Nikita Khrushchev and the Cold War 1956-1964

1. Nikita Khrushchev and the Cold War 1956-1964 Created By Eric Tolman Edited by C. Cullen 2012

2. Khrushchev Beginnings • Born in 1894 and spent his early years as a metal worker • Joined the Bolsheviks in 1918 and became a political commissar during the Russian Civil War • Khrushchev assisted in the purge of many friends and colleagues in Moscow • In late 1937, Stalin appointed Khrushchev as head of the Communist Party in Ukraine • Fought in Stalingrad and continued to rise in the Party • After Stalin’s death, Khrushchev was in a position to gain power

3. Policy • Stalin dies in 1953, and after 3 years of shuffling Nikita Khrushchev becomes leader of USSR • First goal for Khrushchev was de-Stalinization which included… • Recognition of Stalin’s crimes during the purges of 1934-1938 • A criticism of Stalin’s forced collectivization • A condemnation of Stalin’s personality cult

4. Early Foreign and Domestic Policy • A second major goal was “peaceful co-existence” with the West • Domestically Khrushchev focused on consumer goods like TV’s, and refrigerators • Hoped to raise the Russian standard of living for ordinary citizens • There was a thaw in the rigid nature of Russian society

5. The Road to Hungary • In 1956 the Hungarian people demanded independence from Soviet control and free elections- Rakosi was Hungary’s unpopular leader • Soviets installed Nagy as the new leader but Nagy announced he wanted to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact and establish greater freedoms, which was unacceptable to Khrushchev • Soviet tanks rolled in and crushed revolt. Approximately 27,000 Hungarians died and 20,000 were imprisoned. As well, 200, 000 Hungarians fled abroad, some of them to Canada

6. Soviet tanks in Budapest, Hungary

7. Berlin- the Cold War Centre 1958 Berlin was tense – West was doing very well economically and the East was not nearly as prosperous Soviets wanted to take control of West Berlin- Soviets backed down and Khrushchev agreed to a summit in Paris with the US president Eisenhower Paris Summit cancelled after an American U2 spy plane piloted by Gary Powers was shot down over USSR Eisenhower refused to apologize so the summit was cancelled-Khrushchev was very angry Kennedy came to power in 1960 but was not able to reach a resolution with Khrushchev over Berlin In 1961 over 100, 000 East Germans left for the West which was a major embarrassment for the Soviets In August 1961, Soviets closed border between East and West Berlin and built a wall with a mined buffer zone – tension in Berlin subsided Khrushchev believed that, “a wall was better than a war”

10. Different photos of Checkpoint Charlie

11. Cuba Fulgencio Batista • Cuba was considered vital to American security- Monroe Doctrine • In 1940, Batista took control and ruled as a dictator. He encouraged US businesses and Mafia to “invest” in Cuba • Most Cubans very poor and resented the “prostitution’ of Cuba

13. Fidel Castro Castro and Che Guevara • Born 1926 , the son of middle class parents • He earned a law degree in 1950 and in 1953 would be jailed following an attempted coup against Batista • Sent into exile and returned in 1956 when he began guerilla campaign • He would defeat Batista and take power in 1959 • His goals were to nationalize sugar mills and US owned companies • He wanted to end corruption, prostitution and gambling from “America’s playground”

14. American response to Castro • The US feared Castro’s increasingly socialistic polices • In July 1960, US stopped buying Cuban sugar (and later cigars) • In October 1960 they ended all trade with Cuba • In Jan 1961, cut off diplomatic relations with Cuba • US hoped this would starve Castro into submission but it had opposite effect • This policy drove Cuba closer to the USSR and encouraged Castro to adopt Marxist Communism

16. Bay of Pigs • The U.S. supported Cuban exiles to overthrow Castro • Plan approved in April 1961 by JFK with CIA activity and help from the Mafia • The exiles believed most Cubans would support them • The 1400 exiles were swiftly defeated by the 20,000 Cuban troops • The exiles miscalculated- Castro had mass support • Imprisoned exiles later exchanged for 53 million dollars worth of medicine and baby food • This solidified Castro to communism and in Dec, 1961 he would ask Khrushchev for arms to prevent attack

17. The Bay of Pigs was a public relations disaster for the young president JFK

18. Cuban Missile Crisis • USSR would benefit from a base in the Americas • In Oct, US spy planes took photos of medium-range ballistic missile sites and government was alarmed • On Oct 19, JFK put naval blockade (quarantine) on Cuba • Oct 26, Kennedy received two separate messages from Khrushchev • JFK replied to the conciliatory message- US promised not to invade Cuba if USSR removed missiles. He also secretly agreed to remove American missiles from Turkey

19. The caption, written in German, says “What do you mean: a menace? Surely it's all right to go fishing, isn't it?”

21. Lessons from Crisis • Khrushchev claimed he had achieved the aim of preventing an American invasion • JFK increased his popularity around the world by avoiding war and getting Russia to back down • Cuba remained a Communist state • A “hotline” from Washington to Moscow was set up • Partial Test Ban Treaty was signed, where the US and USSR agreed to limit nuclear testing in the atmosphere, underwater and outer space • The period known as détentegrew out of this crisis

22. The caption reads “Just in case.”