HOW SECURE WAS THE USSR’S CONTROL OVER EASTERN EUROPE , 1948-1989

BACKGROUND German had lost the WW2.

Soviet controls:

Lost to have right for democratic govt.

Free speech was lost

Newspaper were censored

Govt. critics will be put into prison

Travelling to the countries in the west was strictly prohibited

Stalin has forbid Eastern Bloc from applying Marshall Aid. Causing :

1. Shortage of basics: Milk, coal, and meat.2. Clothing became very expensive.3. Consumer goods unavailable : Electric

kettles and radios.4. Wages were lower than those who living

and working in Soviet Union

Changes in Russia after 1953:

1. Death of Joseph Stalin amidst war in Korea

2. Nikita Kruschev became new President3. Kruschev allowed greater independence

to Eastern Europe to control their own affairs

4. He denounced Stalin and held a de-Stalinisation was to be followed

6.1 WHY WAS THERE OPPOSITION TO SOVIET CONTROL IN HNGARY IN 1956 AND HOW DID THE USSR REACT?

REASONS TO OPPOSITION TO SOVIET UNION

YES, it’s Hungary. They opposed to the Soviet control after the death of Stalin. But why????

1. Hungary ran by Hungarian Communist Party. But they only won 17% vote during the election

2. People suffered from the strict repression : Censorship, Secret police, Restriction in education, Banning religion from being subversive

3. Hungary was poor and they needed buildings. Most of the industrial production were sent to Russia including food production.

4. People of Hungary were unhappy with the hard line communist leader :

Rakosi Gero Imre Nagy

(retired) (Unacceptable) (Forming new govt.)

ACTIONS PLANNED BY NAGY’S MOVEMENT?

Imre Nagy introduced a plan to change life in Hungary .

A. Free election would be held

B. Law courts became impartial

C. Farm land was to be restored to private ownership

D. Reduction of Soviet Union influence on daily life in Hungary

E. Ensuring the withdrawal of Soviet Union army – some already withdrawn

F. Nagy intended to withdraw Hungary from Warsaw Pact.

Why did the Hungarians think they would be successful?

1. Kruschev wanted to reduce control over satellite countries (Eastern Bloc) after the death of Stalin

2. Rising of workers in Poland 1956 made Russia less dependant on Hungary

3. Hungarians was hoping to receive help from United Nation

4. New US president (Eisenhower) made a supportive comment in his speech about the Eastern Bloc

How did the USSR react to this opposition (New ideology of Nagy Plan)

Nikita Kruschev was not preparing to approve Nagy’s reform and he wanted to remove Hungary from Warsaw Pact.

Oct,28 . Kruschev was planning to remove Soviet troops from Hungary

By Nov,11 , Thousands of Soviet troops and 1thousand tanks moved into Budapest. There was a bitter street fighting .

There was about 3000 Hungarians died along with about 8000 Russians. Over 200 thousand fled the country.

Nagy was imprisoned and later executed.

6.2 Why was there opposition to Soviet control in Czechoslovakia in 1968 and how did the USSR react?

Why there are oppositions in Czechoslovakia?

Why??

- Communist were restrictive (there was censorship, no freedom of speech , and secret police became aspect of daily life hated by people.

-Standard of living was dropping in 1960’s

Dubcek introduced “ Prague Spring “ in 1968 (socialism with the human face)

- Abolition of censorship allowing press to print what they wanted

- Freedom of speech allowing criticism of the govt.

- Freedom of movement for all people allowing to visit west and other European country.

- Dubcek did not want to leave Warsaw Pact weary of what happened in Hungry

- Dubcek was planning to cooperate with Romania and Yugoslavia.

What Dubcek wanted for Czechoslovakia?

- Less state control, to end press censorship, curb the power of the secret police and right on holding a free election (not one state party)

- Improving Czech economy for example right to grow plants for farmers so that they don’t need to be told what type of plant needs to be grown

- To increase economic trade with western countries

- He wanted to be remembered as loyal to communist (belief in Warsaw Pact)

- To have freedom of travelling abroad

Meanwhile in Russia… In 1968, Brezhnev had taken over as

leader of Soviet Union

His aim was to maintain Soviet control over Easter Europe

Czechoslovakia was an important country within Warsaw Pact bcoz of the strength of its industry.

He determined to take action to stop reform in Czechoslovakia

Why??? –bcoz if Czechoslovakia gain more freedom, the other countries would want the same.

The Brezhnev Doctrine

-Introduced to stop such events happening again in other countries

- It stated all Warsaw Pact countries must work together to prevent any country from leaving the pact

- Military forces could be used by USSR if any attempt made by any member country.

On 20Aug 1968, Soviet tanks moved into Czechoslovakia. There were some fighting occurred . Generally the Czechs refused to cooperateResulting – Dubcek was removed from power and taken to Moscow

6.3 How similar were events in Hungary in 1956 and in Czechoslovakia in 1968?

How were the events similar? How were they different?

Causes Both countries had a long term resentment of Soviet rule

*Hungary was affected by issues in other countries: The rebellion in Poland inspired them to act*Czech was affected by home issues: Economic depression and desire for political changes

Aims of the rebels

Both wanted to give their people more right and reducing the control of communist state

*In Hungary, the changes included withdrawing from Warsaw pact*Czechoslovakia wanted to remain in Warsaw Pact.

Actions of the people

Both involved groups of people protesting

*In Hungary, it was people who acted at first * In Czech , the people’s actions were largely started by their leaders

How were the events similar? How were they different?

Why was Soviet Union intervened?

The Soviet Union was very suspicious and fearful that any form of rebellion would spread and lead to a split in its control other countries

*Political nature in Czechoslovakia was particularly dangerous for the soviets. Event such “Prague spring” was started by people who were meant to be under Soviet Control

How did each state responded to Soviet intervention?

Both leader were removed from office. Both resulted in mass

*In Hungary , people armed themselves and fought when Soviets attacked*In Czech, Following order from the govt, ppl did not fight back. But there were several protest after Russian invasion including suicide

Reaction of the wider world

Reactions to both were wholly negative to Soviet use force .Situation in Hungary was discussed at the United Nation. Soviet action upon Czechoslovakia were by some other countries including USA

With the Czechoslovakian invasion, some members of the communist Warsaw Pact expressed shock at Soviet actions. Romanian leader complained about Russian intervention

6.4 WHY WAS THE BERLIN WALL BUILT IN 1961?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7YE-N448fg – intro of berlin wall

6.4 WHY WAS THE BERLIN WALL BUILT IN 1961?

What was Berlin Wall?

- At the end of WW2, the city of Berlin was split into 4 zones. A wall was constructed to seal Est Berlin from the West

- Construction started by 13 August 1961, its originally built with brbed wire but through time became a concrete wall

- All crossing point were sealed except one : Checkpoint Charlie

- Its divided by a wall 87 miles long to prevent movement of people from East Germany to west

- Anyone trying to defect to West was shot

Why people were leaving East Berlin?

- Quality of life was much better in the West (due to refusal of Marshall Aid)

- In West Berlin, shops were filled with variety of goods and freedom

- Significant attraction of capitalism compare to harsh communist regime in East Germany under the hard-line communist leader Walter Ulbricht.

What was the impact of this movement on East Germany?

- Communists feared “brain drain’ as skilled workers including engineers, teachers and lawyers were leaving the countries in hi-numbers.

- Negative propaganda was created. The hi numbers of leaving created feeling of unpopularity for communism

What were the immediate consequences of the building of the Berlin wall?

- The flow of people from East to Wet stopped

- Berlin became a focus of the Cold war

6.5 WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOLIDARITY IN POLAND FOR THE DECLINE OF SOVIET INFLUENCE IN EASTERN EUROPE?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTw1CxIjOgw – solidarity movement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X5nCOXbQOo – walesa speech

The rise of solidarity

Soviet control over Poland became unpopular

Numerous protest about wages and food price

By 1979 , Polish economy was at peak of crisis – Government had to increase price of goods including foods

Govt blocking any pay increase

Ppl were facing poverty and they responded by going on strikes all across the country

Strike (led by Lech Walesa) on 14 August 1980

- Strikers were worked at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk (Danzig)

- The strikes had a list of 21 demands as well as demanding the right to form trade union

- *trade union (an organized association of workers, often in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests)

- By the end of August the right to form union free from govt. control was approved

- By mid September , “solidarity” was formed

Why did the communist Polish Government agree to meet the demand of the solidarity?

• Impact- general strike will devastate the economy of Poland

• Consequence- Solidarity members mainly came from major industry area (shipbuilding and

heavy industries

Fear of

general strike

• Majority – The movement represented by 80% workers of wide spectrum of Polish life

• Walesa – He was seen as a folk hero by many

• News - Union messages spread through newspaper

Popularity

• Influence – Polish had a strong faith for religion and churches

• Peace – Walesa was careful not to provoke the Soviet Union (Not to look down on

communist policy )an violence was avoided

Support of the

Catholic Church

Why was action taken against Solidarity in December 1981?

General Jaruzelski became Prime Minister of Poland in Feb 1981.

Relation was tense between Jaruzelskiaand Walesa

Solidarity was allegedly accused for planning a military coup

Consequences – Soviet Union was trying to interfere. Brezhnev sent carried out communist “training” in the Poland border

Resulting – Jaruzelski imposed martial law

How important was solidarity?Solidarity and new reforms

a. 1985, Gorbachev became SU leader in Russia.

b. He introduced numbers of reforms:

c. Release political prisoners connected with solidarity.

d. Jaruzelski was still in power and refuse s.u intervention

e. By 1988, strike were again sweeping through Poland causing food cost rose up to 40%

f. Walesa negotiated with Polish govt. to find solution.

g. By 1989, solidarity was again legalised

h. Election in april 1989, Solidarity won every seat

i. The first non-communist government of post war era formed with Walesa as president

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZQwQMj9GKo – leglisation of the solidarity

6.6 HOW FAR WAS GORBACHEV PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COLLAPSE OF SOVIET CONTROL OVER EASTERN EUROPE?

What was the state of the Soviet Union in 1985 when Gorbachev became leader?

Soviet citizens had no loyalty to the govt. resenting the way their lives were run

The controlling of other countries were outdated. The Soviet Union could no longer afford to maintain military presence in satellite countries.

The Soviet economy was facing a downfall . Too much money was spent for arm race in Afghanistan .

Factories produced cheap product and there were shortage of foods

The living standard was low compared to the west

There was much corruption in government

The role of Gorbachev He introduced policy of “glasnost” (openness)

This involved :

a. Freedom of expression

-more freedom for media

-Allowing news of govt. corruption and criticism of govt. officials

-Details about some of Stalin’s brutal excesses were revealed

The role of Gorbachev He introduced policy of “perestroika” (reconstructing)

This aimed to make Soviet economy more modern and efficient. It included :

a.Encouraging private ownership of Soviet industry and agriculture

b.Reducing state control over imports and exports

c.Allowing trade with non-eastern bloc countries

d.An increase in the production and trade in consumer goods

Gorbachev and the collapse of communism

Reforms was introduced

too quickly and without

proper thought and

planning, plunging into

the economic confusion

Arms reduction treaties

were signed with the US

(Ronald Reagan)

He abandoned Brezhnev

doctrine and established

relation with western

countries

Decided Eastern Europe to

choose its own destiny

Introduced perestroika to

make soviet economy

more modern and efficient

by increasing production

and trade in consumer

goods

Introduced policy of “

glasnost” this involved

freedom of expression

The role of other countries

Between 1989 until 1991 , every communist or former communist in Eastern Europe held a democratic parliamentary elections

November 1989, Berlin Wall was dismantled

By 1990, Germany became united once more

Gorbachev were unable to shield the public from the fact that eastern bloc countries were much poorer than the majority of people in western counties

War in Afghanistan

- The war badly overstretched the soviet economy ad demoralised their military

- Soviet actions were condemned and were pressured to withdraw

- The casualties were significant, the loss of 10,000 soviet army and its impact to the Muslim world

The role of the USA

US president Ronald Reagan sought to end the Cold War.

Reagan and Gorbachev signed treaties to limit nuclear weapons.

The Soviet Union realised they couldn’t compete with the US in the arm race so decided to use diplomacy to secure peace.

Its outdated industry was causing environmental problems, such as explosion at Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986.

Role of Ronald Reagan

- Support the independent trade Union (solidarity) against communism in Poland

- Sent arm forces to the countries to fight with pro soviet groups . Eg: Afghanistan fought against army of Khomeiny

- Overthrew pro communist government in Grenada

The fall of berlin wall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei1HnWwzmNk – Reagan speech in Charlie checkpoint

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmRPP2WXX0U - Break o berlin wall