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A10: Superpower Relations 1945-1962: Key Events
Knowing and understanding the key events from each topic is obviously essential. For
Section A topics like Superpower Relations, you need to be able to describe or explain the
causes, key features and consequences of each event. Make sure you study the following
list of key events as part of your revision:
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1.) The Yalta Conference – February 4th-11th 1945
Who?
Causes
What happened?
Consequences
War situation
Stalin agreed to declare war on Japan
The talk of ‘democracy’ and ‘free
had changed:
Germany was
close to defeat.
USA led by
President
Roosevelt
UK led by
Prime
Minister
Winston
Discussions over
the post-war
world were
needed.
USA & UK
wanted USSR
to declare war
within three months of the defeat of
Germany.
Compromise over Poland. All agreed to form
a Polish government pledged to hold ‘free
elections’. Borders of Poland also changed
– USSR gained land from Eastern Poland
whilst Poland would gain land from East
Germany.
The ‘Declaration on Liberated Europe’.
USA, USSR & UK commit to work for
Churchill
on Japan.
democracy in Europe.
USSR led
Needed to
Allies agree to form the United Nations.
by Joseph
Stalin
agree a political
solution for
liberated
countries,
especially
Germany and
Poland.
Germany and Berlin to be divided into four
zones of occupation between Britain,
France, USA and USSR.
Big Three restate their agreement that the
USSR should have a ‘sphere of influence’ in
Eastern Europe.
elections’ was interpreted differently
by USA and USSR. American free
speech vs. Stalin’s idea that communism
represented the people so no opposition
allowed.
Yalta raised false expectations in the
USA that Stalin would allow westernstyle governments in Eastern Europe.
Stalin paid only lip service to idea of
‘free elections’ in Poland. In March, 16
leaders of the Polish resistance were
arrested by Stalin and never seen again.
Further talks over Poland achieved
nothing. USSR refused to allow prowestern Poles into new government.
Soviet troops had captured most of
Eastern Europe. Stalin’s demand for a
‘sphere of influence’ had to be taken
seriously.
2.) The Potsdam Conference – July 17th - Aug 2nd 1945
Who?
Causes
What happened?
A compromise was reached over war
USA
represented
by
President
Harry S.
Truman
reparations. Each ally would take
Nazi Germany was
reparations from the zone they
over. Hitler was
occupied. USSR was also given industrial
dead. The Allies
equipment from Western zones in
needed to decide
return for raw materials.
Europe. Both superpowers
Agreed to prosecute Nazi war
their half of Europe.
how to disarm and
punish Germany.
had to be reached
represented
by Prime
Minister
Winston
Churchill &
The conference ended
The war against
A political solution
UK
Consequences
over the liberated
countries. The
Western Allies
now occupied the
whole of western
Europe. The Soviet
criminals.
without agreement on what
would happen to the newly
liberated states across
were determined to keep
Truman’s attempt to assert
Statement of aims of the occupation of
his authority by declaring a
Germany by the Allies: demilitarisation,
‘powerful new weapon’ at the
denazification, democratisation,
conference only made Stalin
decentralisation and decartelisation.
more determined to protect
Details of the German-Polish border
were finally agreed.
the USSR. He saw this as a
threat from the USA. He
therefore wanted to create a
Red Army occupied
The communist dominated Polish
‘buffer zone’ in Eastern
the whole of
Provisional Government of National
Europe.
Clement
eastern Europe.
Unity was recognized by all three
Attlee
Roosevelt had
Prime
Minister
powers.
The USA and UK became
aware of their need to
died and Truman
Was confirmed that the Polish
confront communism in
was keen to meet
Provisional Government of National
Europe. Truman approved
USSR
Stalin. He wanted
Unity would hold ‘free and fair
Churchill’s 1946 ‘Iron Curtain’
represented
to be tougher with
elections’ as soon as possible.
speech, in which he said that
by Joseph
Stalin over issues
Stalin
like Poland.
The terms of the surrender of Japan
were agreed. Japan had to agree
unconditional surrender or face ‘prompt
and utter destruction’.
countries in the West were
free and countries in the East
were under communist control
behind an ‘Iron Curtain’.
3.) Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ Speech – March 1946
Who?
Causes
What happened?
By 1946 it became
Former
UK
Prime
Minister
Winston
Churchill
who lost
power in
the
1945
general
election
clear that Europe
Churchill gave a speech in the
had been divided.
presence of President Truman at
From 1945-1948,
Westminster College, Fulton,
Stalin rigged
th
elections to establish
communist
governments in
Poland, Hungary,
Bulgaria, Romania,
East Germany &
Czechoslovakia.
Missouri on 5 March 1946:
‘From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste
in the Adriatic an "Iron Curtain" has
descended across the continent.
Behind that line lie all the capitals of
the ancient states of Central and
Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin,
Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade,
The West
Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous
responded to this
cities and the populations around
division with a war
them lie in what I must call the
of words, designed
Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in
to portray Stalin as a
one form or another, not only to
power-hungry
Soviet influence but to a very high
dictator. Truman had
and in some cases increasing measure
even compared Stalin
of control from Moscow.’
to Hitler.
Consequences
The speech showed that both
sides now clearly viewed each
other as opponents. Stalin
responded by saying:
‘…Mr Churchill now adopts the
position of the warmonger, and in
this Mr Churchill is not alone. He
has friends not only in Britain but
in the USA as well. A point to be
noted in this respect is that Mr.
Churchill and his friends bear a
striking resemblance to Hitler
and his friends.’
This war of words led to both
sides initiating spying and
assessment reports on each
other to determine the thinking
of their opponents. This resulted
in the Long Telegram and
Novikov’s Telegram.
4.) The Long Telegram & Novikov’s Telegram – 1946
Who?
Causes
What happened?
Consequences
Kennan responded to Truman with a telegram on 22nd
The telegrams made
February 1946 that reported:
US
ambassador
to Moscow,
George F.
Kennan
Soviet
ambassador
to
Washington,
Nikolai
Novikov
Truman and
Stalin were
both keen to
understand

There could be no peace with the USSR while it
was opposed to capitalism.

intentions and
they both
facing the imminent
capitalism.
each other’s
threats so
feel that they were
The USSR perceived itself to be at war with

th
September that reported:
commissioned

reports to be
written by

America wanted to dominate the world.
The USA was no longer interested in cooperation.
embassy staff.

The American public was being prepared for war
with the USSR by ‘capitalist elites’.
possibility of war.
The USA now
believed that the
The USSR was rebuilding its military.
Novikov responded to Stalin with a telegram on 27
both governments
USSR was planning
world domination
whilst the USSR
believed the same
about the USA.
These fears led the
USA to form the
‘Truman Doctrine’.
5.) The Truman Doctrine – March 1947
Who?
Causes
George Kennan advised Truman
that the USA’s best hope was to
‘contain’ communism rather than
What happened?
The Truman Doctrine stated that:

fight it on the battlefield.
Much of Europe was devastated
after the war and communism was
President
Truman of
the USA
appealing. Truman was worried


neighbouring countries were next
in line to be threatened.
In Feb 1947 the UK announced it
could no longer afford to pay
for troops in Greece and Turkey.
The US feared communism would
spread to these countries.
because it suggested that
America had the responsibility
to protect the world, not the
democratic freedom.
UN which marked an end to
America had a responsibility to
USA’s traditional policy of
America would send troops and
money help governments against
communism.

The doctrine was significant
communist tyranny and
fight for liberty.
about the Domino Theory: if
communism took over one country,
The world had choice between
Consequences
Communism should not be
allowed to grow and spread and
should be ‘contained’.
Over the course of the Cold War,
the Truman doctrine provided arms
and money to defend Greece, Korea,
Cuba, Vietnam, Afghanistan and
South America.
‘isolationism’.
The doctrine assumed that
Capitalism and Communism were
incompatible = the unofficial
start of the Cold War.
Truman was now committed to
a policy of ‘containment’.
US military aid to Greece
meant that the communists
were defeated in the Greek
Civil War in 1949.
6.) The Marshall Plan – June 1947
Who?
Causes
Economic crisis in
Europe: food
shortages,
unemployment, food
rationing and
President
starvation. Communist
Truman of
party support was
the USA
growing, especially in
George C.
Marshall,
US
France and Italy
where riots broke
out.
Secretary
Truman knew that to
of State
weaken the
attraction of
communism, he
needed to rebuild and
encourage prosperity
in Europe.
What happened?
The USA decided to offer economic
aid to Europe, organised by US
Secretary of State General George
Marshall. Committed $13 billion
USD to rebuild the ruined
economies of Europe.
Countries had to agree free trade
agreements with the USA in order
to receive money. This would
benefit the American economy as
the US would provide the money
and goods needed to rebuild.
American money was made available
to eastern Europe and the USSR as
well. Stalin ordered Poland &
Czechoslovakia not to accept it.
Consequences
European leaders met at the Paris
Conference of 1948 to discuss Marshall
Aid. The USSR walked out of the
conference as they believed the US was
trying to split Europe into two camps.
Stalin claimed that Marshall Aid had
tricked western Europe into an economic
reliance on the US. Led to the creation of
Soviet rivals: COMINFORM and COMECON.
West European economies experienced an
economic boom and had returned to prewar levels of growth when the plan ended in
1952.
Divided Germany as the military governors
of western Germany agreed to accept
money. Divide in Europe was now
economic, not just ideological.
7.) Creation of COMINFORM – Sep 1947
Who?
Causes
Stalin was concerned
that eastern European
countries would be
tempted by the
Communist
Party General
Secretary
Joseph
Stalin
Marshall Plan. He wanted
to prevent this by forcing
Eastern European
countries to become
‘satellite states’,
controlled by the USSR.
Stalin wanted satellite
states on his European
borders to trade with,
and for military defence.
What happened?
Consequences
At an international conference, the USSR
created the Communist Information Bureau
(COMINFORM) which represented Communist
Parties across Europe and brought them under
the control and manipulation of the USSR.
COMINFORM encouraged Communist Parties
in Western Europe to organise demonstrations
and strikes in order to wreck the Marshall
Plan. 2 million workers went on strike in
France in 1947 calling for their government to
reject Marshall Aid.
COMINFORM was also used to stamp out
opposition and ensure the loyalty of Eastern
European governments. 5% of population was
imprisoned in Hungary by 1953.
COMINFORM organised
strikes in Western Europe
did not work as growing
prosperity weakened the
attraction of communism.
COMINFORM
strengthened Stalin’s hold
on Eastern Europe. He
could use COMINFORM to
investigate government
ministers and employees,
and remove or imprison
those who were not loyal.
8.) Creation of COMECON - Jan 1949
Who?
Causes
The failure of
COMINFORM to
destroy Marshall
Plan through political
Communist
Party
General
Secretary
Joseph
Stalin
opposition forced the
USSR to consider an
economic rival. Stalin
wanted to minimise
the influence of the
USA.
Stalin wanted to
prevent Eastern
Europe from
benefiting economical
from the West.
What happened?
Consequences
The Council for Mutual
Was not very successful as the Soviet
Economic Aid (COMECON)
was designed as a trading
organisation of communist
countries. Aims was to
economically develop Eastern
Europe and prevent trade
Union had little spare cash to inject
into the economies of Eastern Europe.
Meant that Eastern Europe did not
develop as fast as Western Europe.
The USSR used COMECON to help
with Western Europe.
rebuild itself first – not its satellite
USSR, Bulgaria,
encouraged COMECON members to
Czechoslovakia, Hungary,
Poland and Romania were all
members in first year.
Albania and Eastern
Germany joined in 1950.
states. The USSR eventually
specialise in different products.
Stalin’s wish of a sphere of influence
over Eastern Europe was now made
an economic reality.
9.) The Berlin Blockade and Airlift – June 1948
Who?
Causes
Stalin didn’t want a
divided Germany.
Germany’s main
Communist
Party
General
Secretary
of the
USSR,
Joseph
Stalin
US
President
Harry
Truman
economic resources
were in the west and he
wanted to prevent the
USA from having
further influence in
Germany. He feared
they were rebuilding
Germany as an ally
against the USSR.
He viewed the merging
of the Allied zones of
Germany in 1947, along
with the introduction of
the Deutschmark in
June 1948 as an
attempt to divide
Germany. He expected
the western powers to
make a humiliating
retreat.
What happened?
Consequences
Stalin set up a military blockade
around West Berlin on 23
rd
June
1948. He planned to cut western
Germany off from its capital: Berlin.
This would prove that a divided
Germany could not work.
All roads and railways to Berlin were
blocked by the Soviets. Stalin
assumed the West would give in as 2
million Berliner’s were starving.
Truman responded with the Berlin
Airlift. It was the first major test of
the Truman Doctrine. Allied planes
would supply West Berlin from the air.
The first flight was on the 26th and by
Sep, a US aircraft was leaving every 3
minutes. 70 large cargo planes airlifted
600-700 tonnes of food and supplies
every day. This increased to 1000
tonnes within weeks. At its height, the
airlift provided over 170,000 tonnes of
supplies, flying along 3 ‘air corridors’
during January 1949.
Stalin backed down on 12th May
1949. Stalin seemed like the
aggressor as the attack on Berlin
looked like the first step in a march
westwards. This was a propaganda
success for the USA.
Blockade seemed to prove to the West
that the USSR wanted to take over
Europe. This led to the creation of
the NATO alliance in April 1949 and
the creation of West Germany (FDR)
as an independent state in Sep 1949.
This in turn forced the USSR to
establish East Germany (GDR) as an
independent nation one month later.
Stalin ordered the speeding up of
atomic testing as he realised that
without an atomic bomb, he could not
win confrontations with the USA. The
USSR test their first atomic bomb in
1949, starting the arms race.
10.) Creation of NATO – April 1949
Who?
1949 – USA,
UK, Canada,
Iceland,
France,
Portugal,
Italy, Belgium,
Luxembourg,
Netherlands,
Denmark and
Norway. 1952
– Greece and
Turkey. 1955
– West
Germany.
1982 – Spain.
Causes
The Berlin
Blockade raised
the possibility of
war in Europe as it
was the first
military
confrontation of
the Cold War.
European
countries were
keen to establish
a military alliance
in order to ‘keep
the USA in, the
USSR out and the
Germans down.’
What happened?
The North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) was
established as a military alliance
between the USA and Western
Europe. An attack on one member
would be considered as an attack
on all members.
It was in effect a military alliance
with the aim of defending the
West against communism. It
wasn’t just a promise either. Five
divisions of US troops were based
in Germany.
West Germany joined NATO in
1955, adding millions more troops.
Consequences
The creation of NATO significantly
heightened tensions in the Cold War. The
creation of NATO now added a clear
military divide to Europe.
The USSR felt threatened by the
creation of NATO and especially when
West German troops joined. The USSR
responded by creating the Warsaw Pact in
1955 which was a military alliance of
Eastern European countries.
The build-up of military alliances turned
into an arms race when the USSR tested
its own nuclear bomb in 1949. But
paradoxically, the threat of Mutually
Assured Destruction (MAD) prevented war
in Europe.
11.) The Korean War – June 1950 – July 1953
Who?
North Korea,
led by Kim Il
Sung
South Korea
led by
Syngman
Rhee
China led by
Mao Zedong
USA led by
President
Truman and
Dwight D.
Eisenhower
from 1953
US/UN
Forces led by
General
Douglas
MacArthur
Causes
Truman believed the
Russians were behind
the attack and it was
a test of his policy of
containment.
China had become
communists in 1949
providing further
proof that
containment was
What happened?
Korea was divided after the Second
World War. On 25th June 1950, North
Korea led by Kim Il Sung invaded the
South in an attempt to re-unite the
country by force.
in Korea. The Security Council approved
the use of force to defeat the
In Sep 1949 the USSR
In Sep 1950, US troops led by
atomic bomb. Truman
became convinced
that communism
wanted to take over
the world.
UN vote gave the USA
greater ‘legitimacy’ to
invade
in the world. Proved that
containment could work to prevent
the Domino Theory – would later
War led to rearmament
throughout the western world. The
Involvement of USSR and China
persuaded the US to increase
defence spending, up to 400% after
General Douglas MacArthur led a
successful counter-attack and by 1st
Oct, US troops had reached the 38
to containing communism anywhere
Vietnam.
Council to back the use of US troops
Northern invasion.
Demonstrated the US commitment
influence decision making in
Truman asked the UN Security
needed.
had developed an
Consequences
th
parallel. When MacArthur invaded
North Korea, the Chinese intervened,
pushing US led forces back to Seoul.
For the rest of the war, stalemate
ensued. Ceasefire was agreed on 27th
July 1953. Korea remained divided.
the war. Marshall Aid money also
was diverted to defence spending in
Western Europe.
Dangers of nuclear war, proposed
by General MacArthur scared the
world and put pressure on the
superpowers to negotiate. After
the death of Stalin in 1953, this led
to a thaw in relations.
12.) Creation of the Warsaw Pact – May 1955
Who?
Causes
What happened?
Consequences
The USSR responded to
NATO by creating the
USSR, Poland,
Czechoslovakia,
Romania,
Bulgaria,
Hungary,
Albania and
East Germany.
The formation of NATO in 1949
Warsaw Pact which was a
altered the balance of power in
military alliance of
Europe in the West’s favour.
Eastern European
Stalin needed his own rival alliance
countries. The countries
to ensure parity with the west.
agreed to respect each
The addition of West Germany
to NATO in 1955 along with over a
million extra German soldiers
other’s independence and
to defend each other in
the event of war.
accelerated the need for the
Unlike NATO, the Warsaw
USSR to create a military alliance.
Pact countries were
strictly dominated by the
USSR.
The creation of a communist
military alliance cemented the
control of the USSR over Eastern
Europe.
It also contributed to the
increasing competition of the
arms race. The Warsaw Pact had
poor technology and relied on
conscription, therefore the USSR
focused on developing nuclear
weapons as a means of deterrence.
13.) The Hungarian Uprising – Feb-Nov 1956
Who?
Causes
Hungarians were dissatisfied
with Soviet rule. After 1949,
COMINFORM imposed an
oppressive regime on Hungary.
Hungarian land was given to other
countries, resources shipped to
Hungarian
Dictator
Matyas
Rakosi
Hungarian
Leader
Erno Gero
Hungarian
Leader
Imre Nagy
Hungarian
Leader
Janos
Kadar
USSR led
by Nikita
Khrushchev
Russia, political parties abolished
and Matyas Rakosi was appointed
dictator in Aug 1952.
Rakosi’s reign was harsh – he
used what he called ‘salami
tactics’ to deal with opposition
‘one slice at a time’. He
imprisoned over 387,000 people
and was responsible for over
2000 deaths.
The death of Stalin in 1953 led
to the end of ‘Stalinism’ and the
start of what Khrushchev called
‘peaceful co-existence’ with the
west. This was taken to mean
that Soviet rule was to be
relaxed in Hungary.
In June 1956, there were antiSoviet demonstrations in Poland.
Khrushchev agreed to allow
reforms there. This inspired
many Hungarians to demonstrate
and protest, hoping to gain
reforms in their country.
What happened?
Consequences
After Khrushchev’s ‘secret speech’
in Feb 1956, many students began
to riot in Budapest, attacking
Soviet troops with petrol bombs
and grenades. Police lost control
and protests erupted in other
cities. By the summer, Khrushchev
realised that Rakosi was
extremely unpopular & replaced
him with Erno Gero in July 1956.
This made little difference.
On 24th Oct, Khrushchev agreed
to calls for a more liberal leader
and appointed Imre Nagy. He
proposed leaving the Warsaw Pact,
making Hungary a democracy with
free election, communism should
end and Hungary should ask the UN
for help against the USSR.
Khrushchev worried that to allow
this greater freedom and let
Hungary leave the Warsaw Pact
would mean the end to Soviet
control of Eastern Europe. He
responded by sending 200,000
Soviet troops and 2500 tanks into
Hungary to crush the government.
They reached Budapest on 4
th
Nov.
20,000 Hungarians were killed and
another 200,000 fled to Austria.
Nagy fled to the Yugoslavian
embassy but was arrested by
Soviet troops as soon as he left.
He was accused of treason by
Khrushchev and was hanged in
June 1958.
The west was accused of
‘abandoning’ the Hungarians.
The USA had encouraged the
uprising but didn’t want to risk
nuclear war. May have actually
improved relations as USSR had
seen the USA as having no
desire to interfere in its sphere
of influence.
The lack of military help from
the USA discouraged other
radicals in Eastern Europe from
rising up. In that sense,
Khrushchev’s show of force
worked to strengthen his
control on Eastern Europe.
Janos Kadar was appointed as
the new Hungarian leader who
called for: re-establishing
communist control and remaining
in the Warsaw Pact.
14.) The Berlin Crisis & U2 Incident – 1958-1961
Who?
Causes
What happened?
Consequences
In Nov 1958, Khrushchev issued an
Khrushchev was
ultimatum giving Western Powers six months
deeply concerned
to withdraw from Berlin. Eisenhower was
by the growing
unsure how to respond but agreed to hold
refugee problem.
talks on the issue.
Between 1949 and
1961, 2.7 million
East Germans
USSR led
escaped to West
by Nikita
Germany through
Khrushchev
Berlin. Many were
USA led by
highly skilled.
President
Khrushchev also
Truman
believed that West
and Dwight
Berlin was being
D.
used by the West
Eisenhower
as a base for
from 1953
spying and
sabotage.
The post-war
recovery of West
Berlin seemed to
remind people of
from escaping to the West,
ending the refugee crisis. Allowed
the communists to consolidate
their hold over East Germany.
Further talks are held in Geneva (May
1959) and at Camp David (Sep 1959) but
both talks fail to achieve anything. Further
talks are scheduled for 1960.
On 1st May 1960, an American U2 spy
plane is shot down over USSR. Khrushchev
used this to expose the USA’s spying
programme at the UN.
The Paris Summit on 16th May 1960 breaks
down as Khrushchev walks out. Eisenhower
refuses to punish the leaders of the U2
programme.
At the Vienna Conference on 4
The wall stopped East Germans
Allowed Khrushchev to avoid war
with USA whilst appearing strong.
Was propaganda victory for the
USA as USSR had to ‘wall people in’
to make sure they didn’t run away
from communism. Kennedy took
advantage of this by touring West
Berlin in 1963, saying in a speech:
“All free men, wherever they live,
are citizens of Berlin and
therefore as a free man, I take
pride in the words Ich bin ein
Berliner.”
th
June 1961,
Khrushchev challenges Kennedy to withdraw
US troops from Berlin within 6 months or
to declare war. Kennedy refuses.
the benefits of
On morning of 13th Aug 1961, Berliner’s
capitalism. This
awake to find that a fence had been
worried Khrushchev.
erected around the whole of West Berlin. It
was eventually reinforced.
86 Germans would die over the
next 30 years in trying to cross the
wall.
Led to a period of calm in Europe
as both sides accepted there was
no immediate prospect of change so
tension went down.
15.) The Cuban Missile Crisis – October 1962
Who?
Causes
What happened?
Consequences
In August 1961, Khrushchev agreed to defend
Long-term
The continuing arms race
forced both sides to find
Cuba by stationing Russian nuclear missiles in Cuba.
On 25th September 1962, Khrushchev sent 114
ships to Cuba carrying nuclear warheads and long
range missiles.
ways in which to gain
military supremacy. The
14th Oct – American U2 spy plane spots a nuclear
launch of Sputnik 1 in
site under construction in Cuba.
1957 had intensified the
arms race. In early 1962,
the US placed nuclear
16th Oct – Kennedy was shown the photographs
proving the missiles were on Cuba. The ExComm
committee is established and he spends 6 days
missiles in Turkey. The
secretly discussing how to respond.
USSR decided to retaliate
by placing missiles in Cuba.
This would allow the USSR
to undermine American
20th Oct – Kennedy ignores pressure from ‘hawks’ and
decides to impose a naval blockade around Cuba to
prevent further missiles reaching Cuba.
nuclear superiority without
having to develop
expensive inter-continental
USA led by
President
Kennedy
USSR led
by Nikita
Krushchev
Cuba led by
Fidel
Castro
ballistic missiles.
22
pro-US Batista
Khrushchev to recall his ships on route to Cuba. He
promised to destroy any ships that passed the
‘quarantine line’.
23rd Oct – Khrushchev states that Soviet ships will
break though the blockade.
government in Cuba with
a communist government
led by Fidel Castro in
1959 intensified fears of
24th Oct – Khrushchev issues a statement saying the
USSR is prepared to respond with nuclear weapons if
the USA goes to war.
communist expansion in
Latin America. Cuba was
only 90 miles from Florida.
Castro nationalised US
– Kennedy gives a public address officially
declaring the blockade with 100 ships and calls on
Short-term
The overthrow of the
nd
25
th
Oct – Kennedy writes a letter to Khrushchev
asking him to withdraw missiles from Cuba. Both
armies told to prepare for war. Tension at highest
point.
property in Cuba and the
USA banned the import
26 Oct – Khrushchev’s first offer: he ignores calls
of Cuban sugar – their
for a nuclear war and responds, saying in a letter he
main export. This forced
will withdraw the missiles in return for a US
Cuba to turn to the USSR
guarantee not to invade Cuba.
for help. The USSR now
gave economic aid to Cuba.
th
27th Oct – Khrushchev’s second offer: he sends a
second letter now demanding that the US withdraws
The failed Bay of Pigs
its missiles from Turkey in return for the removal
invasion of Cuba in April
of Cuban missiles. Kennedy ignores this letter but
1961 by the CIA left
agrees to the first letter. Robert Kennedy then
Castro fearing another US
meets with Soviet ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin. He
invasion. He asked
agrees to Russian demands to withdraw missiles from
Khrushchev for military
Turkey but insists the deal must be kept secret.
help.
28th Oct – Khrushchev agrees to the secret deal
and orders all ‘cargoes’ to return to the USSR.
Short-Term
Kennedy and the USA appeared
victorious as Khrushchev was seen
by the world as the one to
publically back down. This
propaganda defeat contributed to
Khrushchev resigning in 1964.
Kennedy had agreed to pull US
missiles out of Turkey. In reality,
the event did end in compromise.
European allies of the US were
shocked at how little they were
consulted throughout the crisis.
French leader Charles de Gaulle
pulls France out of NATO in
response. NATO is weakened.
The Chinese were not impressed
with the performance of the
USSR so began to pursue a more
independent foreign policy. World
communism was also weakened.
This led to the creation of a
‘hotline’ in June 1963 between
Washington and Moscow in order
to avoid future
‘misunderstandings’.
The Limited Test Ban Treaty
was agreed in August 1963. Both
sides agreed to ban nuclear
testing in space, in the sea and
above ground.
Long-term
Both sides recognised the dangers
of direct conflict. The USA and
USSR began to search for
meaningful ‘peaceful co-existence’
as they realised how close they
came to nuclear war. This led to a
policy called ‘détente’ – a
relaxing of tension in the Cold
War which dominated superpower
relations in the 1970s.