History Unit 4 What Impact did the Post-Stalin Thaw have on super power relations 1953-62?

Key dates

1953 - 5th March Death Of Stalin1953 - 27 July Ceasefire agreed in Korea

1955 - May Warsaw Pact Signed

1956 - Nov Soviet Troops invade Hungary

Change in Soviet leadership was to produce a policy of ‘Peaceful Co-existence’ Eisenhower and Kennedy made their own mark on US Foreign Policy. A result to changes initiated a ‘Thaw’.

Impact of Stalins Death

1. Liberal Historians view point - Determining factor in the development of the ‘Thaw’.2. Revisionist View point - Stalin had lost some power in the party and his position in

the leadership had been downgraded already. 3. Structuralist view point - It wasn’t just stalin, but a complex political system. Stalin’s

authority and power had been undermined. Stalin’s Daughter - “he was helpless either to destroy it or bring bring it under control.”

Failures of Stalin’s Foreign PolicyFailure of the Soviet Berlin Blockade Formation of NATOdefection of Yugoslavia from Cominform

Eisenhower’s ‘New Look Policy’ -excessive military spending could jeopardise the economy.

the boundaries of each superpower’s sphere of influence had been established and ac-cepted.

the switch in policy was initiated by a change in leadership on both sides.

How and for what reasons did the Soviet policy of ‘peaceful coexistence’ develop?a dialogue was created between the two superpowers. Malenkov used the term peaceful coexistence first in 1952, but was developed under Khrushchev

Khrushchev - “there are only two ways - either ‘peaceful coexistence’ or the most destruc-tive war in History. There is no third way.”

The consolidation of positions - the division of europe into two armed camps = defined and offered stability. - with positions secure, superpowers more willing to negotiate.

The Military and economic context. - 1955 both countries possessed the hydrogen bomb. - 1st March 1954 American Lithium bomb killed a Japanese Fisherman.

- 1955 the USA had 2,422 atomic bombs. - Third of the Soviet economy aimed at military spending.

The Death Of StalinRivalry between Beria, Malenkov and Khrushchev to become soviet leader.

Beria = long standing chief of the secret police proposed to the west a reunified Germany - Eastern Germany concerned that the new so-viet government was prepared to abandon East Germany to Capitalism. Uprising June 1953 - east german workers protested and went on strike over long working hours and the new economic measures. Soviet troops used to restore order, leading to 25000 arrests and 400 executions. Beria failed to gain support for the neutral reunification of Germany and failed to distance himself from Stalin’s policies. Executed after being accused of being a British agent.

Malenkov’s ‘New Course’The war between capitalism and communism was no longer inevitable - resources could be directed away from arms.

Summer 1957 Khrushchev was the established leader of the USSR. He developed the policy of ‘Peaceful coexistence’ that was previously used my Malenkov to describe his ‘New Course’ Foreign policy

Skills Builder Page 79,1. Source B compliments source C, in addressing the idea that new Soviet leadership

brought about change in soviet Foreign Policy. Khrushchev “ended Stalin’s reign of power.” and “did manage t signal a shift in foreign policy”. Source C recognises the “consequences of military conflict with the west.”, this is both agreed with and opposed by source B. With source B recognising “the bipolarity of the nuclear world”, this both suggests that there had been a change towards ‘Peaceful co-existence”, but also sug-gests that Khrushchev considered the uses of nuclear weaponry.

2. I consider source B to be more convincing. Even though it is one sided and has the view of the Russian Kremlin, they consider both sides of Khrushchev’s policy and per-sonality. Similarly, Source B is published by the Harvard Press, a respectable publishing house.

3. Having dismissed the idea of a neutral Germany under the ruling of Beria, it is likely that the US government wouldn’t have desired the policy of ‘Peaceful co-existence’. America would have wanted to be at the forefront of the planning, as they didn’t want to appear weak, and would have wanted to cultivate the image of leader in the world.

The Austrian State Treaty, 1955In the same position as Germany, divided into occupation zones. The two superpowers couldn’t find any common ground. Khrushchev decided to overrule Malenkov and suggest Austrian Neutrality. Both countries removed their arms forces from Austria.

Soviet Withdraw from Finland, 1956, Under the Finnish-Soviet Peace Treaty,

2.USSR get $300 million in reparations3.Gain land along their boarder

4.50 year lease on Porkkala 1955 Khrushchev removed Soviet presence from Porkkala because it was a non-commu-nist country, and had little strategic use. Finland followed a more neutral position throughout the 1950s and 60s.

Skills Builder Page 80The agreements over Austria and Finland between 1955-56 indicate that Khrushchev did change the nature of superpower relations in this period of time. With America standing strong, and no agreements in the future foreseeable, Khrushchev’s actions precipitated change and removed some of the tension between the countries concerning the nature of occupation.

How did Eisenhower’s Foreign Policy differ to that of Truman’s?Eisenhower’s approach was ‘Hard line’, and aimed a ‘rolling back’ Communism and the ‘liberation’ of the states of eastern Europe. Introducing the policies of Brinkmanship and massive retaliation. Eisenhower also adopted the use of Covert operations to discover new information about Russia. 1954 - 12% of the USA’s GNP spent on armaments. Eisenhower looked to reduce conven-tional arms and increase nuclear spending. more willing to negotiate wit the USSR, as info from U2-Spy plane indicated US strength. Eisenhower was much more confident that Truman, as he was a military man.

What Impact did Kennedy have on US Foreign Policy?The foreign policy changed to ‘Flexible response’, whereby the use of conventional armed forces to covert actions would be put in place. The us public considered Communists of using a wide range of methods to combat capital-ism, and the ‘flexible response’ addressed this issue. $20 Billion given to Latin America to promote land reforms, and prevent the spread of Communism. willing to engage in negotiations with Khrushchev when appropriate.

Cuba The Bay Of Pigs disaster following the CIA’s attempts to remove Fidel Castro. 1961.

What were the achievements of the ‘Thaw’?The fact that the world’s two superpowers were willing to talk to one another is significant. 1.An Armistice was concluded in 1953, ending fighting in Korea 2.Molotov’s vision of a re-unified Germany a the Berlin Foreign Ministers conference was rejected by the USA. (Arguing that free elections must take place before a German Gov)3.Geneva Conference settlement reached that allowed the French to withdraw its forces from Indochina. 4.The reunification of Austria 19555.Geneva summit 1955 - hopes high,

I. German reunification was once again dismissed by America, and west Ger-many Joined NATO. II. Khrushchev suggested that both NATO and the Warsaw pact be dismantled. III. American idea of ‘open skies’ was also dismissed. IV.Cultural exchange of scientists and musicians

6.Khrushchev denied access to Disney Land in his visit to America 7.Summit meeting collapsed after u2 spy plane shot down over