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

Changes in Russia after 1953:

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
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Union army – some already withdrawn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  What Dubcek wanted for Czechoslovakia?
freedom of speech , and secret police became aspect of - Less state control, to end press censorship, curb
daily life hated by people. the power of the secret police and right on
-Standard of living was dropping in 1960’s 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
 Dubcek introduced “ Prague Spring “ in 1968 to be told what type of plant needs to be grown
(socialism with the human face)
- To increase economic trade with western
- Abolition of censorship allowing press to print what countries
they wanted
- He wanted to be remembered as loyal to
- Freedom of speech allowing criticism of the govt. communist (belief in Warsaw Pact)
- Freedom of movement for all people allowing to - To have freedom of travelling abroad
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.
 Meanwhile in Russia…
 In 1968, Brezhnev had taken over as
leader of Soviet Union
The Brezhnev Doctrine
 His aim was to maintain Soviet control
over Easter Europe -Introduced to stop such events
happening again in other countries
 Czechoslovakia was an important country
within Warsaw Pact because of the strength - It stated all Warsaw Pact countries
of its industry. must work together to prevent any
country from leaving the pact
 He determined to take action to stop
reform in Czechoslovakia - Military forces could be used by USSR
if any attempt made by any member
 Why??? –because if Czechoslovakia gain country.
more freedom, the other countries would
want the same.

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 *Hungary was affected by issues in other countries: The
resentment of Soviet rule rebellion in Poland inspired them to act
*Czech was affected by home issues: Economic
depression and desire for political changes

Aims of Both wanted to give their people *In Hungary, the changes included withdrawing from
the rebels more right and reducing the Warsaw pact
control of communist state *Czechoslovakia wanted to remain in Warsaw Pact.

Actions of Both involved groups of people *In Hungary, it was people who acted at first
the people protesting * In Czech , the people’s actions were largely started by
their leaders
 How were the events similar? How were they different?

Why was The Soviet Union was very *Political nature in Czechoslovakia was particularly
Soviet Union suspicious and fearful that any dangerous for the soviets. Event such “Prague spring” was
intervened? form of rebellion would spread started by people who were meant to be under Soviet
and lead to a split in its control Control
other countries
How did each Both leader were removed from *In Hungary , people armed themselves and fought when
state office. Soviets attacked
responded to Both resulted in mass *In Czech, Following order from the govt, ppl did not fight
Soviet back. But there were several protest after Russian invasion
intervention? including suicide

Reaction of the Reactions to both were wholly With the Czechoslovakian invasion, some members of the
wider world negative to Soviet use force . communist Warsaw Pact expressed shock at Soviet actions.
Situation in Hungary was Romanian leader complained about Russian intervention
discussed at the United Nation.
Soviet action upon
Czechoslovakia were
by some other countries
including USA
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 capitalis m
compare to harsh communist
regime in East Germany under t he
hard-line communist leader Wal ter
Ulbricht.
 What was the impact of this
movement on East Germany?
Communists feared “brain drain’  What were the immediate consequences of the
as skilled workers including building of the Berlin wall?
engineers, teachers and lawyers - The flow of people from East to Wet stopped
were leaving the countries in hi-
numbers. - Berlin became a focus of the Cold war

- Negative propaganda was created.

The hi numbers of leaving created
feeling of unpopularity for
communism
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?

Fear of • Impact- general strike will devastate the economy of Poland

• Consequence- Solidarity members mainly came from major industry area (shipbuilding and

general strike heavy industries

Popularity • 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

Support of the • 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

Catholic Church communist policy )an violence was avoided

 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.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h

ZQwQMj9GKo – leglisation of the
b. He introduced numbers of reforms:
solidarity
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
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

Introduced policy of “ Arms reduction treaties

glasnost” this involved were signed with the US
freedom of expression (Ronald Reagan)

Introduced perestroika to
make soviet economy He abandoned Brezhnev
more modern and efficient doctrine and established
by increasing production relation with western
and trade in consumer countries
goods

Decided Eastern Europe to

choose its own destiny
The role of other countries

 Between 1989 until 1991 , every  War in Afghanistan

communist or former communist in
- The war badly overstretched the soviet
Eastern Europe held a democratic
economy ad demoralised their military
parliamentary elections
- Soviet actions were condemned and
 November 1989, Berlin Wall was were pressured to withdraw
dismantled
- The casualties were significant, the loss
 By 1990, Germany became united once of 10,000 soviet army and its impact to
more
the Muslim world
 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
 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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z
Charlie checkpoint mRPP2WXX0U - Break o berlin wall