Protests Against the Soviet Union & Cold War1950S-1960S

Polish Thaw1956

Unrest in Poland Satellite state of the Soviet Union

Khrushchev in charge of USSR by February 1956 [Stalin died 1953] Denounced crimes of the Stalin era

Revolts erupted in Poland against Soviet influence June 1956 Workers dissatisfied with current situation

Unrest over crimes of USSR leadership (Stalin’s Purges, etc.)

Food & consumer goods shortages

Bad housing

Decline in real income

Poor management of economy

Defeated by the Polish army

Did gain some concessions from Moscow

Other Protests Poznan protests largest, but not

unique Destroyed militia headquarters in

November Attacked public buildings in December Criticized security police with

demonstrations, public meetings, street marches, etc.

Red Army monuments attacked Not purely opposed to communism

(unlike Hungary) Wanted Polish national communism

Polish Thaw Marked changes in polish politics in second half of 1956

Polish October Revolution

Wladyslaw Gomulka, accused of Titoism in the late ‘40s, released from prison Became head of Poland’s Communist Party

Won support of workers against Russians

Polish road to socialism ultimately failed (growing disillusionment in 1960s)

Control over own economy Still loyal to Warsaw Pact

Friendly toward Soviet Union

Wages raised 50%

Brief liberalization of life in Poland Era of Stalinization ended

Example: Polish Film School’s controversial films permitted

Increasing economic problems & discontent removed Gomulka from power in 1970

National Security Council Report [US]NSC5608/1: US Policy Toward the Soviet Satellites in Eastern EuropeJuly 18, 1956

1. Avoid incitements to violence or to action when the probable reprisals or other results would yield a net loss in terms of US objectives. In general, however, do not discourage, by public utterances or otherwise, spontaneous manifestations of discontent & opposition to the Communist regime, despite risks to individuals, when their net results will exert pressures for release from Soviet domination. Operations which might involve or lead to local violence will be authorized only by the Secretary of State with the approval of the president on the basis of feasibility, minimum risk, and maximum contribution to the basic US objectives in NSC5608/1

2. As a means of encouraging the eventual establishment of freely elected governments in the satellites as a disruptive device and not as an end itself, be prepared on a case-by-case basis generally, covertly and under appropriate policy guidance to assist nationalists in any form where conducive to independence from Soviet domination and where US and free world cohesion would not be jeopardized thereby.

1956

Hungarian Uprising

Unrest in Hungary Hungary & rest of eastern Europe ruled over by

Communist Russia Satellite states

Hungary since 1945

Death of Stalin in 1953 did not loosen grip on Eastern Europe Khrushchev made attack on Stalin & his policies

Rakosi, Hungarian leader empowered by Stalin, forced to resign in July 1956

Wealth taken from Hungary by Russians

Soviets showed power by placing thousands of Russian troops & tanks in Hungary

Situation exacerbated by: Bad harvest

Fuel shortages

Cold, wet autumn

Protests: October 1956 Students & workers issued Sixteen Points

on the streets of Budapest Oct. 23, 1956 Personal freedom

More food

Removal of secret police – AVO Created constant climate of fear [torture, spying,

etc.]

Actually lynched members during uprising

Removal of Russian control

Inspired by Poland, which was granted rights earlier that year through street protests & rebellion Info transmitted via Radio Free Europe

Government Action Imre Nagy appointed Prime Minister & Janos Kadar foreign

minister Moscow thought they were liberal & would mediate protesters

Red Army pulled out

Nagy allowed political parties again

Top priority = improve daily life of workers

Nagy announced Hungary would withdraw from Warsaw Pact Oct. 31, 1956 Pushed Russians too far

Kadar left government in disgust & established rival gov’t supported by Soviet tanks

Soviet Intervention Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest on Nov. 4

Acted with brutality

Killed wounded people

Dragged bodies around Budapest as a warning to protestors

Probably 30,000 killed

200,000 fled to the west

Nagy tried & executed & buried in unmarked grave [June 17, 1958] Grave found in 1989 after Cold War ended

100,000 attended his re-internment

Order restored by Nov. 14 Kadar put in charge

Soviet rule re-established

World Reactions Eisenhower – “ I feel with the

Hungarian people. Dulles (Sect. of State) – “To all

those suffering under communist slavery, let us say you can count on us.”

But did NOTHING but offer moral support Geographic location – how could

they intervene without going to war?

Suez Crisis – more important at the time [nationalization of the Canal by Nasser]

1968

Prague Spring

Democratization in Czechoslovakia? Discontent with Soviet rule in Czechoslovakia

Exploiting the people

Overrode local autonomy on Slovaks

Weak economy exacerbated situation

Workers in poor housing

Innovation frowned upon

First Secretary of the Party (in Czechoslovakia) = Alexander Dubcek Rose after discontent drove out Antonin Novotny in 1967

Embarked on program of reform in April Amendments to constitution would install some democracy & personal

freedom

Wanted Czech Communist Party to remain predominant, but reduce totalitarian aspects

Ended censorship

Allowed criticism of Czech government

Farmers could form independent co-ops

Increased rights to trade unions

Would remain in Warsaw Pact

Soviet Response Despite Dubcek’s assurances, Brezhnev not

pleased Warsaw Pact troops invaded night of Aug.20-21

Mostly from Soviet Union

Gave impression of the whole Warsaw Pact disapproving of Czech. Actions

Czech military could not stand up to invasion

Invasion all but bloodless, in contrast to 1956 Hungarian Uprising

Dubcek arrested; reforms abandoned Was able to return after being told what to do by

Moscow

Removed from office anyway in April 1969

ImpactProved Soviet

Union was not willing to let members leave Warsaw Pact

Reaffirmed oppression of Eastern Europe

Denied democracy

Legacy: Jan Palach

Czech student committed self-immolation against end of Prague Spring/invasion of Soviet Union to Czechoslovakia Studied history & political economy

Occurred in Wenceslas Square, Prague on January 16, 1969

Died from his burns several days after his act, at the hospital

Protests of 1968

1968: Year of Revolt

Protests around the world for variety of reasons

Vietnam War Tet Offensive

My Lai Massacre

Student protests

Women’s rights

Civil rights MLK assassinated

Workers’ Strikes

Soviet Union / Cold War

Columbia University Occupation April 1968 – lasted about a week

Nonviolent occupation of campus buildings

Called for university to cut ties to research for the war in Vietnam

+ end construction of a gym in Morningside Park

Negotiations failed – administration sent in police Many injured

700 arrested

Triggered campus-wide strike, shutting down the university

Results Gym never built

Columbia's weapons research contract terminated

Protests erupted on campuses around the US & the world

Social framework unraveling Institutions excluding minorities

Political parties disenfranchising voters

Government waging an unpopular war

Paris: May 1968 Desire to change society began with students & spread to

workers

At one point, 10M + were striking

Early May – police called in to occupy the Sorbonne & Paris saw daily student marches

Culminated in skirmishes of students throwing stones

Police fired tear gas

May 10 – estimated 20,000 student protesters Did not disperse when blocked by police vans & riot gear

Ransacked buildings

Turned over parked cars

Constructed own barricades against police ones

Police ordered to assault student barricades ~2am Took 3 hours of brutal fighting

Tear gas, Molotov cocktails, exploding automobile gas tanks, cobblestones hurled at police, students chased & beaten

300 injured – but no gunfire & no deaths

Impact

France awoke shocked & so did Pres. Charles de Gaulle Huge marches of solidarity

Workers occupied the factories

Workers & students won some changes

Frenzy rather short-lived Committees examined changes to secondary schooling,

workers, etc.

Lost momentum