November 1958: Krushchev demands 6 month ultimation. US troops have 6 months to leave Berlin. Because refugee problem was propaganda disaster for him. Is persuaded by Eisenhower to drop it.
May 1959: Geneva meeting brings no agreements. Camp David brings no agreement.
1960: Paris conference with Kennedy and Krushchev. Krushchev storms out because US U2 plane shot down.
1961: Geneva meeting. Krushchev challenges Kennedy to obey 6 month ultimation or start war.
Night 12 August 1961: East German troops set up barbed wire fence around West Berlin. In coming months replaced by wall.
Stopped East Germans going to West so stopped refugee crisis.
Avoided war with America but Soviet Union still seemed strong. (USSR couldn't win nucleur war.)
Became powerful symbol of division and the Cold War.
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Cuban Missile Crisis
1959: Cuban revolution overthrew pro-American government. Castro becomes leader. Cuba turns to USSR for economic support.
April 1961: Bay of Pigs invaded by CIA trained and equipped Cuban refugees. Defeated within 2 days. People supported Castro.
16 October: Kennedy informed that Krushchev plans to place nuclear missiles on Cuba.
20-21 October: Imposes naval blockade around Cuba.
23 October: Khrushchev sends letter to Kennedy saying ships will break through blockade.
24 October: Khrushchev says USSR is prepared to launch missiles if USA starts war.
25 October: USA/USSR forces on highest level of alert. Kennedy writes to Khrushchev asking to withdraw missiles from Cuba.
26 October: Krushchev replies he will remove cuban missiles if USA guarantees not to invade Cuba.
27 October: Krushchev receives intelligence that USA is planning to invade Cuba in 24 hours. Says USSR will withdraw missiles if USA never invades Cuba and withdraws missiles from Turkey.
Robert Kennedy accepts deal with Russian ambassador but demands Turkey kept secret.
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Consequences
US removal of missiles kept secret. People believed Krushchev had backed down.
By 1965 both superpowers were equal in nuclar capability.
French left NATO in 1966 and began developing own nuclar missiles.
1963: Superpowers introduced hotline which provided direct communication.
1963: Limited Test Ban Treaty banned nuclear weapon testing in space, sea and above ground.
Kennedy said superpowers needed to focus of 'common interests'.
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Prague Spring
Czechoslovakia was a satellite state to USSR. Communism gave people little benefits, run by secret police. Political repression and economic problems made Novotny (leader) unpopular.
January 1968: Dubcek became leader. Wanted to create "socialism with a human face". Reforms included relaxing of press censorship, legalisation of opposition, toleration of political critisicm.
April-July: Brezhnev tried to persuade Dubcek to stop.
August: Soviet media portray Czechoslovakia as threat to USSR.
Breshnev Doctrine said USSR could invade any country in Eastern Europe whose actions threatened the security of the whole block.
20 August 1968: Soviet tanks invaded. Dubcek ordered people not to respond with violence but there was non-violent disobedience.
Dubcek arrested, taken to Moscow to sign Moscow Protocol which would 'protect socialism' by reintroducing censorship and removing political opposition.
America was fighting in Vietnam. Johnson had unspoken deal with Brezhnev that USA would not intervene in Czechoslovakia if USSR did not intervene in Vietnam.
Western Europe followed America's lead. Condemned invasion but no military support.
Some countries in Eastern Bloc formed alliance with China (other major communist power).
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