The effects of Ostpolitik- the fall of Ulbricht

Created by: eloise.wroe01
Created on: 26-05-19 22:05

Why did people distrust Ostpolitik?

They feared it would draw the GDR too close to the West and away from the USSR?

1 of 7

What was Brezhnev's initial position on Ostpolitik?

more relaxed. He was pursuing a policy of detente with the west and saw that closer relations between two germanies might be useful in this

2 of 7

Why did a power battle emerge between Brezhnev and Ulbricht?

Over the status of Berlin- Brezhnev insisted that the USSR was in control so talks had to be agreed in advance by the Kremlin and Moscow's own negotiations with western countries took priority . USSR should negotiate on GDRs behalf

3 of 7

How did the Ulbricht-Brezhnev power struggle become a question of GDR hegemony over its own affairs?

Ulbricht wanted to control negotiations while the USSR saw the GDR as a satellite state which would have to accede to its policies

4 of 7

What was the USSR's priority regarding foreign policy and what did this mean for Ulbricht's position?

Their priority was the wider global policies of detente - they did not want to jepoardise them with the 'localised' issue of inter-german relations. Therefore he wanted rid of Ulbricht who was challenging this

5 of 7

How did Ulbricht's resignation come about?

Honecker and his colleagues had been requesting Moscow's permission to move against Ulbricht, green light was given and a simple Politburo decision made in apr 1971. Ulbricht resigned as leader of SED

6 of 7

How can we explain the fall of Ulbricht?

Officially, due to ill health. Some historians attribute it to poor economic performance and failure to improve living standards, others suggest it was USSR who thought Ulbricht could destroy detente process due to his desire for independence

7 of 7

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What was Brezhnev's initial position on Ostpolitik?

Back

more relaxed. He was pursuing a policy of detente with the west and saw that closer relations between two germanies might be useful in this

Card 3

Front

Why did a power battle emerge between Brezhnev and Ulbricht?

Back

Card 4

Front

How did the Ulbricht-Brezhnev power struggle become a question of GDR hegemony over its own affairs?

Back

Card 5

Front

What was the USSR's priority regarding foreign policy and what did this mean for Ulbricht's position?

Back

View more cards

Get Revising

The effects of Ostpolitik- the fall of Ulbricht