20th century history core content: How secure was the USSR’s control over Eastern European countries

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 President
3. 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Union army – some already withdrawn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
cooperate
Resulting – 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 Jaruzelskia
and 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=h
ZQwQMj9GKo – 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=E
i1HnWwzmNk – Reagan speech in
Charlie checkpoint

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z
mRPP2WXX0U - Break o berlin wall

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