THE COLD WAR 1945-

1991

The “Thaw”:1953-1956

The Rise of Nikita Kruschev• Stalin dies (is murdered) March 1, 1953

• Lavrenti Beria, who is the prime suspect, is removed from power by members of the Politboro

• Collective leadership of Georgi Malenkov, Nicolai Bulganin & Nikita Kruschev struggle for power

• Malenkov, first and short-term successor, initiates idea of a “New Course” in relations with the West

• Kruschev soon wins struggle for power and adapts the “New Course” and pushes for “peaceful co-existence”• Went against Lenin’s belief in

inevitability of conflict• Moved that capitalism and

communism accept each other• Believed that capitalism would die

out on its own accord

The Austrian State Treaty• Possible reasons for “New Course”:

1. Security after regime changes2. Security during transition from conventional

defensive structure to one of airborne nuclear deterrence

3. Prevent a possible move on the part of the West to incorporate W. Austria into W. Germany

4. Possible gesture of friendship? consider following(Armistice in Korea ‘53, Armistice in Indo-China ‘54, Granted diplomatic recognition of Greece & Israel, Restored relations with Yugoslavia ‘55, Drop of claims on Turkish territory, Normalize relations w/ Iran, Withdrawal from naval base in Finland, Geneva Summit ’55, Cominform abolished ‘56) • April 1955, Soviets propose peace with

Austria• Four power occupation of Austria is ended

and Austria is granted independence• However, Soviets do create Warsaw Pact in

May 1955

Warsaw Pact (1955)

U. S. S. R. Albania Bulgaria Czechoslovaki

a

East Germany Hungary Poland Rumania

The “NEW LOOK”: (i.e. Massive Retaliation)

• “Ike” inaugurated pres. Jan. 1953

• DDE & Sec. of State Jn Foster Dulles both strongly anti-comm.

• Had campaigned to “roll-back” comm., but could not do this

• For. Policy named “New Look” that:

1. Focus on building up massive nuclear supply so Soviets wouldn’t ever dare attack US

2. Pro-actively containing comm. (e.g. SEATO & METO)

3. Extensive use of CIA in covert operations4. Brinksmanship

Dulles on Brinksmanship“You have to take chances for peace, just as you must take chances in war. Some say that we were brought to the verge of war. Of course we were brought to the verge of war. The ability to get to the verge of war without getting into war is the necessary art. If you cannot master it, you inevitably get into wars. If you try to run away from it, if you are scared to go to the brink, you are lost.” J.F. Dulles 1952 interview w/ Life magazine

Israel

• Jewish homeland• Created in May

of 1948 via UN Resolution 181, “The Partition Resolution”

• Becomes chief US ally in Middle East– Strongly anti-

communist• Regularly at war

with Arab neighbors

• Blowback?

Iran• CIA, led by Allen Dulles, initiates Operation Ajax,

sending Kermit Roosevelt to coordinate toppling of democratically elected government of Mohammed Mosaddegh in 1953.

• Leads to 25 year dictatorship under Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the Shah (accused of numerous human rights violations that lead to 1979) more on that later!

• Blowback?

Guatemala• J.F. Dulles, afraid of

“Soviet beachhead in the Western hemisphere”

• Leftist Arbenz gov’t instigates land reforms that hurt US based Allied Fruit Co.

• CIA wages campaign to topple Arbenz in 1954• Decades of military dictatorship & civil war

follow- UN report blames US- Clinton apologizes in 1990’s

• Blowback?

Vietnam• 1954—French defeated by Ho Chi Minh’s

forces at Bien Dien Phu– US refuses to intervene

• Geneva Conference ‘54

- Divides Vietnam at 17th Parallel

North—controlled by Ho Chi Minh

South—controlled by US supported group

- Unifying elections promised for 1956

US won’t let this happen as Ho (communist) would win

- Civil War breaks out

Killian Report (Feb. 1955)• DDE calls for an in-depth study of nation’s

defenses (Office of Defense Management– James Killian, chairman)

• Killian Report stated:1. USSR was ahead in long-range rocketry2. USSR would soon secure a nuclear deterrent3. US nuclear superiority would not endure

(only certain for next 3 to 5 years)

• The report suggested that the US:1. Rapidly deploy intercontinental ballistic

missiles (ICBMs), “The Atlas Project”, & develop IRBMs

2. Deploy a distant early warning system (DEW) in Canadian Arctic

3. Strengthen air defenses4. Increase intelligence gathering capabilities

Geneva Summit• July, 1955 is the first meeting of the heads of

respective governments since 1945

Soviet Proposals:•Disband NATO & Warsaw Pact•Foreign troop withdrawal from Europe•Re-unified Germany w/ free elections

U.S. Reaction:Hostile: No agreements reached on any of these proposals

U.S. Proposal:•“Open Skies” where each side would exchange plans of military installations and allow for aerial surveillance

Soviet Reaction:•Hostile: Soviets did not even make a formal reply, dismissing it as “nothing more than a bold espionage plot”(US used U2 recon anyway )

• The “Spirit of Geneva” DID lead to more cordial relations and some cultural/scientific exchange.

The “Secret Speech” (Feb.

1956)

• Delivered behind closed doors @ the 20th Party Congress

1. Condemned Stalin’s purges

2. Condemned “cult of personality”

3. Attempt to consolidate power

• Initiates program of “de-Stalinization”

• Kruschev is condemned by Mao as a “revisionist” leads to “Sino-Soviet split”

• Further spreads “Kruschev Thaw” giving independent notions to satellite states.

Nikita Khrushchev