The Cold War 1961-1968

The Berlin Airlift did nothing to defuse tensions between the East and West in Germany.  Berlin was an especially tender spot because it was the only gap in the Iron Curtain. People in West Berlin could fly out of the city freely. While the border between East Germany and West Germany was closed, there was nothing to stop East Germans from entering West Berlin and fleeing (or defecting from) communist rule. Huge numbers of them did leave. By 1960, tens of thousands of people were leaving every month. In 1961, more than 200,000 East Germans had defected by summer.

 Not only did it create an incredible economic strain on the West because they had more mouths to feed and house, it also had and economic strain on the East because there were less people to work there and pay taxes. East Berlin was quickly losing its professional class. It increased tensions between the East and the West because the East saw how unpopular they were becoming and weren't liking the influence the West had on the Germans, right in their sphere of influence. The official purpose of the Berlin Wall was to keep Western "fascists" from entering East Germany and undermining the socialist state, despite the fact that all the wall's defences pointed inward to East German territory.

The Berlin wall divided families who found themselves unable to visit each other. Many East Berliners were cut off from their jobs. West Berliners demonstrated against the wall and their mayor Willy Brandt led the criticism against the United States who they felt had failed to respond.

This view was viewed with scepticism even in East Germany. The wall had caused many families considerable hardship and the western view was that the wall was a means of preventing the people of East Germany from entering West Berlin was widely seen as being the truth.

During the wall's existence there were around 5000 successful escapes into West Berlin. Varying reports claim that either 192 or 239 people were killed trying to cross the wall and many more were injured.

Early successful attempts involved people jumping over the barbed wire fence or leaping from the windows of the apartments that lined the wall. These building were soon boarded up and then demolished.

Later successful attempts include long tunnels, sliding along aerial wires, flying ultra lights and even driving under a checkpoint barrier in a very low sports car. East Berliners became very ingenious in their attempts to flee to the West but sadly many attempts ended in tragedy. One of the most notorious failed attempts occurred on August 17 1962 when Peter Fechter who was shot and left to die in full view of the western media. The last person to be killed whilst trying to flee was Chris Gueffroy on February 6 1989.

1. The policy of détente encouraged the uprising. Romania had also broken free of Russian control and was improving relations with the West.
2. The Czechs hated Russian control, especially:

• Russian control of the economy, which had made Czechoslovakia poor.
• The censorship and lack of freedom.

1. Some Czechs thought the USA would help them.

For four months in 1968, Czechoslovakia broke free from Soviet rule, allowing freedom of speech and removing some state controls. This period is now referred to as the Prague Spring:

• There were no riots or demonstrations but, during 1967, students and writers were complaining about the lack of freedom and the poor performance of the Czechoslovak economy.
• But when Antonin Novotny, the Czechoslovak president, asked Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet leader, for help, Brezhnev did not support him.
• Novotny fell from power and on 5 January 1968, Alexandr Dubcek - a reformer - took over as leader of the Communist Party (KSC).
• In April 1968, Dubcek's government announced an Action Plan for what it called a new model of socialism - it removed state controls over industry and allowed freedom of speech.
• For four months (the Prague Spring), there was freedom in Czechoslovakia. But then the revolution began to run out of control. Dubcek announced that he was still committed to democratic communism, but other political parties were set up.
• Also, Dubcek stressed that Czechoslovakia would stay in the Warsaw Pact, but in August, President Tito of Yugoslavia, a country not in the Warsaw Pact, visited Prague.

• At a meeting in Bratislava on 3 August 1968, Brezhnev read out a letter from some Czechoslovakian Communists asking for help. He announced the Brezhnev Doctrine - the USSR would not allow any Eastern European country to reject Communism.
• On 20 August 1968, 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia. Dubcek and three other leaders were arrested and sent to Moscow.
• The Czechoslovakians did not fight the Russians. Instead, they stood in front of the tanks, and put flowers in the soldiers' hair. Jan Palach burned himself to death in protest.
• Brezhnev put in Gustav Husak, a supporter of Russia, as leader of the KSC.

1. Czechoslovakia returned to communist control and Russian troops were stationed there. Half the leadership of the KSC, along with the directors of many firms (especially publishing companies) were sacked and 47 anti-communists were arrested.
2. Russia stayed in control behind the Iron Curtain. The Brezhnev Doctrine stated that Iron Curtain countries would not be allowed to abandon communism, "even if it meant a third world war".
3. Increase of the Cold War. People in the West were horrified and so were many communist countries, especially Romania and Yugoslavia.

Similarities

• Same causes - hostility to Russian control, repression, poor economic performance/poverty.
• Change started when Russia refused to support the old regime.
• Rakosi = Novotny, Nagy = Dubcek.
• Brief period when the new government introduced reforms and freedom of speech.
• Russia got scared when Hungary planned to leave the Warsaw Pact; Tito visited Czechoslovakia.
• A letter from some Communists asking for Russia's help was used as the excuse to invade.
• Russia invaded with overwhelming force.
• Kadar = Husak.
• The West failed to help either Nagy or Dubcek.

Differences

• Started with riots in Hungary, but not in Czechoslovakia.
• Czechoslovakia was much more planned than Hungary; Dubcek's government had a proper Action Plan.
• Nagy announced he was going to leave the Warsaw Pact; Dubcek stressed that he would stay in the Warsaw Pact.
• The Hungarians introduced democracy; Dubcek stressed that he wanted communism, albeit "democratic communism".
• Four months of freedom in Czechoslovakia; five days of freedom in Hungary.
• The Catholic Church took a lead in events in Hungary, but not in Czechoslovakia.
• Hungary fought back; Czechoslovakia had passive resistance.
• Some 4,000 Hungarians executed, while 47 Czechoslovaks were arrested.
• Dubcek was arrested; Nagy was executed.