International Relations: The Thaw Revision Cards

Unrest in East Germany, 1953

• Protests across Bulgaria, Czechoslavakia, East Germany and Eastern Europe
• Ulbricht unpopular amongst Germans but the Soviets were forced to supporth im
  • They had to send in military force to tackle the uprisings - a propaganda disaster

The Warsaw Pact, 1955

• Response to NATO's formation

Malenkov's 'New Course', 1955

• Resources diverted from defence to consumer goods production
• Peaceful coexistence with the West
• End of Korean War in 1953
• Soviet bases in Finland were relinquished in 1954
• Relations with Yugoslavian leader, Marshal Tito, were worked upon
• Austria was reunited and neutralised in 1955
• The Soviet army was cut by 20% but there was no Western equivalent to this
  

Operation Solarium

• National Security was to include the defence of territorial, democratic and capitalist values
• Conventional forces were cut and the nuclear arsenal concentrated upon

Eisenhower and Nuclear Weapons

• Covert actions by the CIA; increased from 7 stations to 47 stations
• New network of alliances, such as SEATO and CENTO

Problems facing Eisenhower

• Expected other countries to supply ground forces whilst the USA supplied the nuclear umbrella - former didn't always happen
• Third World Nationalism was confused with Communism, allowing Soviets to 'move in'
• Fears of a missile gap and Soviet nuclear supremacy due to Sputnik 1 and ICBMs
  

Personality

• Unpredictable temperament, prone to erratic nature and angry explosions
• Didn't consult others

Significance of the Crisis

• Domestic Aims; revitalise economy, cut defence budget
• Cold War Diplomacy; inconsistent - sometimes menacing, sometimes peaceful
  
• Third World; create allies in Africa and Asia, recognised US reliance on Middle East and attempted to challenge it, built relationship with Castro
  

Secret Speech, 1956

• Criticised Stalin and his 'cult of personality'
• Unintentionally gave liberal Eastern European groups hope for change that would not occur
  

Polish Unrest, 1956

• Focus upon food shortages, lack of consumer goods and poor housing
• Gomulka, Polish leader, wanted reform but didn't want to abandon Communism or the Warsaw Pact

Hungarian Events, 1956

• Nagy, Hungarian leader, wanted multi-party elections and press freedom
• 4th November; Soviet forces crush the rebellion whilst Nagy appeals to the UN for help

Significance in the Cold War

• 2700 people died
• The West were proven to be unwilling to support Eastern European democratic reform
• Soviet policy remained unchanged - they clearly had no interest in peaceful coexistence
  

Geneva Summit, 1955

• Khrushchev proposed disbanding NATO and Warsaw Pact but Eisenhower refused, instead proposy for an 'open skies' policy which Khrushchev did not allow
• Although no agreements were reached, there was a general acceptance of the status quo

Paris Summit, 1960

• 15 days beforehand, the U2 spy plane incident occured
  • Khrushchev wanted Eisenhower to apologise but he refused

Vienna Summit, 1961

• Soviet position; their top priority was Berlin
• US position; their top priority was disarmament and a reduced 'open skies' policy
• Significance:
  • There was a failure to agree on the situation
    
  • Both sides threatened military action if all-else failed
    

West Berlin

• Economic miracle by the West, which provoked Russian alarm at a strengthening Germany and increasign numberof East Germans fleeing to the West

  Khrushchev's Policies
  

• 10th November 1958; he delivers an ultimatum to the West, calling for the demilitarisation of West Berlin
  

  The US Response
  

• Eisenhower made it clear that he would not give in to Khrushchev's demands

  The Resolution
  

• Khrushchev couldn't force the West nor risk war, so supported Ulbricht's ideas for the Berlin Wall
• Kennedy saw the Wall as the difference between East and West; USSR propaganda failure