How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe, 1949—c.1989? Flashcards
(12 cards)
(a) What was COMECON? [4]
- ‘Comecon stands for the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance.’
- ‘It was set up by Stalin in 1949.’
- ‘It was to co-ordinate the industries and trade of the eastern European countries.’
- ‘Members traded with one another rather than trading with the West.’
- ‘It favoured the USSR more than other members.’
- ‘It provided the USSR with markets for its goods.’
- ‘It guaranteed a cheap supply of raw materials to the USSR, such as Polish coal.’
- ‘In1964, it set up a bank for socialist countries.’
- To try to prevent any eastern European countries applying for Marshall Aid, Stalin
- offered help and support to Eastern Europe by setting up two organisations, Cominform (1947) and Comecon (1949).
- Comecon (Council for Mutual Economic Aid) was set up to coordinate the production and trade of the eastern European communist countries. They were expected to trade with each other and not the West. However, it favoured the USSR more than any of its other members.
(a) Describe the Soviet response to events in Hungary in 1956. [4]
- ‘In late October 1956, Khrushchev sent in tanks into Hungary.’
- ‘These tanks were soon withdrawn.’
- ‘On 4 November, (200,000) Soviet troops and (2,500) tanks entered Budapest.’
- ‘There were two weeks of street fighting.’
- ‘Many Hungarians died.’
- ‘‘The Soviets regained control.’
- ‘Nagy was captured and hanged in Moscow (1958).’
- ‘Nagy was replaced by the hard-liner, Janos Kadar as prime minister.’
- ‘Soviet tanks guarded the Parliament building and soldiers guarded
- bridges and crossroads.’
- ‘At the end of October, Khrushchev withdrew Russian troops.’
- ‘Khrushchev declined Nagy’s plan to leave the Warsaw Pact.’
- ‘In November, Soviet tanks and soldiers moved into Budapest.’
- ‘In fierce fighting the Soviet troops defeated the protestors and the
- Hungarian army.’
- ‘It killed many Hungarian civilians.’
- ‘It suppressed all public opposition.’
- ‘It arrested and executed the Hungarian leader.’
- ‘It appointed a new communist leader to head the Hungarian government
- to strictly follow the communist regime of the USSR.’
(a) Describe events in Hungary in October and November 1956. [4]
The Soviet Union used force.’
* ‘In October, a huge student demonstration took place against the Kremlin appointed Hungarian leader, Erno Gero.’
* ‘A giant statue of Stalin was pulled down in Budapest.’
* ‘The USSR allowed a new government under Imre Nagy.’
* ‘The Soviets withdrew troops and tanks, which had been in place since the end of the Second World War.’
* ‘Nagy produced a list of reforms which included holding free elections and restoring farmland to private ownership.’
* ‘Nagy declared he wanted to leave the Warsaw Pact.’
* ‘Khrushchev invaded in November. Budapest was occupied by thousands of Soviet troops and tanks.’
* ‘Hungarians took part in street fighting over two weeks.’
* ‘3000 died while 7–8000 Russians were killed.’
* ‘200 000 Hungarians fled across the border to Austria.’
* ‘Imre Nagy was arrested and imprisoned. He was killed later.’
(a) What reforms did the Nagy government plan for Hungary? [4]
- Reorganising the government – to include non-communist politicians - this would end communist one party state in Hungary
- Releasing political prisoners – to release those that the communist government had arrested for “crimes against the state” – many were innocent
- Leaving the Warsaw Pact – 1st Nov 1956, Nagy announced Hungary would withdraw from the Pact.
- Withdrawing soviet troops from Hungary – Nagy persuaded Krushchev to remove soviet troops from Budapest – popular amongst the people.
(a) What was the ‘Prague Spring’? [4]
- ‘It was reform introduced by Dubcek in April 1968.’
- ‘In 1968, Alexander Dubcek became Secretary of the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia.’
- ‘He wanted to provide ‘socialism with a human face’.’
- ‘He introduced reforms to reduce government control. He allowed public meetings and
- relaxed censorship.’
- He allowed criticism of the government. There was freedom of speech.’
- Trade unions were given greater freedom and control of industry relaxed.’
- ‘Foreign travel was allowed.’
- ‘This period of reform, known as the Prague Spring, was not appreciated by the USSR
and Breshnev sent in the tanks and removed Dubcek.’
(a) Describe the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. [4]
Nagy was named as Prime Minister.’
* ‘On 24 October Soviet tanks entered Budapest.’
* ‘Freedom fighters and most of the Hungarian army fought the Soviets.’
* ‘A statue of Stalin was pulled down by protestors.’
* ‘On 27 October Nagy announced a new government.’
* ‘Nagy’s new government included members of non-Communist parties.’ ‘Cardinal Mindszenty was freed from prison.’
* ‘In the last few days of October Soviet forces were withdrawn from Budapest.’ ‘Nagy announced that one party rule would be ended.’
* ‘Nagy announced that Hungary was going to leave the Warsaw Pact.’
* ‘On 4 November the Red Army invaded Budapest.’
* ‘Janos Kadar became Prime Minister.’
* ‘Gero was replaced by Nagy.’
* ‘The Soviet tanks withdrew but Nagy announced that Hungary was to leave the Warsaw
* Pact and that there would be free democratic elections.’
* ‘The troops and 1 000 tanks returned but the Hungarians fought back.’
* ‘In two weeks of fighting many were killed, arrested, imprisoned and executed. Modern day estimates suggest around 4 000 Hungarians were killed. Around 200 000 fled
across the border to Austria to escape the Communist forces.’
* ‘Hard-line Soviet control was re-established under Kádár and Nagy was captured and
hanged (1958).’
(a) What aspects of Soviet Control were hated by the people of Czechoslovakia? [4]
- ‘There was much state control.’
- ‘Censorship of the press.’
- ‘A lack of freedom of speech.’
- ‘The secret police had considerable powers.’
- ‘There were no free elections.’
- ‘Travelling abroad was restricted.’
- ‘Farmers were told what to grow.’
- ‘The restrictions on trade unions.’
- ‘State control of industry.’
(a) Describe the economic crisis facing the Polish government in 1980 [4]
- ‘The government was forced to increase the price of goods.’
- ‘The increase in food prices particularly hit Polish consumers.’
- ‘Ordinary people faced extreme poverty.’ ‘The government blocked any wage increases.’
- ‘Strikes spread rapidly across the country.’
- ‘The strikers at the Gdansk shipyards had a list of 21 demands.’
- ‘They demanded the right to form a trade union.’
- ‘There was fear of a general strike which would ruin the economy.’
(a) Describe the achievements of Lech Walesa in Poland. [4]
- Lech founded the Solidarity trade union movement in 1980.’
- ‘He led Solidarity.’
- ‘He led strikes in the Lenin Shipyard in 1980.’
- ‘He helped bring about the Gdansk Agreement.’
- ‘He helped bring about free elections in 1989.’
- ‘He won the presidential elections of 1990.’
- ‘He presided over Poland’s transition from communism to democracy.’
- ‘He was President of Poland.’
- ‘He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.’
- ‘Lech brought media attention to his cause.’
- ‘Membership of Solidarity grew rapidly and there were many supportive figures.’
- ‘Lech managed to get the support of the Catholic Church.’
- ‘He managed to get the 21 Demands and any examples.’
(a) Describe the methods of control exercised by the Soviet Union over Hungary before the 1956 uprising. [4]
The press, theatre, art and music were controlled.’ [2 marks]
* ‘There was no freedom of expression.’
* ‘Soviet control of education taught a Communist version of history.’
* ‘There was presence of Soviet troops.’
* ‘The Soviet troops had to be paid for by the Hungarian people.’
* ‘There were Russian street signs.’
* ‘Many of the best goods made in Hungary went to the USSR.’
* ‘The Hungarians were strongly Christian but the Church was persecuted.’
* ‘Cardinal Mindszenty was imprisoned.’
* ‘Any opposition to the Soviets was dealt with by the State Protection Group
* (AVO), the secret police.’
(a) Describe how the Soviet Union responded to the uprising in Hungary in 1956. [4]
‘Soviet tanks guarded the Parliament building and soldiers guarded
bridges and crossroads.’
* ‘At the end of October, Khrushchev withdrew Russian troops.’
* ‘Khrushchev declined Nagy’s plan to leave the Warsaw Pact.’
* ‘In November, Soviet tanks and soldiers moved into Budapest.’
* ‘In fierce fighting the Soviet troops defeated the protestors and the
* Hungarian army.’
* ‘It killed many Hungarian civilians.’
* ‘It suppressed all public opposition.’
* ‘It arrested and executed the Hungarian leader.’
* ‘It appointed a new communist leader to head the Hungarian government
* to strictly follow the communist regime of the USSR.’
(a) Who was Alexander Dubček? (4)
- He was leader of Czechoslovakia.
- He became leader in 1968.
- He was a communist.
- He introduced ‘Socialism with a human face’.
- He introduced reforms into Czechoslovakia.
- His reforms included freedom of speech and the reduction of police
- powers.
- His period of reforms was called the ‘Prague Spring’.
- He did not want to pull out of the Warsaw Pact.
- He insisted his reforms were not a threat to communism.
- He was summoned to Moscow where he insisted on keeping his reforms.
- In 1968 he was removed from power.
