Development & Impact of the Cold War:
Hungary (1956) & Czechoslovakia (1968)
Hungary (1956) & Czechoslovakia (1968)
"Today at daybeak, Soviet forces started an attack against our capital. Our troops are fighting. The government is in its place. I notify the people of our country and the entire world of this fact."
November 4th 1956, Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy
November 4th 1956, Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy
Background
In spite of USSR's overwhelming military might, control of Eastern Europe proved to be problematic for Soviet leaders after the death of Stalin (1953). This pattern of anti-Soviet movements within Eastern Europe would plague USSR till the fall of the Berlin Wall and subsequent end of Communism in 1989. Two such cases that will be discussed in greater details that illustrates anti-Soviet/Communist movements throughout Eastern Europe are the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 and the Prague Spring (Czechoslovakia) in 1968.
Hungary (1956)
In 1955, a feeling of optimism had swept through Hungary. This was due largely to the political change within the Soviet Union and improved relations between USSR and the West. Such optimisms had actually helped bring about changes in leadership within Hungary. Despite these seemingly positive situations (ex. changes in Hungarian leadership) taking place in Hungary, anti-Soviet/Communist sentiments continued to rise. By the end October of 1956, a popular uprising was about to challenge the might of the Soviet military forces in the streets of Budapest, signalling the first time an Eastern European nation under Soviet control, to draw out the forces of the Soviet Union since the end of the World War II.
Czechoslovakia (1968)
Fast-forward 12 years after the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, Czechoslovakia also attempted to institute a series of changes or reforms in Czech leadership and political policies that were not suited along Communist ideals. The Politburo in Moscow feared that these changes, particularly one that is happening in Prague, would signal other Eastern European nations to follow. Moscow wanted to immediately eliminate this possibility and avoid another uprising similar to the one that took place in Budapest twelve years before. Not hesitating, Moscow sent the Warsaw Pact forces into Prague. Unlike Budapest in 1956, they faced no armed resistance.
Hungary (1956)
In 1955, a feeling of optimism had swept through Hungary. This was due largely to the political change within the Soviet Union and improved relations between USSR and the West. Such optimisms had actually helped bring about changes in leadership within Hungary. Despite these seemingly positive situations (ex. changes in Hungarian leadership) taking place in Hungary, anti-Soviet/Communist sentiments continued to rise. By the end October of 1956, a popular uprising was about to challenge the might of the Soviet military forces in the streets of Budapest, signalling the first time an Eastern European nation under Soviet control, to draw out the forces of the Soviet Union since the end of the World War II.
Czechoslovakia (1968)
Fast-forward 12 years after the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, Czechoslovakia also attempted to institute a series of changes or reforms in Czech leadership and political policies that were not suited along Communist ideals. The Politburo in Moscow feared that these changes, particularly one that is happening in Prague, would signal other Eastern European nations to follow. Moscow wanted to immediately eliminate this possibility and avoid another uprising similar to the one that took place in Budapest twelve years before. Not hesitating, Moscow sent the Warsaw Pact forces into Prague. Unlike Budapest in 1956, they faced no armed resistance.
Task 1a: Causes of the Hungarian Uprising of 1956
Instructions:
Instructions:
- Read the following sources: Chapter 16 "History - 20th Century World: The Cold War (purple text)", "The Hungarian Uprising (1956) & Czechoslovakia (1968).pdf", "The Red Army in Budapest and Prague.pdf", "The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 & Czechoslovakia - 1968.pdf" and "Peaceful Coexistence & Czechoslovakia (1968).pdf".
- Answer the following question by creating a concept map (see diagram): What were the underlying causes of the Hungarian Uprising in 1956?
- Color-code your response under the following: Blue (long-term causes), Yellow (medium-term causes) and Red (short-term causes).
Task 2: Actions and Reactions
Instructions:
Instructions:
- Read the following sources: Chapter 16 "History - 20th Century World: The Cold War (purple text)", "The Hungarian Uprising (1956) & Czechoslovakia (1968).pdf", "The Red Army in Budapest and Prague.pdf", "The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 & Czechoslovakia - 1968.pdf" and "Peaceful Coexistence & Czechoslovakia (1968).pdf".
- Answer the following question by completing the table (see diagram): Compare and contrast the actions of the Soviet in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968). Compare and contrast the reactions of the Hungarians (1956) and the Czechoslovakians (1968).
- Color-code your response under the following: Blue (similarities) and Red (differences).
Task 3: The Effects of the Hungarian Uprising (1956) and the Prague Spring (1968)
Instructions:
Instructions:
- Read the following sources: Chapter 16 "History - 20th Century World: The Cold War (purple text)", "The Hungarian Uprising (1956) & Czechoslovakia (1968).pdf", "The Red Army in Budapest and Prague.pdf", "The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 & Czechoslovakia - 1968.pdf" and "Peaceful Coexistence & Czechoslovakia (1968).pdf".
- Answer the following question by completing the table (see diagram): What were the effects of the Soviet actions in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968)? How did their actions affect Eastern Europe? How did their actions affect the development of the Cold War?
Exam Questions
Paper 2: Topic 5 - The Cold War
May Exams
November Exams
Paper 3 Questions
Paper 2: Topic 5 - The Cold War
May Exams
- Define, and analyse the importance of, two of the following: (a) containment (b) COMECON (c) détente (d) east European satellite states. (TZ2 May 2009)
- By what methods, and with what results, did the USSR impose control on Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1956? (TZ2 May 2012)
November Exams
- To what extent was the collapse of communist regimes the result of domestic problems rather than external pressures? (Nov 2007)
- For what reasons, and with what results, was Soviet influence challenged in two countries in Central or Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1970? (Nov 2011)
Paper 3 Questions
- “The history of European cooperation between 1957 and 1975 was harmonious and successful.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (Nov 2006)
- Explain the reasons for, and results of, the Sovietization of one Soviet satellite state in Europe, between 1945 and 1990. (May 2009)