increased tension

• What were the civilians views to a divided Berlin

  • some East Germans did not like having a communist government
  • they were also better jobs with higher wages in the West
  • so between 1949- 1961 2.7 million East Germans crossed into west German via berlin
  • the west German economy benefitted as their economy had skilled workers
  • this looked bad for the soviets people
• Khrushchev Berlin ultimatum 


  • it stated that Berlin belonged to East Germany and occupying troops must leave in six months
  • a series of summit meetings took place between the USA and the soviets leader
  • this is because trying to forcefully push them out it could lead to a war and the USA had more nuclear weapons
• What happened in the summit meetings

  • In the Geneva and camp David ( 1959)no solution was agreed on and further organised another meeting
  • In the Paris summit (1960) Khrushchev walked out because the USA had been using US spy planes on them
  • Vienna conference (1961) neither was willing to back down so Khrushchev reissued his ultimatium
• What happened between the relationship between Cuba and USA

  • Cuba use to be very closely linked to the USA for example there were a lot of US- owned business
  • however they had a socialist revolution in 1959 and the USA did not want to be involved with the new government
  • so Cuba build economic links with the soviet union example trading soviet oil for Cuban sugar
  • the relationship between Cuban and the soviet deteriorated
• What led up to the Bay of Pigs

  • the USA did not want Cuban in their sphere of influence
  • the CIA tried to assassinate Castro but there was no success
  • So the CIA convinced Kennedy that a US backed invasion would overthrow Castro
• The Bay of pigs

  • 17th April 1961
  • the Cia told the USA that the invasion would look like a Cuban revolt (they disguised their old us planes as Cuban), Castro has a very weak control of Cuba and most Cubans hate Castro
  • however the Cubans were able to recognise the spy plane and the information was published
  • Castro was aware of the invasion and they met the USA with 20,00 troops whilst the us only had 1,400 so they surrended
• What did the Bay of pigs do to Cuban and the USA relationship

  • Castro announced that they were communist
  • ended all the chances of the USA and Cuban building a friendly relationship
  • Cuba and soviets got closer and worked on a military defence for cuba
• The impact of the soviets rule on Czechoslovakia

  • declined living standard
  • any opposition was crushed and the communist rule became very popular
  • Dubcek became the leader and wanted to make communism better
  • this resulted in a period called Prague spring a period of political freedom
• What were Dubcek reforms

  • relaxation of censorship meant more freedom to criticise
  • the power of the secret police was reduced
  • more democracy along side alongside the communist party
  • soviet control was reduced
• How did the civilians of Czechoslovaks and the communist world respond to this reform

  • Students and workers were enthusiastic about it
  • the reforms led to writers that wrote highly critical books about communism
  • the secret police was not happy that they lost their power
  • many older communist members said it would lead to the collapse of Czechoslovakia
  • the Prague spring could lead to demands for reform else where which threatened the communist rule
• How did Brezchnev react to Dubcek reforms

  • the soviet union invaded Czechoslovakia in 19168
  • Brezchenev doctrine was made
  • which explained that he would not allow any reforms as weakness in the soviets control could lead to the break down of the Warsaw pact
• What did the invasion of Czechslovia lead to?

  • it meant that the soviets were able to invade any countries in the Eastern Block which threatened the soviet's country of the other countries
  • it meant that the soviets were able to invade any countries in the Eastern Block which threatened the soviet's country of the other countries