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

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

Post WW2 Russia Under Stalin Russians hope: Russians hope: the police state would relax the police state would relax the economy would shift towards a focus on consumer products the economy would shift towards a focus on consumer products Stalin did nothing to modify his regime Stalin did nothing to modify his regime He continued to  authority into his hands He continued to  authority into his hands He launched new internal purges He launched new internal purges

The Thaw: Changes in the Soviet Leadership Changes in the Soviet Leadership March 5, 1953: Stalin dies March 5, 1953: Stalin dies Replaced by the collective leadership (Presidium) of  Replaced by the collective leadership (Presidium) of  Nikita Khrushchev – First Secretary Russian Communist Party Nikita Khrushchev – First Secretary Russian Communist Party George Malenkov – deputy Prime Minister George Malenkov – deputy Prime Minister Vyacheslav Molotov – Foreign Affairs Minister Vyacheslav Molotov – Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolai Bulganin – Defense Minister Nicolai Bulganin – Defense Minister Lavrentiy Beria – Head of the Soviet Secret Police Lavrentiy Beria – Head of the Soviet Secret Police

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

The Presidium’s Policies Determined to improve living standards Determined to improve living standards Cautiously dismantled the terror apparatus created by Stalin Cautiously dismantled the terror apparatus created by Stalin Needed a more relaxed international climate to carry out these reforms Needed a more relaxed international climate to carry out these reforms “At the present time there is no disputed or unresolved question that cannot be settled by mutual agreement of the interested countries. This applies to our relations with all states, including the United States.” - Malenkov 1953 “At the present time there is no disputed or unresolved question that cannot be settled by mutual agreement of the interested countries. This applies to our relations with all states, including the United States.” - Malenkov 1953

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

Stalin's Grave by the Kremlin Wall Necropolis

Cold War 1953

Leadership Changes in the US and USSR Eisenhower’s “Roll-Back” & “New Look” (containment) Eisenhower’s “Roll-Back” & “New Look” (containment) Khrushchev’s “Peaceful Co-existence” Khrushchev’s “Peaceful Co-existence”

President Dwight D. Eisenhower Sec. of State – John Foster Dulles Sec. of State – John Foster Dulles Both strong anti- Communists Both strong anti- Communists Ike  “roll-back Communism” Ike  “roll-back Communism” Liberating countries currently held by the Soviets in Eastern Europe Liberating countries currently held by the Soviets in Eastern Europe

“Roll-Back” In reality – never happened In reality – never happened Rather than “roll-back” Ike developed a policy of containment called the “New Look” Rather than “roll-back” Ike developed a policy of containment called the “New Look” Meant preventing the extension of Soviet Communism Meant preventing the extension of Soviet Communism Believed that if the USSR had no opportunity to expand – the Soviet system would collapse in on itself Believed that if the USSR had no opportunity to expand – the Soviet system would collapse in on itself

Eisenhower’s “New Look” Ike  Containment (New Look) By: Ike  Containment (New Look) By: Setting up alliances to encircle the USSR Setting up alliances to encircle the USSR (ex. SEATO) Using military power to protect vulnerable areas (ex. West Berlin) Using military power to protect vulnerable areas (ex. West Berlin) Assisting forces fighting Communism Assisting forces fighting Communism (ex. Diem’s govt. in South Vietnam) Using the CIA for covert operations more extensively than before Using the CIA for covert operations more extensively than before

Eisenhower’s “New Look” (cont’d) Symbolized by the appointment of John Foster Dulles  secretary of state Symbolized by the appointment of John Foster Dulles  secretary of state Ike and Dulles felt there was a need for massive retaliation and “brinkmanship” Ike and Dulles felt there was a need for massive retaliation and “brinkmanship” Both were determined not to let the US get pulled into another conventional war like Korea Both were determined not to let the US get pulled into another conventional war like Korea

Massive Retaliation Strategy: In case of attack from an aggressor, a state would retaliate with force disproportionate to the size of the attack Strategy: In case of attack from an aggressor, a state would retaliate with force disproportionate to the size of the attack The Aim: to deter an adversary from initially attacking The Aim: to deter an adversary from initially attacking For it to work: For it to work: Must be made public knowledge Must be made public knowledge Must believe have a second-strike capability Must believe have a second-strike capability Adversary(s) must believe the defending state is willing to use nuclear weapons on a massive scale Adversary(s) must believe the defending state is willing to use nuclear weapons on a massive scale

Massive Retaliation

MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) Massive retaliation works on the same principles as mutually assured destruction Massive retaliation works on the same principles as mutually assured destruction But includes the caveat (warning) that even a minor conventional attack on a nuclear state could conceivably result in all-out nuclear retaliation But includes the caveat (warning) that even a minor conventional attack on a nuclear state could conceivably result in all-out nuclear retaliation

Brinkmanship Term originally coined by Dulles Term originally coined by Dulles Theory of pushing the military to the brink of war in order to convince another nation to follow your demands. Theory of pushing the military to the brink of war in order to convince another nation to follow your demands. Policy was used to coerce the USSR into backing down militarily and was based on the belief the US nuclear superiority would force concessions Policy was used to coerce the USSR into backing down militarily and was based on the belief the US nuclear superiority would force concessions

Dulles’ quote from Life

Ike  Containment (New Look) By: Despite the aggression of brinkmanship, Ike aware of the dangers of nuclear war Despite the aggression of brinkmanship, Ike aware of the dangers of nuclear war Also negotiated w/ the Soviets  Also negotiated w/ the Soviets  US-Soviet Summits in 1955 & 1960 US-Soviet Summits in 1955 & 1960

The USSR’s “New Course” Beria executed as a traitor (Dec. 1953) Beria executed as a traitor (Dec. 1953) Malenkov  idea of a “New Course” w/ the West – Khrushchev later adopted and renamed it “peaceful coexistence” Malenkov  idea of a “New Course” w/ the West – Khrushchev later adopted and renamed it “peaceful coexistence” Move away from the Leninist doctrine of the inevitability of war Move away from the Leninist doctrine of the inevitability of war Meant that Communism & capitalism should accept the continuing existence of one another, rather than using force to destroy each other Meant that Communism & capitalism should accept the continuing existence of one another, rather than using force to destroy each other

A “New Course” (cont’d) Khrushchev believed that if capitalism was deprived of further opportunities for expansion, it would die out due to its own inherent weaknesses Khrushchev believed that if capitalism was deprived of further opportunities for expansion, it would die out due to its own inherent weaknesses Thus, no need to risk nuclear war Thus, no need to risk nuclear war

The East German Revolt, June 1953 Causes: Causes: Ulbricht’s policies of collectivization, socialization, & high production targets – causing a mass exodus of East Germans Ulbricht’s policies of collectivization, socialization, & high production targets – causing a mass exodus of East Germans Ulbricht ordered to be more conciliatory Ulbricht ordered to be more conciliatory Too late  strike and riots erupt 16 June Too late  strike and riots erupt 16 June Ulbricht requests Soviet tanks to put down the revolt Ulbricht requests Soviet tanks to put down the revolt

Walter Ulbricht & Berlin May 1953

East Germans Revolt

Consequences Many in the FRG convinced of the need to have an independent military tied to NATO Many in the FRG convinced of the need to have an independent military tied to NATO Strengthens Konrad Adenauer’s position in the September elections Strengthens Konrad Adenauer’s position in the September elections

The Adenauer Era ( ) West Germany’s 1 st Chancellor West Germany’s 1 st Chancellor Developed a strong democracy & a healthy economy Developed a strong democracy & a healthy economy Allied strongly w/ the US Allied strongly w/ the US Joined NATO in 1955 Joined NATO in 1955

Konrad Adenauer

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

Adenauer swears in the first recruits to the West Germany army (Bundeswehr), May 5, 1955

The Rise of Khrushchev Khrushchev  Premier in 1956 Khrushchev  Premier in 1956 Destalinization Destalinization Reformer but – maintained dominance of the Communist Party Reformer but – maintained dominance of the Communist Party Intellectuals allowed some freedom  Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich) Intellectuals allowed some freedom  Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich) Economy - more consumer goods & decentralized economic planning Economy - more consumer goods & decentralized economic planning

Destalinization Starts w/ the death of Stalin Starts w/ the death of Stalin Khrushchev cautiously dismantles the apparatus of terror created by Stalin Khrushchev cautiously dismantles the apparatus of terror created by Stalin Needed a more relaxed international climate to carry out internal economic and social reforms Needed a more relaxed international climate to carry out internal economic and social reforms In Eastern Europe Destalinization appeared to promise a return to the policy of “different roads to socialism” In Eastern Europe Destalinization appeared to promise a return to the policy of “different roads to socialism” Politicians like Gomulka (Poland) and Kadar (Hungary) released from prison Politicians like Gomulka (Poland) and Kadar (Hungary) released from prison

Khrushchev’s Domestic Policies Agriculture: removed the worst restrictions on private cultivation & sought to expand the area available for wheat production Agriculture: removed the worst restrictions on private cultivation & sought to expand the area available for wheat production Initially led to record grain production Initially led to record grain production BUT - inappropriate farming techniques soon reduced yields BUT - inappropriate farming techniques soon reduced yields USSR imports vast amounts of grain from the US and the world USSR imports vast amounts of grain from the US and the world

Khrushchev’s Secret Speech of 1956 February 1956: directly attacked the policies of the Stalin years February 1956: directly attacked the policies of the Stalin years Twentieth Party Congress  denounced Stalin and his crimes against socialist justice during the purges of the 1930s Twentieth Party Congress  denounced Stalin and his crimes against socialist justice during the purges of the 1930s Opened the way for internal criticism of the Soviet government Opened the way for internal criticism of the Soviet government Afterwards - Eastern Europe cautiously moves for reform Afterwards - Eastern Europe cautiously moves for reform

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev addressing the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Moscow, 1956.