key themes and contents coverage reasons for the … themes and contents coverage reasons for the...
TRANSCRIPT
Option C8: A World Divided: Superpower Relations 1945-62 Revision Checklist
� Key themes and contents coverage Reasons for the Cold War
� Long-term rivalry between Soviet Union and West. � Differences during the Second World War and at Yalta and Potsdam. � Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. � Attitude of Truman. � Students should be aware of the ideological differences between
capitalism and communism. Early developments in the Cold War, 1945-49
� Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe. � Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan. � Differences over Germany. � Causes, events and results of the Berlin Crisis (1948-9). � Setting up of NATO. � Students should be aware of developments in China and the Soviet testing
of the atomic bomb.
The Cold War in the 1950s � Korean War. � Khrushchev and peaceful co-existence. � The Warsaw Pact. � Causes, events and results of Hungarian uprising.
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 � U2 incident (1960). � Reasons for construction of Berlin Wall. � Students should be aware of more long term factors and the failure of a
negotiated settlement � Its effects on relations between East and West and on Germany.
The Cuban Missiles Crisis
� Castro and relations with USA and Soviet Union. � Bay of Pigs. � Kennedy and missile sites. � Key events of crisis (this includes how it was eventually resolved) � Impact on East-West relations (this means the immediate effects more
especially the hot-line).
ReasonsfortheColdWarWhatwastheColdWar?TheendoftheSecondWorldWarsawtheemergenceoftwosuperpowers,theUSAandtheUSSR,whowerelockedinastrugglewhichlastedfor45years.ThiswasknownastheColdWar.ThetermColdWarwasfirstusedin1947todescribetheconflict.Itwasawarofwords,ofpropagandaandofthreatbetweentheUSAandtheUSSR,butitdidnotinvolvethetwoSuperpowersindirectconfrontation.Theybothtookpartinproxywars–thatistheyhelpedtheiralliestofighttheotherSuperpowerortheiralliesbutdidnotbecomedirectlyinvolvedintheconflictthemselves.WhydidtheColdWarbegin?TheColdWarbeganduetoamixtureoflongandshorttermcauses.LongTermCauses:
• DifferingIdeologies:
In1917Russiabecamethefirstcommunistcountryintheworld.BoththeUSAandtheUSSRbelievedthattheirsystemwasthebestwayoforganisingacountryandothercountriesshouldfollowtheirexample.
o TheUSSR–onepartystate,nofreeelections,stateownedindustryand
agriculture.Thegovernmentplannedtheeconomyandwhatshouldbeproduced.Thereisalackoffreedomandstrictcensorship.
o TheUSA–democraticandcapitalist,freeelections,industryandagriculture
wereprivatelyownedandrunforprofit.Freepressandfreedomofmovement.
Bothsidesfearedtheotherwasouttodestroyit.TheSovietsbelievedthewestwasouttodestroycommunism.TheWestbelievedSovietswantedtospreadcommunismaroundtheglobe.
• Stalin’sSuspicionoftheWest
o TheUSSRhadbeenattackedpreviously,GermanyhadinvadedRussiain1914,
in1918,AlliedforceshadinvadedRussiaduringtheCivilWar.Hitlerhadinvadedin1941.Stalinbelieveditwasessentialtohavefriendlycountriesonhisbordertopreventthishappeningagain.
o StalindidnottrusttheWest.TheWesthadbeenappeasedHitlerinthe1930s-StalinbelievedtheyhadwantedHitlertodestroycommunism.TheWestwasalsoslowtoopentheSecondFrontduringtheSecondWorldWartohelptheRussiansfightHitler.
• TheUSA’schangeofpolicy
o TheUSAwasdeterminednottorepeatitsisolationistpoliciesoftheinterwar
years.TheUSAbelievedappeasementdidnotwork,andthatdictatorshadtobeconfrontedanddemocracysupported.
o AstherichestandmostsuccessfulcountryintheworldtheUSAexpectedto
haveasayinthewaytheworldwasrun.Itwasconfidentnootherpowerhadnuclearweapons.
o TheUSAdidnotwanttoreturntotheDepressionandwantedtosecuremarkets
foritsgoods,itdidnotbelievethatthecommunistcountrieswouldbuyAmericangoodsandsowasdeterminedtopreventthespreadofcommunism.ItwasnotintheUSA'seconomicintereststoallowthespreadofcommunism.
ShortTermCausesTheYaltaandPotsdamConferencesYaltaConference(February1945)TheleaderspresentwereStalin(USSR),Roosevelt(USA)andChurchill(Britain).Agreements
• StalinagreedtojointhewaragainstJapanonceGermanywasdefeated
• All3agreedtojointheUnitedNations.• Germanytobedividedintofourzonesof
occupation(Br,Fr,USA,USSR)• Berlintobedividedintofourzones,as
Germany• Stalintohave‘asphereofinfluence'in
EasternEurope.• ‘Freeelections'tobeheldtodecide
governmentscountriesliberatedfromNazioccupation
HowevertherewasadisputeoverPoland:
• Stalininsistedona‘friendlygovernment’inPoland.TheWestdemandedfreeelectionsinPoland.
PotsdamConference(July1945)TheleaderspresentwereStalin(USSR),Truman(USA),andAttlee(Britain)Personalityclash:Truman,thenewPresidentoftheUSA,wasfiercelyanti-communist.HewasnotpreparedtonegotiatewithStalin.This,inturn,angeredStalin.
Agreements:
• USSRtogaineasternPolandandPolandtobebecompensatedwithsomeGermanterritory-theGermanborderwassettledattheOder-NeisseLine.
• NaziPartytobebannedandNaziwarcriminalstobeputontrial.
Disagreements:• StalindemandedharshreparationsfromGermanyfortheUSSR-demanded$20billion
compensation.ThisfigurewasrejectedbyTrumanandAttlee–theydidnotwanttomakethesamemistakesasatVersailles.
• StalindeniedanavalbaseintheMediterranean• StalinhadsetupacommunistgovernmentinPolandwithoutfreeelectionsbeingheld–
thisangeredTrumanandAttleeandmadethemsuspiciousofStalin’smotives.TheAtomBomb
On16thAugust,duringthePotsdamConference,theUSAsuccessfullytestedtheirfirstABomb.TrumaninformedStalinaboutit,butwasnotwillingtosharethetechnology.ThismadeStalinevenmoresuspiciousoftheWestandencouragedhimtobeginanarmsracetomaketheUSSR’sweaponsequalinforcetothoseoftheUSA.
• TheArmsRacewaspushedalongbyfear.o Until1949theUSSRcouldnotriskawaragainstUSA.WhentheUSSRexploded
ownnuclearweaponin1949,USAnolongerhadamonopolyandneededtorethinkitsstrategy.TheUSAbegantodeveloptheHbomb.
o In1952theUSSRexplodeditsownH-bomb.o TheUSAbegantobuildbomberaircraft,todelivertheH-bomb,inthemistaken
beliefthattheUSSRhadmorebomberaircraftthantheUSAdid.WarofWords1946–Churchill’sIronCurtainSpeech,deliveredatFultonMissouri
CountriesandcitiesundertheSovietsphereofinfluencearesubjectnotjusttoSovietinfluencebuttoaveryhighdegreeofcontrolfromMoscow.
1946–Statin’selectionspeechcomparingChurchillandhisfriendstoHitlerandhiscronies.SecretTelegrams1946LongTelegramfromGeorgeF.Kennan,AmericanambassadorinMoscow:
• Stalinhadgivenaspeechcallingfordestructionofcapitalism• TherecouldbenopeacewiththeUSSRwhileitwasopposedtocapitalism• TheUSSRwasbuildingupitsmilitarypower.
1946Novikov’sTelegramfromtheSovietambassadorinWashington:
• AmericadesiredtodominatetheWorld• TheAmericangovernmentnotinterestedinco-operationsinceRoosevelt’sdeath• AmericanpeoplearebeingpreparedforwarwiththeUSSR
Summary: Why did the Cold War begin? Long Term Causes:
- Differing ideologies - Stalin’s suspicions of the West - The USA’s change in policy
Short Term Causes:
- Tensions between the leaders at Yalta and Potsdam - The A Bomb began an arms race - Personality clash between Truman and Stalin
SovietExpansionintheEastTheUSSRrespondedtoitsnuclearinferioritybystrengtheningitscontroloverEasternEurope.Riggedelections,violence,intimidationandothermethodswereusedtogaincontroloverEasternEuropeanstatesincludingBulgaria,Hungary,PolandandRomania.By1947alleasternEuropeanstatesapartfromCzechoslovakiahadcommunistgovernments(Czechoslovakiacameundercommunistgovernmentin1948)NofreeelectionshadbeenheldasagreedtoatYalta.
TheUSSRjustifieditsactions;
- IthadcreatedabufferzoneagainsttheWest.- ItwasafraidoftheUSA’sA-bombmonopoly.- ItwasafraidofanattackbytheWestinthenearfuture.- Ithadcreateda‘sphereofinfluence’asagreedatYalta.
TheUSAclaimed;
- TheUSSRhadseizedcontrolofEasternEuropeandrejectedfreeelectionsasagreedatYalta.
- TheUSAfearedthattheUSSRwasdeterminedtoextenditsinfluenceintoWesternEurope(andthentherestoftheworld)
TheUSSRclaimedthattheirmeasuresweredefensive,buttheUSAclaimedtheywereaggressiveandathreattothewest.
TheTrumanDoctrineBetween1945and1949theUSAsoughttocontainthespreadofcommunism,firstinEuropebutlateraroundtheglobe.TheUSAbelievedthattheUSSRwasdeterminedtoexpandandthattheUSAshoulduseanymeanspossibletostopthatexpansion.Greecewasthefirstcountrytobenefitfromthispolicy.DuringWW2theGreekresistancetotheGermanoccupationhadbeendividedintosupportersofthemonarchyandthecommunists.AttheendofthewarBritishtroopshadhelpedtorestorethemonarchybutwerenowunderattackfromthecommunists.By1947,BritaincouldnolongeraffordtocontinuetokeeptroopsinGreeceandsotheyaskedforhelpfromtheUSA.TheUSAprovidedmoneytokeeptheBritishtroopsinGreece
In1947PresidentTrumanoutlinedtheUSA’sresponseinwhatbecameknownastheTrumanDoctrine.“IbelievethatitmustbethepolicyoftheUnitedStatestosupportfreepeopleswhoareresistingattemptedsubjugationbyarmedminoritiesorbyoutsidepressures.”PresidentTruman12March1947Thispolicywasdesignedtostopthespreadofcommunism-itwascalledcontainmentPolicywasdrivenbyabeliefinthe‘DominoTheory'–theUSAshouldpreventonecountryfromfallingtocommunismtostop
othersfromfollowingsuit.ItwasbelievedthatitwasAmerica'sdutytoprotectdemocraciesfromthethreatofcommunism.Itwoulddothisbyprovidingmoney,aid,advisorsorevenweaponstoanycountrythreatenedbycommunism.USAshowedthispolicyinactionwhenitinstalledballisticmissilesinTurkey-theUSSRhadnosuchmissilesandthereforesawthisactionashostile.TheMarshallPlan
TheMarshallPlanisanotherexampleoftheTrumanDoctrineinactionEurope’seconomyhadbeenshatteredbyWW2.Europehadtotacklethedevastationcausedbythewar,theimpactofthebombing,thelossoflives,thedestructionofindustry,refugeesandamountainofdebt.EuropeowedtheUSA$11.5billion.
USSecretaryofStateGeorgeMarshallbelievedthatcountriessufferingfrompovertyandunemploymentweremorelikelytoturntocommunism.TheaimoftheMarshallPlanwasthereforetorebuildtheshatteredEuropeaneconomysothatitcouldresistthespreadofcommunism.Afundof$15billionwasmadeavailabletoanynationwhoappliedforit.TheMarshallPlanaimedto:
- RaiselivingstandardsinwesternEuropetoreducetheappealofcommunism.- TorebuildGermany- ToweakenSovietcontroloverEasternEurope- TohelptheUSeconomybyincreasingUSexportstoEurope.Theydidnotwantarepeat
ofthe1920s.TheUSgovernmentwasinitiallyinsureaboutprovidingsomuchaidtoEurope,however,eventsinCzechoslovakiasoonchangedtheirmindsCzechoslovakia,1948By1948Czechoslovakiawasnotunderthecontrolofthecommunists.ThegovernmentconsideredacceptingMarshallAid.ElectionswereduetotakeplaceinSpring1948andthecommunistswereexpectedtodobadly.Acommunistcoupsawthenon-communistsremovedfromoffice,JanMasaryk,aministerwhosupportedthewestwasmurdered.ThecommuniststookcontrolofCzechoslovakia.Thisangeredpeopleinthewest.USCongressmenwhohadbeenreluctanttograntMarshallAid,agreedtothemoneyfortheMarshallPlan.Stalin’sReactiontotheMarshallPlanStalincalledtheMarshallPlan‘dollarimperialism'andclaimedtheUSAwastryingtocontrolindustryandtradeinEurope.Hebelievedthatitsoughttounderminecommunismandtopromotethespreadofcapitalismacrosstheglobe.HerefusedtoacceptanyeconomicaidandstoppedanyEasternbloccountryapplyingforit.HowdidStalinreacttotheactionsoftheWest?Cominform(1947)andComecon(1949)TotrytopreventanyeasternEuropeancountriesapplyingforaidandtostrengthenhisgriponthecountriesonhisbordersStalinofferedhelpandsupporttoeasternEuropebysettinguptwoorganisations,Cominform(1947)andComecon(1949).Cominform(CommunistInformationBureau)wasanallianceofEuropeancommunistpartiestohelpthemplanandtoworktogetherandspreadStalin’sideas.ItincreasedthecontrolStalin
hadoverthesecountries,andlimitedtheirindependence.OnlyMarshalTito,thecommunistleaderofYugoslavia,wouldnotacceptStalin’stotalleadershipandsplitwithMoscow.Comecon(CouncilforMutualEconomicAid)wassetuptocoordinatetheproductionandtradeoftheeasternEuropeancommunistcountries.TheywereexpectedtotradewitheachotherandnottheWest.However,itfavouredtheUSSRmorethananyofitsothermembers.TheBerlinCrisis:1948-49Germany,andBerlin,hadbeendividedin1945intozonesofoccupation.ThiswasasourceoftensionwhichpeakedduringtheBerlinCrisisof1948-49.
MapshowingthedivisionofGermanyandBerlinin1945CausesoftheBerlinCrisis/BerlinBlockade:
- Britain,FranceandtheUSAhadmergedtheirzonesofWestGermanyintooneinMarch1948
- Britain,FranceandtheUSAhadthenintroducedanewcurrencytowesternGermany,whichwasintendedtohelpitbecomeeconomicallystronger.
- Capitalismwasdrawingmanypeopleawayfromthecommunisteasttowardsgreateropportunitiesandfreedoms.Asaresult:
- StalinfeltthreatenedbyGermany’sgrowingstrength
- StalinwasangrythatthewesthadnotconsultedhimbeforemakingchangesintheirzonesofGermany
- Stalinwantedthe‘cancer’ofwestBerlintoberemovedfromEastGermany.Whathappened?InJune1948Stalincutoffallroad,railandcanallinkstoWestBerlin–theBerlinBlockade.Thecityonlyhad6weekssuppliesoffoodandfuel.Stalinaimedtostarvethe2millioninhabitantsinWestBerlinintosubmission.HebelievedthatTrumanwouldeitherhavetogiveupWestBerlinorgotowar.ButtheWestrespondedwithamassiveairlift-food,fuelandsupplieswereflownintoBerlinfor10months.Stalindarednoshootdownanyplanes–itwouldbeanactofwar.StalincalledofftheBlockadeinMay1949.Outcomes:
- ApropagandavictoryfortheWest-Trumanhadshownhewouldnotallowthepolicyofcontainmenttofail.
- Stalinwashumiliated-theUSSRhadfailedtoextenditsinfluence- ThedivisionofGermanyintotwoseparatestates-inMay1949thenewFederal
RepublicofGermanywassetup.InOctobertheeasternzonebecametheGermandemocraticRepublic.
- TheformationofNATO.- DeepenedhostilitybetweenEastandWest.-
WhatwasNATO?
• TheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganisation(NATO)wasformedinApril1949bytheWesternpowers.ThiswasduringtheperiodoftheBerlinBlockade,andwaspartlyinresponsetoStalin’saggression.
• TheoriginaltwelvemembersofNATOin1949weretheUnitedStates,theUnitedKingdom,Canada,France,Denmark,Iceland,Italy,Norway,Portugal,Belgium,Netherlands,andLuxembourg.
• NATOwasamilitaryalliancethatcommittedallmemberstothedefenceofalltheothers.
• ButNATOwasmorethanapromiseofAmericanhelpinanemergency.Thealliancewastobesupportedbylargenumbersoftroopsontheground.
• Inparticular,therewerealargenumberoftroopsinWestGermany.By1953,5divisionsofUStroopswerepermanentlybasedthere.
• Stalin,unsurprisingly,sawNATOasathreattotheUSSRandEasternEurope.WhatwastheWarsawPact?TheWarsawPactwassetupin1955.
• TheWarsawPactwasadefensivemilitaryallianceoftheUSSRanditssatellitestatesinEasternEurope.
• Itwasintendedasacounter-forcetoNATO,whichwasamilitaryallianceofwesternpowers.
• TheWarsawPact,likeNATO,reliedoncollectivesecurity–ifonenationwasattacked,theotherswouldcometoitssupport.
• TheWarsawPacthelpedtomakeEasternEuropeaneffective‘bufferzone’fortheUSSRagainsttheWest.
ChinabecomesCommunist:1949YouarenotexpectedtoknowthedetailsoftheCommunistrevolutioninChina,butyoushouldbeawarethatthefactofsuchalargecountrybecomingCommunistgavetheUSAfurther‘evidence’thatCommunismwasadangerandthatitwasspreading.TheUSAfeareda‘dominoeffect’wherebyonecountryafter
anotherwouldfalltocommunism.ThisisonereasonwhytheUSAwassokeentogetinvolvedintheconflictinKorea.TheKoreanWar:1950-53
NotethatyouwouldnotbeexpectedtoknowtheeventsoftheKoreanWarindetail,butthatyoushouldknowitskeyfeatures,andunderstandthattheUSSRandUSAweresupportingopposingsidesinthewarandwhy,andtheconsequences.TrumanviewedtheKoreanWarasatestofhispolicyofcontainment.KeyEvents:
• InJune1950CommunistNorthKoreainvadedtheSouthandtheKoreanWarbegan.• Trumanimmediatelysentadvisers,suppliesandwarshipstohelpSouthKorea.
• TrumanthenputpressureontheUnitedNationstocondemnNorthKorea’sactions.• Initially,sixteenstatesprovidedtroopsorsupporttotheUNforceinKorea,butitwas
dominatedbytheUSA.• UNarmyhadearlysuccessandpushedtheNorthKoreansbackbeyondthe38thParallel.• Buttheydidnotstop.DespitewarningsfromMaothatChinawouldsupportNorth
Korea,theUNarmypressedonintotheNorth.ByOctober1950theyhadreachedtheborderwithChina.
• InNovember,200,000ChinesetroopsjoinedtheNorthKoreans,bringingwiththemmoderntanksandplanessuppliedbytheUSSR.
• ByJanuary1951UNforceshadbeenpushedbacktothe38thparallel.• Fightingcontinuedforanothertwoyears,butnoprogresswasmadeoneitherside.• AfterthereplacementofTrumanwithEisenhowerin1952andthedeathofStalinin
March1953,stepsweretakentobringtheconflicttoanend.• ThearmisticewassignedinJuly1953.
KhrushchevandPeacefulCo-existenceStalindiedin1953.Afterashortstruggleforpower,in1955KhrushchevbecamethenewruleroftheUSSR.Atfirst,thewesternpowershopedthatKhrushchevwouldbethestartofa‘thaw’intheColdWar.
- Khrushchevmetwesternleadersat‘summit’meetingsandeventravelledtotheUSA.
- StalinhadmadeallCommunistcountriesdowhathewanted–andhehadfallenoutwithPresidentTitoofYugoslavia.Butin1955KhrushchevwenttoYugoslavia,tellingTitothat‘therearedifferentroadstocommunism’.WesternleadersthoughthewouldnolongerinsistthatallcommunistcountriestakeordersfromMoscow.
- Inthe‘SecretSpeech’attheTwentiethPartyCongressin1956,KhrushchevattackedStalin,sayingthatStalinwasamurdererandatyrant.Khrushchevbeganto‘de-Stalinise’Russia-politicalprisonersweresetfreeandtheactivitiesofthesecretpolicewerereduced.
- Khrushchevsaidthathewantedpeacefulco-existencewiththeWest.WesternleadershopedthismeanttheendoftheColdWar.
GivenhopethatStalin’seraofrepressionandfearhadcometoanend,opponentsofcommunisminEasternEuropebegantomakedemands.Poland,October1956:DemonstratorsattackedPolishpolice,protestingaboutrisingfoodpricesand53workerswerekilledbythePolisharmyduringriotsinPoznan.KhrushchevwasalarmedandsenttroopstothePolishborder.
Gomulka,apopularleaderoftheCommunistresistanceduringtheNazioccupationofPoland,wasappointedleader.Gomulkawasnothard-line,butKhrushchevacceptedthisappointmentasitwouldkeepthepeace.TherewasalsoagreementthatCommunistswouldstoppersecutingembersoftheCatholicChurch.TheRedArmyleftthePolishborder.TheHungarianUprising,October1956:EncouragedbyeventsinPoland,theHungarianpeopledecidedtoprotestagainstcommunistrule–withdevastatingresults.Causes:
1. PovertyHungarianswerepoor,yetmuchofthefoodandindustrialgoodstheyproducedwassenttoRussia.
2. RussianControlTheHungarianswereverypatriotic,andtheyhatedRussiancontrol–whichincludedcensorship,thevicioussecretpoliceandRussiancontrolofwhattheschoolstaught.
3. CatholicChurchTheHungarianswereareligiouspeople,buttheCommunistPartyhadbannedreligion,andputtheleaderoftheCatholicChurchinprison.
4. HelpfromtheWestHungariansthoughtthattheUnitedNationsorthenewUSpresident,Eisenhower,wouldhelpthem.
5. De-StalinisationWhentheCommunistPartytriedtode-StaliniseHungary,thingsgotoutofcontrol.TheHungarianleaderRakosiaskedforpermissiontoarrest400trouble-makers,butKhrushchevwouldnotlethim.
Events:
- 23October:Riotsofstudents,workersandsoldiers.TheysmashedupthestatueofStalin,andattackedtheSecretPoliceandRussiansoldiers.
- 24October:ImreNagytookoverasPrimeMinister.HeaskedKhrushchevtotakeRussiantroopsoutofHungary.
- 28October:Khrushchevagreed,andtheRussianarmypulledoutofBudapest.
- 29October–3November:ThenewHungariangovernmentintroduceddemocracy,freedomofspeech,andfreedomofreligion(theleaderoftheCatholicChurchwasfreedfromprison).NagyalsoannouncedthatHungarywasgoingtoleavetheWarsawPact.
- 4November:Atdawn,1000RussiantanksrolledintoBudapest.By8.10amtheyhaddestroyedtheHungarianarmyandcapturedHungarianRadio–itslastwordsbroadcastwere‘Help!Help!Help!’Hungarianpeople–evenchildren–foughtthemwithmachineguns.Some4000HungarianskilledfightingtheRussians.
- KhrushchevputinJanosKadar,asupporterofRussia,asPrimeMinister.- Nagywasexecuted.
Outcomes/ConsequencesoftheHungarianUprising:
1) 200,000HungarianrefugeesfledintoAustria.2) RussiastayedincontrolbehindtheIronCurtain.3) PeopleintheWestwerehorrified–manyBritishCommunistslefttheCommunist
Party.4) ItwascleartoEasternEuropethattheWestwouldnotcometotheiraidtohelpthem
overturncommunism.5) However,whilsttheywouldnotinterveneincountriesthatwerewithintheSoviet
sphereofinfluence,Westernleadersbecameevenmoredeterminedto‘contain’communism.
TheU-2spyplaneincident–May1960Keyevents:
• TheUSSRshotdownanAmericanU-2spyplaneovertheUSSRandcapturedthepilot,GaryPowers.HewasparadedonSoviettelevision.AccordingtotheUSSR,hehadconfessedtobeingonaspyingmission.
• TheUSAdeniedthatspyingflightstookplaceovertheUSSR–theysaidPowershadgoneoffcoursewhilststudyingweatherconditions.
• WhentheSovietsdevelopedthefilmfromPowers’plane,itwasclearthathehadbeenspying–thiswasahugeembarrassmenttotheUSgovernment,whohadobviouslylied.
• KhrushchevdemandedthattheUSAstoptheirspyingmissions,thattheypunishthoseresponsibleandapologisefortheiractions.
• TheUSagreedtostoptheflightsbutwouldnotapologise.PowerswasimprisonedintheUSSR.
• TheSovietshadscoredagreatpropagandavictory.
TheBerlinCrisis–1961Causes:WhywastheBerlinWallbuilt?Berlinhadbeenasourceoftensionbetweenthesuperpowerssince1945.In1961itagainreachedcrisispoint.
• ThehighstandardoflivinginWestBerlincontrastedsharplywiththeconditionincommunistEastBerlin–itcontinuallyremindedpeopleintheeasternareasthatcommunismwasnotasuccessfulsystemtoliveunder.
• Itwasestimatedthat3millionpeoplehadcrossedfromEasttoWestBerlinbetween1945and1960.Manyofthesewereyoung,skilled,professionalpeople–theEastwassuffereda‘braindrain’astheseeducatedmenandwomenlefttomakenewlivesintheWest.ItseemedlikelythatthiswouldcontinueiftheirexitroutethroughWestBerlinwasnotblocked.
• KhrushchevalsosuspectedtheUSAofsendingspiesintoEastBerlinandfromthereintotheEasternblocthroughWestBerlin.Thisseemedverylikely,giventheU-2spyplaneincidentof1960.
Events:Whathappened?
• 13August1961–TheEastGermansbeganbuildingawallaroundWestBerlin.Thiswasinitiallyabarbedwirefence,whichwasgraduallyreplacedwithconcrete.
• AllmovementbetweenEastandWestwasstopped.
• ForseveraldaysSovietandUStanksfacedeachotheracrossthedividedBerlinstreets.
Outcomes:Whatweretheconsequences?• Theflowofrefugeeswasreducedtoatrickle.Between1961and1989(whenthewall
camedown),only5000peoplemanagedtoescapeacrossit.• Westernnationsweregivenapropagandavictory,asitseemedthatcommuniststates
neededtobuildawalltostoptheircitizensleaving.• ThewallbecameasymbolofthedivisionofEastandWest.
TheCubanMissileCrisis–1962
Causes:
Superpowertension BoththeU-2spyplaneincident(whichhadhumiliatedtheUSA)andthenon-resistanceof
theWesttothebuildingoftheBerlinWallmadetheUSSRbelievethattheywereinastrongposition.
FidelCastro’sCuba
• FidelCastro,asocialist,hadoverthrowntheAmerican-backedleaderBatistain1959.TheUSAweresuspiciousofCastroandwantedtoremovehimfrompower.
• Cubawasonly90milesoffcoastofAmerica–theydidn’twantasocialist(orworse,acommunist)country‘intheirbackyard’.
• USAtriedtoruinCubabyrefusingtobuytheirmainexport–sugar.Facingfinancialcollapse,CastrodidadealwiththeUSSR–theywouldbuyCuba’ssugarcrop.
• CubanationalisedAmericancompaniesandsoldoffUS-ownedproperty
BayofPigs (April1961)–Americasentin1400exiledCubanrebelstooverthrowCastrobuttheywere
easilydefeated.ThiswasahumiliationfortheUSA,andjustencouragedCastrototurntotheUSSRforprotection.USSRstartedshippingweaponsandequipmenttoCuba.
Missilebases
14October1962–AmericanU-2spyplanesphotographedSovietmissilesitesonCuba.
Events–The‘ThirteenDays’:
• Kennedyorderedanavalblockadeandthreatenedretaliationifanymissilewasfired.
• For10daystheworldwasonthebrinkofnuclearwar.
• KennedypromisedtoremoveUSmissilesfromTurkeyin
returnforthebasesonCubabeingdismantledandthemissiles(whichwerestillontheirwaytoCuba)takenbacktotheUSSR.
• 28OctoberKhrushchevremovedthemissilesandthe
crisiswasoverOutcomes:
• Khrushchevseemedtohavefailed–hehadbackeddowninthefaceofAmericanpressure.ThepublicdidnotknowthatKennedyhadsecretlyagreedtoremoveUSmissilesfromTurkey.
• KennedybecametheherooftheWesternworld.
• Telephone‘hotline’setupbetweenMoscowandWashingtonsothattheleaders
couldspeakdirectly.Thiswastotryandheadoffanyfuturecrisesbeforetheybecameserious.
• Thetwopowersrealisedhowclosetheyhadcometonuclearwar.Armstalksbegan
andtheNuclearTestBanTreatywassignedin1963.