Photo AI
Soviet policies to control Eastern Europe were very effective, up to 1961 - Scottish Highers History - Question 41 - 2019
Question 41
Soviet policies to control Eastern Europe were very effective, up to 1961. How valid is this view?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Soviet policies to control Eastern Europe were very effective, up to 1961 - Scottish Highers History - Question 41 - 2019
Step 1
Evaluate the effectiveness of Soviet policies in Eastern Europe
Answer
The effectiveness of Soviet policies in maintaining control over Eastern Europe up to 1961 can be evaluated by examining key historical events and policies implemented by the USSR during this period. One of the significant events was the establishment of Soviet satellite states, which allowed the USSR to create a buffer zone against Western influence.
Khrushchev's policies of de-Stalinization, initiated after Stalin's death in 1953, introduced a degree of flexibility and reform. He aimed to reduce the oppressive measures that characterized Stalin's regime, which, in turn, generated some resistance in Eastern European states, particularly in Poland and Hungary.
Step 2
Analyze the situation in Poland (1956)
Answer
In Poland, economic grievances led to demands for political changes. This was initially seen during the events of 1956, where widespread protests were met with some concessions by the Soviet leadership. The appointment of Władysław Gomułka, who adopted a more nationalist line, represented a temporary victory for Polish reforms. However, it also demonstrated the limits of Soviet control as Poland sought more autonomy while trying to maintain its allegiance to the Eastern Bloc.
Step 3
Discuss the Hungarian Revolution (1956)
Answer
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 starkly showcased the limitations of Soviet control. Initial reforms led to greater calls for political freedom, but the response was brutal. The swift military intervention by the USSR to suppress the revolution highlighted that the Soviet grip could be challenged and that local populations sought more freedom than Moscow was willing to tolerate.
Step 4
Consider the Berlin Crisis (1961)
Answer
The Berlin Crisis in 1961 further illustrated the tensions in Soviet control. The construction of the Berlin Wall became a symbol of the ideological divide between east and west. The inability of the Soviet Union to maintain stability in East Germany, despite its military dominance, indicated a growing frustration within the Eastern Bloc regarding Soviet authority.
Step 5
Conclusion on the validity of the view
Answer
In conclusion, while Soviet policies initially established effective control over Eastern Europe, the events leading up to and including 1961 demonstrate that this effectiveness was increasingly challenged. Resistance movements in Poland and Hungary, combined with geopolitical tensions highlighted by the Berlin Crisis, suggest that the view holds some validity but must be qualified by an understanding of the growing dissent and desire for autonomy within the satellite states.