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Cold War Intensifies (Part 2) (Western Reaction to uprising (Suez Crisis,…
Cold War Intensifies (Part 2)
Western Reaction to uprising
Risk of war
West believed that any intervention in Hungary could have led to a nuclear war
USSR had tested their hydrogen bomb in 1955 which suggested that USSR possessed immense military power
US made the most practical choice they could think of
Truman Doctrine
Containment strategy
Said communism should not be allowed to expand
Hungary was not a priority from the American perspective
More important to prevent communism to spread to Western Europe
Suez Crisis
NATO was divided about this
Seemed like the Suez Crisis was a bigger problem
USA was angry about this
29th Oct 1956, Britain, France and Israel colluded to invade Egypt
West was preoccupied by the Suez Crisis
Practical considerations
Hungary was a long way from the US
Intervening in Hungary was too risky of an option
There was no practical method of intervening that would save the Hungarians without risking war
Key consequences of Hungarian uprising
Things USA learnt
Could not afford to get involved in Eastern Europe
Very little point in making idle threats
USSR was serious about protecting its interest
Then makes USA look silly by not getting involved
People will get very unhappy with out lack of actions
Many people protested when it seemed that USA were not going to do anything
Things USSR learnt
Learned that USA will not intervene in Eastern Europe
Truman Doctrine meat that USSR were free to act as they please in Eastern Europe
Authority and strength of leaders increases if USSR take actions
Satellite states learned that Soviet Union could not be challenged in Eastern Europe