The Soviet Union & Eastern Europe

The Soviet Union & Eastern Europe 20-2

Key Terms • Heavy industry – the manufacture of machines & equipment for factories & mines • De-Stalinization – the process of eliminating the more ruthless polices of Stalin

Wiki Post • Do you have your own bedroom? • **During this time, the average Russian family lived in a one-room apartment**

Identify the six Soviet satellite states.

After World War II • 1992, a British expert on the Soviet military released a report indicating that the SU’s losses during WW2 were even more staggering than previously believed • Soviet deaths estimated to have been as high as 49 million (30% of its people) • This may hold a key to the beginning of the Cold War • Stalin may have been deliberately hostile to the West, contributing to worsening relations with the US

The Reign of Stalin • Economy • Devastated by WW2 • To create a new industrial base, goods were produced almost exclusively for export • In some respects this led to a rapid economic recovery • The $ from export goods was used to buy machinery & western technology

The Reign of Stalin • 1946 • Stalin was still the master of the SU • He did not share power • Had little respect for other Communist Party leaders • Suspicious & lack of trust for others • Soviet gov’t said all literary & scientific work must conform to political needs of the state

The Reign of Stalin • 1950 • SU had built new power plants, canals, & giant factories • HEAVY INDUSTRY increased • Mainly for benefit of the military • Industrial production surpassed prewar levels by 40% • Development of the hydrogen bomb in 1952 • Launch of first space satellite, Sputnik I, in 1957 • SU was a world power • Soviet people did NOT benefit from the industrialization • Not enough consumer goods produced • Housing shortage was severe

The Reign of Stalin • 1953 • Stalin dies

Let’s Review • What were the effects of the Soviet government’s economic methods enacted after WW2? • By 1950, Russian industrial production surpassed prewar levels by 40% • The Soviet people, however, had a shortage of consumer goods & a severe shortage of housing

The Khrushchev Era • After Stalin’s death • Nikita Khrushchev became the chief policy maker in the SU • DE-STALINIZATION was put in place

The Khrushchev Era • Khrushchev • Tried to increase production of consumer goods & agricultural output • Grow corn • Cultivate lands east of the Ural Mtns. • Loosened gov’t controls on literature • Allowed the publication of a work by ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN that depicted life in a Siberian forced-labor camp

The Khrushchev Era • Khrushchev’s attempts • Failed • Increased military spending hurt the economy • Foreign policy failures • 1964, he was forced into retirement (after Cuban missile crisis)

Do You Know???? • __________ refers to the process of eliminating the more ruthless policies of Stalin.

And the Answer Is…. • __________ refers to the process of eliminating the more ruthless policies of Stalin. • De-Stalinization

Let’s Review • Why did Soviet leaders force Khrushchev into retirement? • He failed to increase agricultural output • Industrial growth rate dramatically declined • Foreign policy in Cuba failed

Eastern Europe: Behind the Iron Curtain • After WW2 (1945 – 1947) • Soviet-controlled Communist gov’ts took control of Eastern European countries • East Germany • Bulgaria • Romania • Poland • Hungary • Czechoslovakia – strong tradition of democracy & multi-party system stopped seizure by the Soviets until 1948 • ALBANIA, Communist gov’t grew increasingly independent of the SU

Eastern Europe: Behind the Iron Curtain • After WW2 • YUGOSLAVIA, led by Josip Broz or TITO • Independent Communist state until Tito’s death in 1980 • NOT a Soviet satellite state

Eastern Europe: Behind the Iron Curtain • 1948-1953 • Eastern European satellite states instituted Soviet-type five-year plans w/ emphasis on heavy industry (NOT consumer goods) • Began to collectivize agriculture • Eliminated all noncommunist parties • Set up secret police & military forces

Eastern Europe: Behind the Iron Curtain • After Stalin’s death • Many Eastern European states tried to make reforms • Communism did NOT develop deep roots among the peoples of Eastern EUR • Soviets exploited Eastern EUR economically • Made living conditions hard for most people • SU made it clear that it would not allow its Eastern European satellite states to become independent: • Poland • Hungary • Czechoslovakia

Eastern Europe: Behind the Iron Curtain • 1956 • Protests in Poland • Polish Communist Party adopted a series of reforms • Elected Wladyslaw Gomulka as 1st secretary • Gomulka declared that POL had the right to follow its own path • POL compromised; pledged to remain loyal to Warsaw Pact • Hungarian leader IMRE NAGY declared Hungary a free nation (to end rebellion caused by economic problems) • Promised free elections • 3 days later, Soviet troops attacked Budapest & reestablished control of the country • Nagy was captured by the Soviet military & executed 2 yrs later

Eastern Europe: Behind the Iron Curtain • Czechoslovakia • Antonin Novotny, placed in power in 1953 by Stalin (“Little Stalin”) • Alienated many members of his own party • Czech writers esp. disliked him • Writer’s rebellion led to Novotny’s resignation in 1968 • ALEXANDER DUBCEK elected first secretary of the Communist party in Czechoslovakia • Introduced reforms to the country • Freedom of speech & press • Freedom to travel abroad • Relaxed censorship & promised to democratize political system • Period of euphoria broke out, “Prague Spring” • By August, the Soviet Army invaded Czechoslovakia & crushed the reform movement • Gustav Husak replaced Dubcek • Did away w/ his reforms & reestablished Soviet control

Do You Know??? • Which communist nation remained independent of Soviet control? • A. Greece • B. Yugoslavia • C. Romania • D. Hungary

And the Answer Is…. • Which communist nation remained independent of Soviet control? • A. Greece • B. Yugoslavia • C. Romania • D. Hungary

Let’s Review • What was the result of revolts against communism in Poland, Hungary, & Czechoslovakia? • Poland – a series of reforms were adopted, but Poles remained loyal to the Warsaw Pact (fearful) • Hungarian declared a free nation, but Soviet troops reestablished control • Czechoslovakia – Dubcek introduced reforms, but Soviet army reestablished control

Bonus • Write a paragraph on the changes that took place in the Soviet Union under Khrushchev’s leadership. Do you believe that Stalin would have been able to maintain his power had he lived longer? Was a period of de-Stalinization inevitable? • Underline Thesis – 2 pts • Full Paragraph – 5 pts • 1 outside source (other than textbook) & sources cited in MLA format – 3 pts

The Soviet Union & Eastern Europe