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Unit 6: How Secure was the USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?…
Unit 6: How Secure was the USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?
Hungarian Uprising
After WWII, Hungary was one of Hungary's "satellite states"
Hungarians were not happy being controlled by USSR, this is due to the banning of the Catholic Church (Hungary is religious), the looming fear of the secret police, and the control Russians had on Hungary.
(Thousands of Russians lived in Hungary, there were many shops, signs and schools revolved around the Russians living there.)
They began to protest through means of a student protest where these people brought down a Stalin statue in the capital city.
The Soviets reacted through means of sending thousands of tanks to Hungary, which lead to a 2 week war that lead to the death of 3,000 Hungarians and 200,000 escaped as refugees to Austria.
Prague Spring
Czechoslovakia is one of the "satellite state" for the USSR, and one of the most powerful at that.
The Czech disliked USSR due to the bad economy, massive amount of censorship, the looming fear of the secret police and the many other freedoms they lacked- like the freedom of speech.
Stalinist leader Antonin Novotny fell from power, and Dubcek was put as leader. Dubcek gave the Czech more individual freedom, but assured he was loyal to Communism. Though, a meeting with a non Communist country had make Khrushchev do something.
Military practice was publicly shown off, and they cut trades with the Czech, they eventually had sent tanks and troops to the Czech. They also took the leader into Soviet custody.
Dubcek ordered the people to remain peaceful and to not resist arrest if need be, and the majority listened. Only 7 people were killed at that invasion.
USSR Collapse
Why Gorbachev wanted reforms to the USSR
Weak economy
Overspending on the arms race (weapons, nukes)
Money spent on war in Afghanistan (like Vietnam for US)
No new ideas about their economy since Joseph Stalin's era.
Quality of life was low
Lower standard of living compared to Capitalist countries
People don't trust the Government
Corruption in Government was bad, Communist party members could get things that the ordinary citizens could not.
Gorbachev's Reforms
Glasnost
Media was less restricted & honest news would be made (like economic problems and Afghanistan)
Perestroika
In order to fix the economy, they introduced some elements of Communism.
Decrease defence spending
Cut # of soldiers he was paying, and withdrew from Afghanistan.
Cut spending on the arms race.
G & Reagan had 3 meetings where they decided to remove some nuclear missiles & agreed to inspections to prove they had done so.
Didn't want to end Communism, but wanted to make it better.
Effects of the Reforms on Eastern Europe
(1985) G informs Warsaw Pact nations that they can do whatever what they please in their countries
(1988) G withdrew troops from East. Europe - message was, "The Red Army will not support your Communist government any longer."
15 republics in USSR declared their independance
Russia elected Boris Yeltsin, who "saw no future in the USSR"
Communists attempted to overthrow Yeltsin but failed, on December 25, G announced the end of the USSR>
Berlin Wall (1961)
Reasons Germans Want to Leave
Hungarian Uprising showed USSR's violent approach on keeping all Eastern European countries.
Some left for political reasons, others left for economic reasons.
West Germany was given massive investments to have many goods in order to further encourage East Germans to move to the West.
Problem with USSR over People Leaving
Makes Communism further look bad.
People who were leaving were important or impactful people on the country.
Khrushchev's Solution
All crossing points had been closed except for Checkpoint Charlie.
West's Reaction
US diplomats and troops reached the border of East and West Germany.
Tanks and solders pulled up to Checkpoint Charlie and crossed to border to see Soviet's reaction.
The US and USSR had a stare-off and after 18 hours, they slowly inched away from each other.
Knruschev ordered for a wall to be built.
Khrushchev ordered Ulbricht to not cause any action that would lead to further tension.
Kennedy states "It's not a nice solution, but a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war."
Poland Solidarity
Problems in Poland
Polish economy was in bad shape.
Prices in food increasing, wages weren't rising along with prices of goods.
Poland's foreign debt rose.
Solutions
Workers set up trade unions to organize strikes for changes.
Communist Government punished protesters through arrests and loss of jobs.
Solidarity had 21 demands, and all were met. Demands were: more pay, end of censorship/free speech, workers benefits equal to Communist party members, broadcasting of Catholic Church services and election of factory managers.
Solidarity's membership grew quickly.(Sept. 1980: 3.5 million people, Jan. 1981: 9.4 million people)
Importance of Solidarity
Organized movement, not street riots.
Lech Walesa gave interviews and is seen as a true leader.
Rest of the world paid attention to this protest.
USSR Response
USSR placed tanks and troops on the border of Poland.
Brezhnev had General Jaruzelski declare martial law.
Solidarity was declared illegal and 150,000 Solidarity members were arrested.
Aftermath
Solidarity continued on with boycotts/strikes against the Government.
Solidarity continued on broadcasting radio program, which made members confident.
Lech Walesa met with leaders of foreign countries, and in 1990 became the actual leader of Poland.