Challenges to the Control of the USSR

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  • Created by: Erin W
  • Created on: 12-06-17 14:43

Nikita Khrushchev

  • Joseph Stalin died in 1953.
  • He was succeed by Nikita Khrushchev - seemed to be more moderate than Stalin.
  • In 1955 Khrushchev visited Yugoslavia and apologised for the way Stalin had treated the country.
  • In 1995 Khrushchev met the leaders of the West in Geneva - first time in ten years.
  • In 1956 Khrushchev made his 'secret speech' - criticised Stalin's policies.
  • Began 'de-Stalinisation' in the USSR.
  • Ordered Cominform to be disbanded.
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Hungarian Revolt

  • 1956
  • Former communist leader, Matayas Rakosi, replaced by more moderate Imre Nagy.
  • Nagy announced all-party elections and withdrawal from Warsaw Pact.
  • Khrushchev could not allow this to happen - would set a bad example.
  • The Russian army invaded Hungary.
  • 30,000 people died in the fighting - Nagy executed and Hungary felt let down by West.
  • Western powers preoccupied with Suez crisis.
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Berlin Wall

  • Constructed in 1961.
  • Democratic West Berlin and communist East Berlin.
  • By 1962 - estimated over 2m people had fled to the West.
  • Meant loss of workers for USSR and a bad advert for communism.
  • Those who attempted to cross the wall without permission were shot.
  • USA protested but did nothing - President JFK unwilling to risk war.
  • Seen as a symbolic victory for communism.
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Rising in Czechoslovakia

  • 1968 - USSR leader Khrushchev replaced by Leonid Brezhnev - more 'hard line'.
  • People of Czechoslovakia were unhappy with their leader and appointed Alexander Dubcek - he was willing to make reforms.
  • Brought in freedom of speech, and less economic control.
  • Known as the 'Prague Spring' - a time of hope.
  • Brezhnev angered byt this - ordered 400,000 Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia.
  • Brezhnev called Dubcek to Moscow for a meeting.
  • Afterwards Dubceck resigned and 'Prague Spring' was over.
  • 'Brezhnev Doctrine' introduced to join communist countries to help other communist countries avoid becoming capitalist.
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