Unit VIIIUnit VIII: Khrushchev, : Khrushchev, the Vietnam War, and the Vietnam War, and the Cold War to 1979the Cold War to 1979

Khrushchev, the Thaw, and Khrushchev, the Thaw, and the “Second Cold War” the “Second Cold War”

1956-19631956-1963

Post WW2 Russia Under Post WW2 Russia Under StalinStalin

Russians hope: Russians hope: the police state would relax the police state would relax the economy would shift towards a focus the economy would shift towards a focus

on consumer productson consumer products Stalin Stalin did nothing to modify his regimedid nothing to modify his regime

He continued to He continued to authority into his authority into his handshands

He launched new internal purges He launched new internal purges

The Thaw: 1953-1957The Thaw: 1953-1957 Changes in the Soviet LeadershipChanges in the Soviet Leadership March 5, 1953March 5, 1953: Stalin dies: Stalin dies Replaced by the Replaced by the collective leadership collective leadership

(Presidium)(Presidium) of of Nikita KhrushchevNikita Khrushchev – First Secretary – First Secretary

Russian Communist PartyRussian Communist Party George MalenkovGeorge Malenkov – deputy Prime Minister – deputy Prime Minister Vyacheslav MolotovVyacheslav Molotov – Foreign Affairs Minister – Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolai BulganinNicolai Bulganin – Defense Minister – Defense Minister Lavrentiy BeriaLavrentiy Beria – Head of the Soviet Secret – Head of the Soviet Secret

PolicePolice

The Presidium The Presidium (Khrushchev, Malenkov, Molotov, Bulganin, & (Khrushchev, Malenkov, Molotov, Bulganin, & Beria)Beria)

The Presidium’s PoliciesThe Presidium’s Policies Determined to Determined to improve living standardsimprove living standards Cautiously Cautiously dismantleddismantled the the terror terror

apparatus created by Stalinapparatus created by Stalin Needed a Needed a more relaxed international more relaxed international

climateclimate to carry out these reforms to carry out these reforms ““At the present time there is no disputed or At the present time there is no disputed or

unresolved question that cannot be settled unresolved question that cannot be settled by mutual agreement of the interested by mutual agreement of the interested countries. This applies to our relations with countries. This applies to our relations with all states, including the United States.” all states, including the United States.” - - Malenkov 1953Malenkov 1953

Beria Killed Stalin? Beria Killed Stalin? (also w/ Stalin and Stalin’s (also w/ Stalin and Stalin’s daughter)daughter)

Stalin's Grave by the Kremlin Wall Stalin's Grave by the Kremlin Wall NecropolisNecropolis

Cold War 1953Cold War 1953

Leadership Changes in the Leadership Changes in the US and USSRUS and USSR

Eisenhower’sEisenhower’s “Roll-Back” & “New “Roll-Back” & “New Look” (containment)Look” (containment)

Khrushchev’sKhrushchev’s “Peaceful Co- “Peaceful Co-existence”existence”

President Dwight President Dwight D. EisenhowerD. Eisenhower

Sec. of State – Sec. of State – John Foster DullesJohn Foster Dulles

Both strong anti-Both strong anti-CommunistsCommunists

Ike Ike “roll-back “roll-back Communism”Communism”

Liberating Liberating countries currently countries currently held by the Soviets held by the Soviets in Eastern Europe in Eastern Europe

““Roll-Back”Roll-Back” In reality In reality – never happened – never happened Rather than “roll-back” Rather than “roll-back” Ike developed a Ike developed a

policy of containment called the “New policy of containment called the “New Look”Look”

Meant preventing the extension of Meant preventing the extension of Soviet Communism Soviet Communism Believed that if Believed that if the USSR had no the USSR had no

opportunity to expand – the Soviet system opportunity to expand – the Soviet system would collapse in on itselfwould collapse in on itself

Eisenhower’s “New Look”Eisenhower’s “New Look” Ike Ike Containment (New Look) By: Containment (New Look) By:

Setting up alliances to encircle the USSR Setting up alliances to encircle the USSR

(ex. SEATO)(ex. SEATO) Using military power to protect vulnerable Using military power to protect vulnerable

areas areas (ex. West Berlin)(ex. West Berlin) Assisting forces fighting Communism Assisting forces fighting Communism

(ex. Diem’s govt. in South Vietnam)(ex. Diem’s govt. in South Vietnam) Using the CIA for covert operations more Using the CIA for covert operations more

extensively than beforeextensively than before

Eisenhower’s “New Look” Eisenhower’s “New Look” (cont’d)(cont’d)

SymbolizedSymbolized by the appointment of by the appointment of John Foster Dulles John Foster Dulles secretary of secretary of statestate

Ike and Dulles felt there was a need Ike and Dulles felt there was a need for for massive retaliation massive retaliation and and “brinkmanship”“brinkmanship”

Both were determined not to let the Both were determined not to let the US get pulled into another US get pulled into another conventional war like Koreaconventional war like Korea

Massive RetaliationMassive Retaliation Strategy:Strategy: In case of attack from an In case of attack from an

aggressor, a state would retaliate with aggressor, a state would retaliate with force disproportionate to the size of the force disproportionate to the size of the attackattack

The Aim: The Aim: to deter an adversary from to deter an adversary from initially attackinginitially attacking

For it to work: For it to work: Must be made public knowledgeMust be made public knowledge Must believe have a second-strike capability Must believe have a second-strike capability Adversary(s) must believe the defending Adversary(s) must believe the defending

state is willing to use nuclear weapons on a state is willing to use nuclear weapons on a massive scalemassive scale

Massive RetaliationMassive Retaliation

MADMAD(Mutually Assured (Mutually Assured

Destruction)Destruction) Massive retaliation Massive retaliation works on the works on the same principles as same principles as mutually assured mutually assured destructiondestruction

But includes the caveat (warning) But includes the caveat (warning) that that even a minor conventional even a minor conventional attack attack on a nuclear state could on a nuclear state could conceivably result in conceivably result in all-out nuclear all-out nuclear retaliationretaliation

BrinkmanshipBrinkmanship Term originally coined by Term originally coined by DullesDulles Theory of pushing the military Theory of pushing the military to the to the

brinkbrink of war in order to convince of war in order to convince another nation to follow your another nation to follow your demands. demands.

Policy was usedPolicy was used to to coerce the USSR coerce the USSR into backing down militarily and was into backing down militarily and was based on the beliefbased on the belief the US nuclear the US nuclear superiority would force concessionssuperiority would force concessions

Dulles’ quote from Dulles’ quote from LifeLife

Ike Ike Containment (New Look) Containment (New Look) By: By:

Despite the aggression of Despite the aggression of brinkmanship, Ike aware of the brinkmanship, Ike aware of the dangers of nuclear war dangers of nuclear war

Also negotiated w/ the Soviets Also negotiated w/ the Soviets US-Soviet Summits in 1955 & 1960US-Soviet Summits in 1955 & 1960

The USSR’s “New Course”The USSR’s “New Course” BeriaBeria executed as a traitor (Dec. 1953) executed as a traitor (Dec. 1953) Malenkov Malenkov idea of a idea of a “New Course” “New Course” w/ w/

the West – the West – KhrushchevKhrushchev later adopted later adopted and renamed it and renamed it “peaceful coexistence” “peaceful coexistence”

Move away from the Leninist doctrine Move away from the Leninist doctrine of the inevitability of warof the inevitability of war

Meant that Meant that Communism & capitalism Communism & capitalism should accept the continuing existence should accept the continuing existence of one anotherof one another, rather than using force , rather than using force to destroy each otherto destroy each other

A “New Course” (cont’d)A “New Course” (cont’d) KhrushchevKhrushchev believed that if believed that if

capitalism was deprived of further capitalism was deprived of further opportunities for expansion, it would opportunities for expansion, it would die out due to its own inherent die out due to its own inherent weaknessesweaknesses

Thus, no need to risk nuclear warThus, no need to risk nuclear war

The East German Revolt, June The East German Revolt, June 19531953

CausesCauses:: Ulbricht’s policies Ulbricht’s policies of collectivization, of collectivization,

socialization, & high production socialization, & high production targets – causing a targets – causing a mass exodus of mass exodus of East GermansEast Germans Ulbricht ordered to be more conciliatoryUlbricht ordered to be more conciliatory

Too late Too late strike and riots erupt 16 strike and riots erupt 16 JuneJune

Ulbricht requests Ulbricht requests Soviet tanks Soviet tanks to put to put down the revoltdown the revolt

Walter Ulbricht & Berlin May 1953Walter Ulbricht & Berlin May 1953

East Germans RevoltEast Germans Revolt

Consequences Consequences Many in the FRG Many in the FRG convinced of the convinced of the

need to have an independent military need to have an independent military tied to NATOtied to NATO

Strengthens Konrad Adenauer’s Strengthens Konrad Adenauer’s position position in the September elections in the September elections

The Adenauer Era (1949-The Adenauer Era (1949-1963)1963)

West Germany’s 1West Germany’s 1stst ChancellorChancellor Developed a Developed a strong democracy strong democracy & a & a

healthy economyhealthy economy Allied strongly w/ the USAllied strongly w/ the US Joined NATO Joined NATO in 1955in 1955

Konrad AdenauerKonrad Adenauer

History in the makingHistory in the making: On 23 October 1954 the : On 23 October 1954 the North North Atlantic Council Atlantic Council invited Germany to join the Allianceinvited Germany to join the Alliance

AdenauerAdenauer swears in the first recruits to the swears in the first recruits to the West Germany army (West Germany army (BundeswehrBundeswehr), May 5, ), May 5,

19551955

The Rise of KhrushchevThe Rise of Khrushchev KhrushchevKhrushchev PremierPremier in 1956 in 1956 DestalinizationDestalinization Reformer Reformer but – maintained but – maintained

dominance of the Communist Partydominance of the Communist Party Intellectuals allowed some freedom Intellectuals allowed some freedom

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn ((Day in the Day in the Life of Ivan DenisovichLife of Ivan Denisovich))

Economy Economy - more consumer goods & - more consumer goods & decentralized economic planningdecentralized economic planning

DestalinizationDestalinization Starts w/ the death of Stalin Starts w/ the death of Stalin Khrushchev cautiously Khrushchev cautiously dismantlesdismantles the the

apparatus of apparatus of terrorterror created by Stalin created by Stalin Needed a Needed a more relaxed international more relaxed international

climateclimate to carry out internal economic and to carry out internal economic and social reformssocial reforms

In Eastern Europe Destalinization In Eastern Europe Destalinization appeared to promise a return to the appeared to promise a return to the policy policy of of “different roads to socialism”“different roads to socialism” Politicians like Politicians like GomulkaGomulka (Poland) and (Poland) and KadarKadar

(Hungary) released from prison(Hungary) released from prison

Khrushchev’s Domestic Khrushchev’s Domestic PoliciesPolicies

AgricultureAgriculture: removed the worst : removed the worst restrictions on private cultivation & restrictions on private cultivation & sought to expand the area available sought to expand the area available for wheat productionfor wheat production

Initially led to Initially led to record grain record grain productionproduction

BUT - inappropriate farming BUT - inappropriate farming techniques soon reduced yieldstechniques soon reduced yields

USSR imports USSR imports vast amounts of grain vast amounts of grain from the US and the worldfrom the US and the world

Khrushchev’s Secret Speech of Khrushchev’s Secret Speech of 19561956

February 1956February 1956: directly attacked the : directly attacked the policies of the Stalin yearspolicies of the Stalin years

Twentieth Party Congress Twentieth Party Congress denounced Stalin and his crimes denounced Stalin and his crimes against socialist justice during the against socialist justice during the purges of the 1930s purges of the 1930s

Opened the way for internal criticism Opened the way for internal criticism of the Soviet governmentof the Soviet government

Afterwards -Afterwards - Eastern Europe Eastern Europe cautiously moves for reform cautiously moves for reform

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev addressing Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev addressing the 20th Congress of the Communist Party the 20th Congress of the Communist Party

of the Soviet Union in Moscow, 1956.of the Soviet Union in Moscow, 1956.