Q

How long did the Berlin Airlift last?

A

324 days

Ended on 12th May 1949

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18
Q

What were the results of the Berlin Airlift? (7)

A
  • propaganda defeat for the USSR
  • 101 died
  • Cost $224m
  • led to NATO - April 4th 1949
  • FRG (May 1949) and GDR (October 1949)
  • arms race intensified
  • containment appeared to be working
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19
Q

What is NATO and what is their key principal?

A
  • The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
  • Founded on the principal of defence of all attacked members
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20
Q

When did the FRG join NATO?

A

(May) 1955

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21
Q

At what stage did the USSR view NATO expansion as a threat?

A

When Italy, Turkey and Greece joined

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22
Q

When was the Warsaw Pact established?

What was its core principal and why was it established?

A
  • May 1955
  • Founded on the principal of defending all member states upon attack
  • established in retaliation to NATO expansion
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23
Q

What communist country did not join the Warsaw Pact?

A

Yugoslavia

24
Q

Who coined the ‘Domino theory’ and when?

A

Dwight D Eisenhower and his Secretary of State, Dulles, in 1954

25
What was significant about **Eisenhower’s views** on **communism** and his **actions**?
- He was a **hardline anti-communist** who inherited a similarly hardline republican congress - he was not keen on **intervention** and **prioritised cheap foreign policy** i.e. **alliances** - talked big, did very little
26
Despite Eisenhowers reluctance to spend, **did he pledge to offer** *military and economic* support?
Yes, only if absolutely needed
27
What smaller military alliances did the West form abroad?
- SEATO (south east Asia) - 1954 - Baghdad Pact (Middle East) - 1955
28
When did Stalin die, why was this especially significant?
- 1953 - he embodied soviet communism and his death provided hope for a thaw in the Cold War
29
Who succeeded Stalin as leader of the USSR and how long did he rule?
Georgi Malenkov 1953 - 1955
30
Who succeeded Malenkov in the USSR?
Nikita Khrushchev
31
Why did many see Khrushchev as a reformist? (4)
He seemed to look to mend relations with the West: - Austria was de-militarised - **Geneva July 1955**, first meeting of the West and USSR since Potsdam 10 years prior - Cominform dissolved - **Feb 1956 secret speech** 1. ‘peaceful co-existence’ and 2. denouncing Stalin
32
Explain briefly what happened in **Poland June 1956** (5)
- low wages and high food prices - saw Khrushchev as weak - rebelled - **53 killed** in riots - tanks sent to Warsaw at request of communist leader - **Gomulka** appointed as Polish leader - moderate
33
Explain the **origins** of the **Hungarian Uprising 1956** (**6**)
- became communist **1947** 1. Religion frowned upon 2. Schools nationalised - **Magyar culture suppressed** - opposition to communism - police (**AVO**) really unpopular - Red Army presence, occupying force, really unpopular - allegedly USSR stealing Hungarian resources - Khrushchev appeared weak
34
Explain **how** the **1956 Hungarian uprising** panned out (**7**)
- Rakosi (hardliner) replaced by USSR - **July 1956** - **Oct 23rd 1956** - riots in Budapest (workers, students, soldiers) - Imre Nagy appointed, turns to UN for assistance - **Oct 28th 1956** - soviet tanks withdrew, protestors confident - **November 1st** - Nagy reforms 1. Free elections 2. Leave Warsaw Pact 3. US/UN help - **November 4th** - soviet clamp 1. 3/4000 dead 2. 150 000 exiled 3. Nagy tried and **executed** in **1958** - no west intervention, **Janos Kadar appointed**, reforms introduced but did not leave W.P.
35
What were the **results** of **Hungary 1956** (in terms of international relations)? (6)
- Hungary **strictly controlled** by communists - warning to **satellite states** to **not mess** with **USSR** - **‘peaceful coexistence’** Khrushchev seemed **meaningless** - **Khrushchev** appeared **weak**, criticised in USSR - **Eisenhower** appeared **weak** and unwilling to act - **Cold War intensified**
36
Why did the **1958 Berlin standoff** happen? (4)
- West Berlin had appeared more attractive than the East - more money - between **1949 and 1958**, **2 million** East Germans crossed - demonstrated an avenue for disaffected Eastern Bloc members to go West - a lot of propaganda and espionage occurred due to easy passage
37
What did Khrushchev’s 1958 ultimatum state? (2)
- That the West had 6 months to leave West Berlin - or the east would block western access to Berlin
38
What were the demands of the ‘Prague Spring’ (**April 1968**) (7)
- Equal rights, - trade with non-communist countries, - no censorship of media, more democratic elections, - reduced powers for secret police, - less state control of economy, - freedom of travel and - parliament allowed to criticise the government
39
What was the **Brezhnev Doctrine** and **when** was it enforced?
Proclaimed in **1968** after the Czechoslovakia crisis Truman Doctrine in reverse: - Any **Communist country** which attempted to make **capitalist reforms**, - then **other communist countries** would act together to **prevent this**
40
What did Khrushchev do (after the 1958 ultimatum) which seemed to ease tensions?
He visited the US in 1959
41
When did Khrushchev reissue his threat of blockading Berlin? Why? (3)
- In 1961 after JFK became president - China had criticised him for backing down previously - also, Khrushchev thought JFK would be weaker than Eisenhower after the bay of pigs
42
**When** was the **first fence** erected on the **East/West Berlin** border?
Aug 13th 1961
43
What was the **immediate effect** of the **Berlin Wall**?
- families separated - jobs lost - no more crossings and no more East Bloc citizens leaving easily
44
What was the situation like in Czechoslovakia in 1968 (pre riots) (**3**)
- high inflation - food shortages - decline in living standards
45
How did reformists describe the ‘Prague spring’ reforms?
‘Socialism with a human face’
46
What **3 assurances** did **Dubcek** give the **Soviets** about Czechoslovakian reforms? Why?
Czechoslovakia would: - **not** leave the **Warsaw Pact** - **not** leave **Comecon** - **remain** in the **Eastern Bloc** He did this to emphasise his loyalty to communism and the soviets - stop an invasion
47
Why did the Soviets **fear liberal reforms** in Czechoslovakia?
They feared they would **cause instability** and would **threaten** the **Soviet security system**
48
**Which now hardline regimes** saw the *Prague spring reforms* as **dangerous**
- Poland - East Germany
49
Who was the **leader of the Soviet Union** during the **Czechoslovakia crisis in 1968**?
Leonid Brezhnev
50
Why was Dubcek in such a precarious situation?
- if he backtracked over reforms he risked causing uprisings at home - if he continued with reforms, he risked USSR confrontation
51
When did the **Czechs and Soviets** reach an agreement?
Late July 1968
52
How did the **Czech invasion** pan out? (4)
- **5** Warsaw members involved - on **20/21st of August**, **400 000 troops** entered Czechoslovakia - *disguised as training manoeuvres* - *before* Czech communist conference
53
What **name** was given to **East** and **West Germany**?
- west - FRG - Federal German Republic - east - GDR - German Democratic Republic
54
**When** did **riots begin** in **Hungary**?
23rd Oct 1956
55
**when** were **tanks removed** from **Hungary** (during protests)
28th Oct 1956

GCSE CCEA history unit 2 (7 decks)

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