Hungary and Czechoslovakia 1

Similarities and Differences

In Hungary and Czechoslovakia between 1948 and 1968, political struggles arose from leadership conflicts, reactions to events in the USSR, and growing economic problems.

Overview

Hungary and Czechoslovakia faced political control battles during the Cold War.
Their leaders fought for leadership and debated how much control the USSR should have over their governments.
- These struggles shaped each country's government direction.

Leadership conflicts

Hungary and Czechoslovakia both saw tension between hardline and reformist communist leaders.
- In Hungary, Rakosi ruled harshly before Nagy pushed for reforms in 1953.
- In Czechoslovakia, Dubcek promoted reform in 1968, while Gustáv Husák later supported Soviet control.

Causes: Hungary

Hungary reacted mainly to events in the USSR and Poland.
Rakosi's harsh rule triggered the 1956 Hungarian Uprising.
Nagy attempted reforms influenced by Khrushchev's de-Stalinisation.
- These efforts led to Hungary's unrest, which happened rapidly and violently in 1956.

Causes: Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia reacted mainly to economic problems.
The 1968 Prague Spring pushed for reforms to boost the economy.
Dubcek promoted 'socialism with a human face' to improve living standards and make communism fairer.
- Czechoslovakia's reform period lasted longer and was less violent.

Differences in timing of events

Hungary's political struggle peaked in 1956 during the uprising.
- Their uprising was crushed by Soviet forces, showing the USSR would not tolerate independence.
Czechoslovakia's reforms took place in 1968 with the Prague Spring. It came later than Hungary, but faced a similar Soviet invasion.
The timing showed that any attempt at reform within the Eastern Bloc would still meet Soviet resistance.

Similarities & Differences

Hungary and Czechoslovakia had reform communists joining national groups. USSR, led by Khrushchev and Brezhnev, crushed both oppositions. Hungary faced more violence than Czechoslovakia.

Reform communists

Hungary's reform communists allied with nationalistic groups in 1956.
Czechoslovakia's reform communists united with nationalists during the 1968 Prague Spring.
- Reform Communists were members of the ruling Communist Party who believed the system needed significant change to become more democratic and humane.
- Nationalistic Groups were non-communist citizens who opposed Soviet dominance and sought full national independence and sovereignty.

The Soviet response to reform

USSR saw Hungary's 1956 reforms as a serious threat to communism.
- Soviet troops invaded Hungary in November 1956 to crush the uprising.
USSR viewed Czechoslovakia's 1968 Prague Spring as a lesser threat.
- The Soviets used military force under Brezhnev to end the Prague Spring.

Khrushchev and Brezhnev

Nikita Khrushchev led the USSR during Hungary's 1956 crisis.
- Khrushchev authorized the forceful Soviet response to Hungary.
Leonid Brezhnev led the USSR during the 1968 Prague Spring.
- Brezhnev promoted the Brezhnev Doctrine to justify intervention.
Both leaders aimed to maintain Soviet control over Eastern Europe.

Differences in violence levels

Hungary's 1956 uprising faced intense Soviet military violence.
- Many Hungarian civilians died during the Soviet suppression.
- Hungary's violence created a lasting memory of Soviet brutality.
Czechoslovakia's Prague Spring saw less violent Soviet intervention.
- The Prague Spring ended with arrests and political repression.

Dates and key individuals

Hungary's uprising occurred from October to November 1956 under Imre Nagy.
Czechoslovakia's Prague Spring happened in early 1968 led by Alexander Dubček.
Khrushchev ruled USSR from 1953 to 1964 during Hungary's crisis.
Brezhnev led USSR from 1964 to 1982 during Czechoslovakia's invasion.
Both events reveal USSR's control tactics over Eastern Europe.

1Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?

1.1What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?

1.1.1The Treaty of Versailles

1.1.2Roles of Wilson, Clemenceau & George

1.2Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?

1.2.1The Terms: Territory

1.2.2The Terms: Reparations

1.2.3The Terms: Armaments

1.2.4The Terms: War Guilt

1.2.5The League of Nations

1.2.6French Reaction

1.2.7American Reaction

1.2.8British Reaction

1.2.9Countries Left Out of the Treaty of Versailles

1.3What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?

1.3.1German Reaction to the Treaty

1.3.2Germany’s Allies

1.3.3Economic Impacts: Ruhr & Hyperinflation

1.3.4Social Impacts of the Treaty in Germany

1.3.5Political Impacts of the Treaty on Germany

1.3.6Reducing Reparation: The Dawes Plan

1.4Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?

1.4.1Positives & Negatives

1.4.2Contemporary Opinions About the Treaty

2Was the League of Nations a Success?

2.1How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?

2.1.1The League of Nations

2.1.2Structure of the League: Assembly & Council

2.1.3Structure of the League: Special Commissions

2.1.4Structure of the League: Permanent Court

2.1.5Structure of the League: Secretariat

2.1.6Financial Crisis in the World

2.2The League’s Success in Peacekeeping

2.2.1Successes: International Borders

2.2.2Successes: International Agreements

2.2.3Failures: Vilna (1920)

2.2.4Åland Islands 1920-21

2.2.5Failures: Corfu 1923

2.2.6Failures: Bulgaria 1925

2.3How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?

2.3.1Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 1

2.3.2Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 2

2.4How did the Depression Impact the League?

2.4.1The Great Depression, 1929

2.4.2The Manchurian Crisis, 1931

2.4.3Invasion of Abyssinia, 1935

3How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?

3.1What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.1.1Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.2What were the Consequences of the League's Failure

3.2.1The Disarmament Conference

3.2.2Collapse of the League of Nations

3.2.3Tension in Europe in the 1930s

3.2.4WWII & Failure of the League of Nations

3.2.5Weak Nations

3.3Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?

3.3.1The Spanish Civil War, 1936-39

3.3.2The Sudetenland

3.3.3Arguments for Appeasement

3.3.4Arguments Against Appeasement

3.3.5Reasons & Acts of Appeasement

3.3.6Impact of Appeasement

3.4How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

3.4.1The Nazi-Soviet Pact

3.4.2The Polish Crisis & the Outbreak of War

3.5Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?

3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War

3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament

3.5.3Hitler's Plan

3.5.4The Saar

3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland

3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis

3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War

3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact

3.5.9Anschluss with Austria

3.5.10The Munich Agreement

3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia

4Who was to Blame for the Cold War?

4.1Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?

4.1.1Cold War - Definition

4.1.2The Grand Alliance

4.1.3The 1945 Summit Conferences

4.1.4Early US-Soviet Relations

4.1.5The Breakdown of the US-Soviet Alliance

4.1.6Attitudes of Truman & Stalin

4.1.7US & Soviet Attitudes to Peace

4.2How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?

4.2.1The USSR & Eastern Europe

4.3How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?

4.3.1The Beginning of the Cold War

4.3.2The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan

4.3.3East-West Boundaries

4.3.4Berlin Crisis

4.4What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

4.4.1Germany

4.4.2Bizonia

4.4.3Berlin Blockade

4.4.4FRG & GDR

4.4.5NATO

4.4.6Warsaw Pact

4.5Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?

4.5.1The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions

4.5.2Blame on the USRR

4.5.3Blame on the US

4.5.4Sharing the Blame

5Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?

5.1The US and Korea, 1950-53

5.1.1The US and Korea: Background to the Crisis

5.1.2The Korean War

5.1.3The Course of the Korean War

5.2The US and Cuba, 1959-62

5.2.1Build-Up to the Cuban Missile Crisis

5.2.2The Cuban Missile Crisis

5.2.3Consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis

5.3The US and Vietnam, 1955-75

5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam

5.3.2President Eisenhower

5.3.3President Kennedy

5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964

5.3.5US Tactics

5.3.6Vietcong Tactics

5.3.7The Vietcong

5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 1968

5.3.9Vietnamisation

5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 1968

5.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos

5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam

5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation

5.3.14The Growth of Opposition

5.3.15The Draft System

5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 1970

5.3.17Political Opposition

5.3.18Reasons for Support 1

5.3.19Reasons for Support 2

5.3.20Political Support

5.3.21Peace Negotiations

5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 1973

5.3.23Economic & Human Costs 1

5.3.24Economic & Human Costs 2

5.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 1

5.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 2

5.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 1

5.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 2

5.3.29Opposition in the US

5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost

6How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?

6.1Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.1.1Causes of Opposition

6.1.2The Hungarian Uprising

6.1.3Czechoslovakia, 1968

6.1.4Reaction to the Brezhnev Doctrine

6.2Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.2.1Hungary and Czechoslovakia 1

6.2.2Hungary & Czechoslovakia 2

6.3Why was the Berlin Wall Built?

6.3.1The Berlin Wall 1

6.3.2The Berlin Wall 2

6.3.3The U2 Crisis

6.4Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence

6.4.1Solidarity in Poland

6.5Gorbachev's Responsibility

6.5.1Reagan & Gorbachev

6.5.2Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’

6.5.3The Collapse of Soviet Control

6.5.4The Collapse of the USSR

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