Superpower relations: sample A* essays from each question:
A world divided: Superpower relations (1945-1962)
Question (a) Study these events which occurred in the years 1945-1955.
The beginning of the Korean War The Truman Doctrine The setting up of the Warsaw Pact The Berlin Blockade The Potsdam Conference
Write these events in the correct chronological sequence. (3) 1- The Potsdam Conference 2-The Truman Doctrine 3- The Berlin Blockade 4- The beginning of the Korean War 5- The setting up of the Warsaw Pact
Question (b) Choose either The Berlin Blockade or The Truman Doctrine
Explain one effect on relations between the USA and the Soviet Union of the event you have chosen. (4)
The Berlin blockade took place in 1948 when Soviet leader Stalin decided to take action by cutting off all road, rail and water links and electricity lines to West Berlin hoping to starve the allies out of Berlin. One effect of the Berlin blockade and airlift was to highlight the fact that the USA could no longer trust the USSR to abide by the terms of the Yalta and Potsdam conferences. It showed that there was a need for the USA to protect its Western European allies from the USSA. This led to the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation [NATO] which was a military alliance to give assistance to each Western European capitalist country in the event of armed aggression from the USSR or its allies.
Question (c) Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961? Explain your answer. (8)
One reason why the Berlin Wall was built was to help the USSR maintain control over East Germany: Since 1945 Western aid had rebuilt West Berlin as the showpiece of capitalism. East Berliners could easily visit West Berlin’s cinemas and shops- unfavourably comparing them with the East. The USSR saw West Berlin as a capitalist infection. A wall would prevent the capitalist ideas and influences from seeping into East Berlin, thereby maintaining the Iron Curtain which would enable complete Communist control over East Germany.
In addition to the fact that the USSR needed to reassert control over East Germany was the fact that all other Soviet attempts to force the West out of Berlin had failed. In 1958 Khrushchev had demanded that East and West Berlin be demilitarised, and for Berlin to be made a free city. He also wanted the West to recognise the GDR. When Eisenhower and then Kennedy in 1960 refused to relinquish Berlin, Khrushchev had little choice but to approve East Germany’s plans to construct the Wall. It was a way for the Communist side to save face without causing a war.
The political need for a wall to preserve the Cold War balance of power was also backed by the political need in East Germany to stop the flood of refugees leaving their country. Since, 1945 on average over 200,000 fled to the West through Berlin. Many of these refugees were skilled workers such as doctors, engineers and other highly trained professionals that East Germany could not afford to lose. The wall was a way to stop the migration from East to West.
In conclusion, the most important factor for the building of the Berlin Wall was to stop the migration of skilled workers. This was the single biggest problem the GDR had complained about. The Wall would help them retain their professionals, thus giving them a better chance to improve their economy and compete with the West. The other political factors were not considered as important as the issue of skilled workers who were the lifeline needed to save the East German economy.
Question (d) Study the source below and then answer the question that follows.
Source: From a modern textbook In June 1956, a group within the Hungarian Communist Party opposed Rakosi. The Soviet Union allowed a new government to be formed under Imre Nagy. Nagy introduced a series of reforms including free elections and private ownership of farmland.
Use the source, and your own knowledge, to explain why the Soviet Union invaded Hungary in 1956. (10)
One reason for the Soviet invasion of Hungary was that the USSR was uncomfortable with the political reforms proposed in Hungary. The initial Soviet impression was that the best way to defuse the political tension in the country was to allow ‘a new government to be formed under Imre Nagy’. However, when Nagy announced that the new Hungarian government was to carry out political changes including ‘free elections’, the Soviets became worried that democratic elections could easily lead to the defeat of the Communists and that Hungary would turn capitalist. This was one reason for the Soviet decision to invade Hungary.
The fears that Hungary would turn capitalist also prompted the invasion of Hungary due to proposed changes in agriculture and land ownership. Nagy’s government intended to allow ‘private ownership of farmland’. This would also enable co-operatives to own and produce farms and sell goods on the market. The USSR could see these agricultural changes as the signs of Hungary turning from communism to capitalism and was part of the reason for the Soviet invasion of Hungary.
Another factor not mentioned in the source is that in October, 1956, Nagy broadcast that Hungary would withdraw itself from the Warsaw Pact. This was pushing the Russians too far. In November 1956, Soviet tanks went into Budapest to restore order and they acted with immense brutality even killing wounded people. This Soviet action showed the willingness of the USSR to use the Warsaw Pact to maintain a tight hold on Eastern Europe as this was a vital component of the buffer zone against capitalist nations. The other satellite states realised they would not be allowed the freedom to pursue policies different to the USSR. Nagy’s threat to leave the Warsaw Pact was a key factor which contributed to the Soviet invasion of Hunagry. A further factor not mentioned in the source is that the USSR was well aware that the world’s focus was on the Suez crisis that was occurring at the same time. Israel, Britain and France had invaded Egypt and the international community was shocked at their aggressive action. All attention was diverted to the Middle East efforts to ensure that peace was restored and all foreign soldiers were withdrawn from Egypt. Under those circumstances, the USSR correctly guessed that their invasion of Hungary would receive less attention from the rest of the world. The Suez crisis gave the USSR a reason to conceal their invasion of Hungary from the rest of the world.
The main reason for the USSR’s invasion of Hungary was their threat to leave the Warsaw Pact. The USSR seemed willing to entertain minor changes to the communist system in terms of elections, land ownership and agricultural production. However, a threat to leave the Warsaw Pact had not only political implications but also raised security concerns as the USSR could not afford any country in its sphere of influence to leave the Warsaw Pact as this would provide a gap in the buffer zone through which their capitalist enemies could invade Eastern Europe through Germany and eventually attack and overthrow the Communist government in Moscow. The Soviet government was not willing to take any chances with such a scenario hence their decision to invade Hungary.