POST-WWII TO PRESENT DAY THE SOVIET UNION AND EASTERN EUROPE

Ruled by Stalin from – Used Five Year Plans – set economic goals for five year periods – and collectivization – Extremely ruthless, kills many more people than Hitler After the death of Stalin Khrushchev comes to power – De-Stalinization = process of eliminating some of Stalin’s more ruthless policies – After economic and foreign policy failures, he is forced into retirement in 1964 Brezhnev Doctrine = the Soviets will invade any country in which Communism is threatened to restore the Communist gov’t

Soviet Bloc = areas controlled by Soviet military forces – Bloc = a group of nations with a common purpose – This includes most of Eastern Europe, with the exceptions being Yugoslavia and Albania (chose to be Communist on their own) Revolts against Communist rule in Eastern Europe – Poland (1956) gov’t starts a series of reforms, but fearful of an armed Soviet response Compromises by remaining loyal to the Warsaw Pact – Hungary (1956) – new leader, Imre Nagy, declares Hungary a free nation Promises free elections

The Soviet army invades 3 days later, reestablishes control, and executes Nagy – Czechoslovakia (1968) – leader Alexander Dubcek introduces reform Known as the “Prague Spring” Soviets invade and take Dubcek out of power Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the new Soviet leader in 1985, wants reform – Proposes two radical concepts Glasnost = “openness” to discuss the Soviet Union’s problems Perestroika = “restructuring” of the Soviet economic and political system

– Allows private property, willing to change Soviet foreign policy, makes a treaty with the U.S. to slow down the arms race – Political reforms – allows other political parties to form, holds elections to a new Soviet parliament – States he will not enforce the Brezhnev Doctrine and will not give military support to Communist gov’ts in Eastern Europe Opens the door for the overthrow of Communist regimes – Becomes the first, and last, Soviet President in 1990 – 1989 calls for independence of the many different Soviet republics start

Soviet Union made up of 92 nationalities with 112 languages Lithuania is the first to declare independence, Soviet troops at first occupy, then let them go – Ultra-conservatives in the Communist party try to overthrow Gorbachev and fail Dec it is announced that the Soviet Union has ceased to exist – Today Russia is dealing with the problem of Chechnya, a republic that is considered part of Russia that wants to break away

1989 Revolutions in Eastern Europe – New revolutions break out when Gorbachev makes it clear the Soviets won’t interfere Mass demonstrations and revolts in Nov. and Dec., lead to the overthrow of Communist gov’ts – Poland – workers demand change, led by Lech Walesa Walesa has founded the trade union Solidarity Elected president in 1990 – Czechoslovakia – Communist gov’t collapses in Dec Called the “Velvet Revolution”, Vaclav Havel made president In 1993 splits into Czech Republic and Slovakia

– Romania – only one with bloodshed Brutal dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife are supported by military forces, kill thousands of people demonstrating peacefully Gov’t collapses Dec. 1991, Ceausescu executed – East Germans overthrow their Communist gov’t Nov. 9, 1989 the Communist gov’t opens entire border to the west Hundreds of thousands go across the border and people on both sides tear down the Wall – Reunification of Germany made official on Oct. 3, 1990

Yugoslavia – made up of six republics and two provinces – In 1990 the republics of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Macedonia begin to lobby for independence – Slobodan Milosevic, the leader of Serbia, rejects these efforts Serbia and ethnic Serbs living in other republics try to prevent the breakup of Yugoslavia Any area with Serbs belongs to Serbia 1991 invades Croatia when they try to leave – 1992 War in Bosnia when the Bosnians declare independence By 1993 have captured 70% of Bosnian territory

Serbs follow a policy of ethnic cleansing = killing or forcibly removing an ethnic group from the land – 250,000 Bosnians killed, over 2 million homeless – NATO gets involved Dayton Accords – formal peace treaty signed in 1995 – 1998 war starts again, this time in Kosovo Massacre of ethnic Albanians 1999 NATO bombing campaign forces Milosevic to withdraw Milosevic brought to trial in 2000 for crimes against humanity – 2002 Yugoslavia ceases to exist