History Revision

Unit 1 Key Topic 2

Refugee problem facing East German government:
The East German government was extremely unpopular so many Germans
fled to the west for more freedom and wealth. Berlin was used as a gateway
as it was easy to get from East Berlin to West Berlin and then wets Germany.

Khrushchevs response:
Ultimatum November 1958, Khrushchev declared that the entire city of
Berlin officially belonged to the East. He gave US Troops six months to
withdraw in the hopes of preventing East Germans fleeing to the west and
humiliating the US.

Kennedys preparation for war:
Kennedy refused to back down so stalemate had been reached in Berlin.
Additional $3.2 billion put into defence spending and an extra $207 million
on building nuclear fallout shelters.

Berlin Wall:
Khrushchev placed a barbed wire fence around West Berlin (night of 12
th

August 1961) to solve refugee problem by separating East and West Berlin
to make it impossible to move.
Impact: ended refugee crisis, allowed Khrushchev to avoid war with USA
while appearing strong, powerful symbol of division of Europe and
Germany.

Arms Race 1945-61:
America clear winner in the 40s first nuclear bomb on Japan in 1945, 1949
USSR developing too. By 1960, Britain and France had nuclear weapons too.
A war would be too destructive for both sides but it effectively scared both
sides.

Cubas revolution:
Cuba and USA had been neighbouring allies and much of Cubas land was
owned by American business.
Cuban Revolution of 1959 overthrew pro-USA government; Fidel Castro
wanted greater independence so Castros new gov. took over US Property in
Cuba America banned the import of Cuban sugar in return, which
threatened their economy.
Bay of Pigs: CIA persuaded Kennedy to launch a pre planned invasion of
Cuba as they would make it look like a Cuban revolt and had been training
Cuban exiles and Castros hold on Cuba was weak so most Cubans would
joining the US side. The invasion failed as Castro knew, the planes missed
their targets and were met by 20,000 Cuban troops (they had 1,400 people),
most Cubans agreed with Castro.

Khrushchevs missiles in Cuba:
Castro asked for help from Khrushchev so he took it to his advantage and
placed missiles on Cuban soil that would reach America and told Castro they
would be used to protect Cuba from another invasion. They balanced the US
missiles in Turkey.

How America found out:
America spy planes found photographs of the missiles in Cuba and they
informed Kennedy of this on October 16
th
1962.

Hawks and the doves:
In both Kennedy and Khrushchevs advisors there were Hawks and Doves.
The Hawks wanted an aggressive attack and advised a war, as the USA
would most likely win as it stood; they should just fight the inevitable
nuclear war.
The Doves were cautious and recommended diplomatic strategies.

Thirteen Days:
The greatest threat of nuclear war during the entire Cold War period from
the 16
th
28
th
October 1962.

Immediate consequences of Cuban Missile Crisis:
Hotline
Test Ban Treaty
Dtente

Long-term consequences of Cuban Missile Crisis:
Mutually Assured Destruction
French decision to leave NATO

Czechoslovakian opposition to Soviet control:
In the mid-60s Czechoslovakia was still a satellite state being run by the
secret police and constantly oppressed by their leader, Antonin Novotny.
The economy was suffering a caused a decline in standard of living and
political repression.

Dubceks attitude to communism:
The natural choice for communism, modern socialism with a human face
he wanted to get rid of the previous repressive aspects of communism and
lead a more liberal Czechoslovakia.

The events of Prague Springs:
The liberal changes of Dubcek from April 1968.
Reforms: less control of media, allowed political opposition, tolerated gov.
criticism, more power to Czech parliament and regional governments,
market socialism reintroduction of capitalist aspects.

Re-establishment of Soviet control in Czechoslovakia:
Brezhnev and Dubcek were friends so at first Brezhnev constantly tried to
persuade Dubcek the reforms were too far but he didnt back down.
Soviet intelligence had stated the reforms would eventually weaken the
Soviet control and the break down of the Eastern Bloc.
By late august, Brezhnev ordered a full-scale invasion of Czechoslovakia in
order to overthrow Dubcek.

The Brezhnev Doctrine:
Brezhnev justified the invasion by stating that the USSR had the right to
invade any country that potentially threatened the security of the Eastern
Bloc and Warsaw Pact and communism in Eastern Europe, and therefore the
Soviet Union had to invade.

Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia:
Soviet tanks rolled onto Czechoslovakia on evening of 20
th
August 1968 but
Dubcek had ordered the Czech people not to act violently so many followed
with non-violent civil disobedience, e.g. many students stood in the way of
banners holding anti-invasion banners.
Dubcek was arrested and took to Moscow, where Brezhnev tearfully told
him he has betrayed socialism, and he was made o sign the Moscow
Protocol that committed the Czech government to reintroduce censorship
and remove opposing political parties.

Americas Reaction:
America publicly condemned the invasion yet didnt offer any military
support as it was already fighting a bloody war against communism in
Vietnam.

The divisions in European communism created by the invasion:
The west followed America and provided no military support. Many other
communist parties in Europe were against the invasion which split European
communism Soviet communism in the East, Eurocommunism in the West;
showed loss of soviet control in communism.
Yugoslavia and Romania distanced themselves from the Soviets and formed
alliances with the other great Communism power, China. East German and
Polish governments welcomed the Soviet response as they too were
concerned by the new liberal Czechoslovakia.

Importance of:
John F. Kennedy
Nikita Khrushchev
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Alexander Dubcek
Leonid Brezhnev
Lyndon B. Johnson
Josip Broz Tito


1957 Russian Sputnik Launch
1959 Geneva Summit
1960 Paris Conference
1961 Vienna Conference
1961 Berlin Wall
1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion
1962 Missiles sent to Cuba by Khrushchev
1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
1963 President Kennedy visits Berlin
1963 Hotline between Moscow and Washington
1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty
1968 Prague Spring
1968 Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia