Full-scale confrontation, 1968-9

Question 1

What did the Cultural Revolution rely on?

Answer 1

A new breed of soldier known as the Red Guards

Question 2

How did the Red Guards intensify the problems between China and Russia?

Answer 2

Signalled their contempt for Russia by crossing the Sino-Soviet border into Soviet territory in 1968

Question 3

How did Brezhnev react to the invasions by the Red Guards?

Answer 3

Unsure about the significant of these invasions, but responded with force

Question 4

By 1968, how many divisions of the Russian army were stationed on the Sino-Soviet border?

Answer 4

15

Question 5

What occurred on 2 March 1969?

Answer 5

Red Guards occupied the island of Zhen Bao, known to the Russians as Damanskii

Question 6

Why was the island’s status disputed?

Answer 6

Both sides claimed it as part of their territory

Question 7

What happened as a result of the Red Guard’s invasion of the island?

Answer 7

Small-sale fighting broke out immediately, with a massive Soviet counter-attack on March 15

Question 8

What was the Chinese government horrified to hear?

Answer 8

That Russian diplomats were informally talking to the USA about a series of nuclear strike against China

Question 9

How did Mao react to what the Chinese government found out?

Answer 9

Took this very seriously and began moving key personnel into nuclear bunkers

Question 10

What happened on September 18?

Answer 10

The crisis was averted, as senior ministers from both sides agreed to respect each other’s borders