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The Global War - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Nikita Khrushchev wanted to improve living conditions and the economy through de-Stalinisation
      - In 1956 Khrushchev's secret speech denounced Stalinism and the cult of personality
      - The speech circulated outside of the USSR and had profound impacts
    - - Bolesław Bierut unexpectedly died in 1956 and Khrushchev wanted his successor
      - Workers went on strike in1956 to demand better living conditions
      - The once Władysław Gomułka was elected to take charge of the Communist party.
      - There was a standoff between Gomułka and Khrushchev until Khrushchev agreed to have Gomułka leader if he did not leave the Warsaw Pact
      - This meant that Poland would pursue its own path to socialism. The USSR would continue to protect Poland from German revanchism. USSR did not use force partly because of China's support of Poland
    - - On the 22nd October students demanded the appointment of Imre Nagy as prime minister and 16 demands
      - Imre Nagy appointed Prime Minister. He tried to assure Khrushchev thst he was loyal and withdrew he Soviet forces on the 28th.
      - USSR shifted its position as it feared communism would collapse in East Germany. USSR invaded and 4,000 were killed, including Imre Nagy.
      - Had limited impacts as the West did not intervene. USSR had its satellite states firmly under control again. UN only debated uprising. Compromised peaceful coexistence. Showed the USSR that reform was needed in Eastern Europe
  - - - Austria had also been divided into occupation zones like Germany
      - Observers recognised that Austria could end up causing as much problems as Germany, and some called it "Europe's Korea"
      - However the treaty in 1955 meant all occupiers would withdraw and Austria would become a neutral state along the lines of Yugoslavia and Finland
      - Supported the idea of peaceful coexistence as it eased tensions and removed an obstacle in negotiations. Western powers then removed their forces from West Germany
    - - Khrushchev wanted a less conforntational relationship with the West to focus on domestic strength
      - The admission of West Germany into NATO meant Khrushchev called the Geneva summit to discuss the future of Germany
      - Eisenhower proposed "Open Skies" but this was rejected by Khrushchev
      - Eisenhower wanted a united, democratic and sovereign Germany, but Khrushchev wanted it demilitarised and neutral. No agreement made and Eastern Bloc states not discussed
      - Not much agreed but it was the first time leaders had talked and marked a solid foundation of peaceful coexistence
    - - Khrushchev once more wanted an agreement over Berlin, and wanted to ban weapons in the Pacific and Germany. However he was dealt a blow when China refused to be party to agreements it was not a part of.
      - Summit collapsed when a U2 Spy plane was shot down over Sverdlovsk
    - - Khrushchev became the first Soviet leader to visit the USA in 1959. They discussed disarmament and diplomacy. USA realised that USSR was under lots of pressure from China, but was committed to peaceful coexistence.
    - - Kennedy was the new President of the US
      - Kennedy was much more hostile to the USSR. He was also seen as young and vulnerable by Khrushchev
      - Kennedy refused to budge on the Berlin issue, wanting to keep it as a symbol of freedom and capitalism. When he returned to the US, he asked for more military spending and built up reserves