Cold War military-political blocs summary. Cold War - the time when the guns are silent
cold war
cold war- this is a military, political, ideological and economic confrontation between the USSR and the USA and their supporters. It was the result of contradictions between two state systems: capitalist and socialist.
The Cold War was accompanied by an intensification of the arms race, the presence of nuclear weapons which could lead to a third world war.
The term was first used by the writer George Orwell October 19, 1945 in You and the Atomic Bomb
Period:
1946-1989
Causes of the Cold War
Political
An insoluble ideological contradiction between the two systems, models of society.
Fear of the West and the United States of strengthening the role of the USSR.
Economic
The struggle for resources and markets for products
Weakening the economic and military power of the enemy
Ideological
Total, irreconcilable struggle of two ideologies
The desire to fence the population of their countries with the way of life in enemy countries
Objectives of the parties
To consolidate the spheres of influence achieved during the Second World War.
Put the enemy in unfavorable political, economic and ideological conditions
The goal of the USSR: the complete and final victory of socialism on a world scale
US goal: containment of socialism, opposition to the revolutionary movement, in the future - "throw socialism into the dustbin of history." The USSR was seen as "evil empire"
Conclusion: neither side was right, each aspired to world domination.
The forces of the parties were not equal. The USSR bore all the hardships of the war on its shoulders, and the United States received huge profits from it. It was not until the mid-1970s that parity.
Cold War Means:
Arms race
Block confrontation
Destabilization of the military and economic situation of the enemy
psychological warfare
Ideological confrontation
Intervention in domestic politics
Active intelligence activity
Collection of compromising materials on political leaders, etc.
Major periods and events
March 5, 1946- W. Churchill's speech in Fulton(USA) - the beginning of the Cold War, in which the idea of creating an alliance to fight communism was proclaimed. The speech of the Prime Minister of Great Britain in the presence of the new American President Truman G. had two goals:
Prepare the Western public for the subsequent rupture between the victorious countries.
Literally eradicate from the consciousness of people the feeling of gratitude to the USSR, which appeared after the victory over fascism.
The United States set a goal: to achieve economic and military superiority over the USSR
1947 – The Truman Doctrine". Its essence: containment of the spread of the expansion of the USSR by creating regional military blocs dependent on the United States.
1947 - Marshall Plan - a program to help Europe after World War II
1948-1953 - Soviet-Yugoslav conflict over the ways of building socialism in Yugoslavia.
Split the world into two camps: supporters of the USSR and supporters of the USA.
1949 - the split of Germany into the capitalist FRG, the capital is Bonn and the Soviet GDR, the capital is Berlin. (Before that, two zones were called Bizonia)
1949 - creation NATO(North Atlantic military-political alliance)
1949 - creation CMEA(Council for Mutual Economic Assistance)
1949 - successful atomic bomb test in the USSR.
1950 -1953 – war in korea. The United States participated directly in it, while the USSR veiled it by sending military specialists to Korea.
US target: to prevent Soviet influence in the Far East. Outcome: the division of the country into the DPRK (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the capital of Pyongyang), established close contacts with the USSR, + into the South Korean state (Seoul) - the zone of American influence.
2nd period: 1955-1962 (cooling in relations between countries , growing contradictions in the world socialist system)
During this period, the world stood on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe.
Anti-communist speeches in Hungary, Poland, events in the GDR, the Suez Crisis
1955 - creation ATS- Organizations of the Warsaw Pact.
1955 - Geneva Conference of Heads of Government of the Victorious Countries.
1957 - development and successful testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the USSR, which increased tension in the world.
October 4, 1957 - opened space age . Launch of the first artificial satellite land in the USSR.
1959 - the victory of the revolution in Cuba (Fidel Castro). Cuba became one of the most reliable partners of the USSR.
1961 - aggravation of relations with China.
1962 – Caribbean crisis. Settled by Khrushchev N.S. and D. Kennedy
The signing of a number of agreements on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.
The arms race, which significantly weakened the economies of countries.
1962 - complication of relations with Albania
1963 - USSR, UK and USA signed first nuclear test ban treaty in three spheres: atmosphere, space and under water.
1968 - complication of relations with Czechoslovakia ("Prague Spring").
Dissatisfaction with Soviet policy in Hungary, Poland, the GDR.
1964-1973- US war in Vietnam. The USSR provided military and material assistance to Vietnam.
3rd period: 1970-1984- tension strip
1970s - the USSR made a number of attempts to strengthen " detente" international tension, arms reduction.
A number of strategic arms limitation agreements have been signed. So in 1970, an agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany (V. Brand) and the USSR (Brezhnev L.I.), according to which the parties pledged to resolve all their disputes exclusively by peaceful means.
May 1972 - arrival in Moscow of US President Richard Nixon. Treaty signed on limiting missile defense systems (PRO) And OSV-1- Interim Agreement on Certain Measures in the Sphere of Strategic Offensive Arms Limitation.
Convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling bacteriological(biological) and toxic weapons and their destruction.
1975- high point of détente, signed in August in Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe And Declaration of Principles on Relations between states. Signed by 33 states, including the USSR, USA, Canada.
Sovereign equality, respect
Non-use of force and threats of force
Inviolability of borders
Territorial integrity
Non-intervention in internal affairs
Peaceful settlement of disputes
Respect for human rights and freedoms
Equality, the right of peoples to control their own destiny
Cooperation between states
Fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law
1975 - Soyuz-Apollo joint space program
1979- Treaty on the Limitation of Offensive Arms - OSV-2(Brezhnev L.I. and Carter D.)
What are these principles?
4 period: 1979-1987 - complication of the international situation
The USSR became a truly great power that had to be reckoned with. The détente was mutually beneficial.
The aggravation of relations with the United States in connection with the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan in 1979 (the war lasted from December 1979 to February 1989). The goal of the USSR- protect the borders Central Asia against the penetration of Islamic fundamentalism. Eventually- The US has not ratified SALT-2.
Since 1981 new president Reagan R. deployed programs SOI– Strategic defense initiatives.
1983- USA host ballistic missiles in Italy, England, Germany, Belgium, Denmark.
Anti-space defense systems are being developed.
The USSR withdraws from the Geneva talks.
5 period: 1985-1991 - The final stage easing tension.
Having come to power in 1985, Gorbachev M.S. pursues a policy "new political thinking".
Negotiations: 1985 - in Geneva, 1986 - in Reykjavik, 1987 - in Washington. Recognition of the existing world order, expansion of economic ties between countries, despite different ideologies.
December 1989 - Gorbachev M.S. and Bush at the summit on the island of Malta announced about the end of the Cold War. Its end was caused by the economic weakness of the USSR, its inability to support the arms race anymore. In addition, pro-Soviet regimes were established in the countries of Eastern Europe, the USSR lost support in their person.
1990 - German reunification. It became a kind of victory for the West in the Cold War. A fall berlin wall(existed from August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989)
December 25, 1991 - President D. Bush announced the end of the Cold War and congratulated his compatriots on the victory in it.
Results
The formation of a unipolar world, in which the United States, a superpower, began to occupy a leading position.
The United States and its allies defeated the socialist camp.
Beginning of Westernization of Russia
The collapse of the Soviet economy, the fall of its authority in the international market
Emigration to the West of citizens of Russia, the way of his life seemed too attractive to them.
The collapse of the USSR and the beginning of the formation of a new Russia.
Terms
Parity- the primacy of the side in something.
Confrontation- confrontation, clash of two social systems (people, groups, etc.).
Ratification- giving the document legal force, accepting it.
Westernization- borrowing a Western European or American way of life.
Material prepared: Melnikova Vera Aleksandrovna
The Second World War was the most violent conflict in the history of mankind. She changed the world forever. The tension between the countries that won this war led to a split in the world into two camps, communist and capitalist. The USSR and the USA began a struggle for dominance in a world that had survived two world wars.
The main causes of the Cold War are the contradictions of two ideologies, models of society - capitalist and socialist. The strengthening of the USSR in the post-war period was feared by the country cap. camps. The beginning of the Cold War was provoked by the absence of a common enemy, and the political ambitions of individual leaders played an important role. The following periods of the Cold War can be distinguished:
- 1946 (March 5) - 1953 A speech given by Churchill in 1946 in Fulton, in which the idea of creating an alliance of Anglo-Saxon countries to combat the communist threat, marked the beginning of the Cold War. However, in fact, the confrontation began a little earlier, but in the spring of 1946 the situation seriously escalated due to the refusal of the USSR to withdraw troops from Iran. The goal of the United States in this situation was to achieve both military and economic superiority over the USSR.
- 1953 - 1962 If we evaluate the stages of the Cold War in terms of the risk of a new major military conflict, then this period was the most intense. The world is on the brink of a nuclear conflict. This time brought a thaw in the cultural and spiritual life of the citizens of the USSR, but in Poland, the GDR, Hungary, the fifties were marked by anti-communist speeches. The situation became even more aggravated after the USSR conducted successful tests of a ballistic missile. The world was shocked by the Suez, as well as the Berlin and Caribbean crises. The Caribbean crisis of 1962 was resolved only during personal negotiations between the heads of the USSR and the USA. It should be noted that Kennedy and Khrushchev also signed a number of agreements on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.
- 1962 - 1979 The economies of the rival countries bore an enormous burden. The arms race required the development of more powerful weapons, which led to huge costs. Tensions in relations between the US and the USSR still remain. Nevertheless, the great powers agree on the non-proliferation of strategic weapons. Soviet and US scientists are working on the Soyuz-Apollo joint space program. During this period, the first signs of the USSR lagging behind in the arms race are outlined.
- 1979 - 1987 The entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan led to a serious aggravation of relations between the US and the USSR. The United States deploys its ballistic missiles in Italy, England, Germany, Belgium, and Denmark in 1983. An anti-space defense system is being actively developed. The reaction of the USSR is the Withdrawal from the Geneva talks. The missile attack warning system is on alert.
- 1987 - 1991 The final stage of the Cold War was marked by global changes in the world. Gorbachev's policy of "new political thinking" made it possible to noticeably improve the foreign policy situation. But the economy of the USSR was finally undermined by the ill-conceived reforms that began in the country. And this led to the defeat of the USSR in the Cold War.
The weakness of the Soviet Union's economy predetermined the end of the Cold War. She was unable to support pro-communist regimes and the arms race. Undoubtedly, anti-Soviet speeches in different countries. The reunification of Germany and the fall of the Berlin Wall became a symbol of the victory of the Western countries. For the USSR, the consequences of the Cold War were disastrous.
The subsequent formation of a unipolar model of the world order can also be attributed to the results of the Cold War. After the fall of the Soviet Union, only one superpower remained: the United States. Speaking briefly about the Cold War, it is worth mentioning that, thanks to the rivalry of the great powers, there was a serious leap in science, there appeared a large number of technologies, especially military ones.
You can learn more about that difficult period in world history by reading documentaries. One of them is Heroes and Victims of the Cold War.
COLD WAR a world confrontation between two military-political blocs led by the USSR and the USA, which did not reach the point of an open military clash between them. The concept of "cold war" appeared in journalism in 1945-1947 and gradually became fixed in the political vocabulary.After Second World War the world was actually divided into spheres of influence between two blocs with different social systems. The USSR sought to expand the "socialist camp" led by single center on the model of the Soviet command and administrative system. In its sphere of influence, the USSR sought the introduction state property to the main means of production and to the political dominance of the communists. This system was supposed to control resources that were previously in the hands of private capital and capitalist states. The United States, in turn, sought to reorganize the world in such a way that favorable conditions would be created for the activities of private corporations and the strengthening of influence in the world. Despite this difference between the two systems, there were common features at the heart of their conflict. Both systems were based on the principles industrial society which required industrial growth, and hence an increase in resource consumption. Planetary struggle for resources of two systems with different
principles of regulation of industrial relations could not but lead to clashes. But the approximate equality of forces between the blocs, and then the threat of nuclear missile destruction of the world in the event of a war between the USSR and the USA, kept the rulers of the superpowers from a direct confrontation. Thus arose the phenomenon of the "cold war", which never resulted in world war, although it constantly led to wars in individual countries and regions (local wars).The immediate beginning of the Cold War was associated with conflicts in Europe and Asia. The Europeans, devastated by the war, were very interested in the experience of accelerated industrial development in the USSR. Information about the Soviet Union was idealized, and millions of people hoped that replacing the capitalist system, which was going through hard times, with a socialist one, could quickly restore the economy and normal life. The peoples of Asia and Africa were even more interested in the communist experience and assistance from the USSR. who fought for independence and hoped to catch up with the West just as the USSR did. As a result, the Soviet sphere of influence began to expand rapidly, which caused fears among the leaders of the Western countries, the former allies of the USSR in the Anti-Hitler coalition.
On March 5, 1946, speaking in the presence of US President Truman in Fulton, W. Churchill accused the USSR of launching world expansion, of attacking the territory of the "free world". Churchill called on the "Anglo-Saxon world", that is, the United States, Great Britain and their allies to repulse the USSR. The Fulton speech became a kind of declaration of the Cold War.
In 19461947 the USSR stepped up pressure on Greece and Turkey. In Greece there was Civil War, and the USSR demanded from Turkey the provision of territory for a military base in the Mediterranean, which could be a prelude to the seizure of the country. Under these conditions, Truman announced his readiness to "contain" the USSR throughout the world. This position was called the "Truman Doctrine" and meant the end of cooperation between the victors of fascism. The Cold War has begun.
But the Cold War front ran not between countries, but within them. About a third of the population of France and Italy supported the Communist Party. The poverty of war-torn Europeans was the breeding ground for communist success. In 1947, US Secretary of State George Marshall announced that the United States was ready to provide European countries with material assistance to restore the economy. Initially, even the USSR entered into negotiations for aid, but it soon became clear that American aid would not be provided to countries ruled by the Communists. The US demanded political concessions: the Europeans were to maintain capitalist relations and withdraw the communists from their governments. Under US pressure, the Communists were expelled from the governments of France and Italy, and in April 1948, 16 countries signed the Marshall Plan.
about providing them with assistance of 17 billion dollars in 1948-1952. The pro-communist governments of Eastern European countries did not participate in the plan. In the context of the intensification of the struggle for Europe, the multi-party governments of "people's democracy" in these countries were replaced by totalitarian regimes clearly subordinate to Moscow (only the Yugoslav communist regime of I. Tito left Stalin in 1948 and occupied an independent position). In January 1949, most of the countries of Eastern Europe united in an economic union - the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance.These events consolidated the split of Europe. In April 1949, the United States, Canada and most of Western Europe formed a military alliance North Atlantic bloc (NATO). The USSR and the countries of Eastern Europe responded to this only in 1955 by creating their own military alliance, the Warsaw Pact Organization.
Particularly hard the division of Europe affected the fate of Germany the line of split passed through the territory of the country. The east of Germany was occupied by the USSR, the west by the USA, Great Britain and France. They also had in their hands West Side Berlin. In 1948, western Germany was included in the Marshall Plan, but eastern Germany was not. IN different parts countries formed different economic systems, which made it difficult to unite the country. In June
In 1948, the Western allies carried out a unilateral monetary reform, abolishing the old-fashioned money. All money supply old Reichsmarks poured into East Germany, which was partly the reason that the Soviet occupation authorities were forced to close the borders. West Berlin was completely surrounded. Stalin decided to use the situation to blockade him, hoping to capture the entire German capital and win concessions from the US. But the Americans organized an "air bridge" to Berlin and broke the blockade of the city, which was lifted in 1949. In May 1949, the lands that were in the western zone of occupation united into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). West Berlin became an autonomous self-governing city associated with the FRG. In October 1949 in the Sovietzone of occupation was created by the German Democratic Republic (GDR).The rivalry between the USSR and the USA inevitably led to the buildup of armaments by both blocs. Opponents sought to achieve superiority precisely in the field of atomic and then nuclear weapons, as well as in their means of delivery. Soon, rockets became such means in addition to bombers. The "race" of rocket- nuclear weapons, which led to extreme strain on the economies of both blocs. To meet the needs of defense, powerful associations of state, industrial and military structures were created - military-industrial complexes (MIC). Giant material resources and the best scientific forces were spent on their needs. The military-industrial complex created the most modern technology, which went primarily to the needs of the arms race. Initially, the leader in the "race" was the United States, which had atomic weapons. The USSR made every effort to create its own atomic bomb. Soviet scientists and intelligence officers worked on this task. Some engineering solutions were obtained through intelligence channels from secret American institutions, but these data could not have been used if Soviet scientists had not come close to creating atomic weapons on their own. The creation of atomic weapons in the USSR was a matter of time, but there was no such time, so intelligence data had great importance. In 1949, the USSR tested its own atomic bomb. The presence of the bomb in the USSR kept the US from using nuclear weapons in Korea, although such a possibility was discussed by high-ranking US military officials.
In 1952, the United States tested a thermonuclear device in which an atomic bomb played the role of a fuse, and the explosion power was many times greater than the atomic one. In 1953 the USSR tested a thermonuclear bomb. From that time until the 1960s, the USA overtook the USSR only in the number of bombs and bombers, that is, quantitatively, but not qualitatively - the USSR had any weapon that the USA had.
The danger of a war between the USSR and the USA forced them to act "bypass", fighting for the resources of the world away from Europe. Immediately after the start of the Cold War Far East turned into an arena for a fierce struggle between supporters of communist ideas and the pro-Western path of development. The significance of this struggle was very great, since the Pacific region had huge human and raw material resources. The stability of the capitalist system largely depended on control over this region.
The first clash of the two systems took place in China, the world's largest country in terms of population. After the Second World War, the northeast of China, occupied by the Soviet army, was transferred to the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), subordinate to Communist Party China (CPC). The PLA received what was captured by the Soviet troops japanese weapons. The rest of the country was subject to the internationally recognized government of the Kuomintang party headed by Chiang Kai-shek. Initially, it was planned to hold national elections in China, which were supposed to decide who would rule the country. But both sides were not sure of victory, and instead of elections, a civil war broke out in China in 1946-1949. It was won by the CPC led by Mao Zedong.
The second major clash of the two systems in Asia took place in Korea. After World War II, this country was split into two zones of occupation - Soviet and American. In 1948 they withdrew their troops from the country, leaving the regimes of their henchmen, the pro-Soviet Kim Il Sung in the north and the pro-American Lee Syngman in the south, to rule. Each of them sought to capture the entire country. In June 1950, the Korean War began, in which the United States, China, and small units of other countries were involved. Soviet pilots "crossed swords" with the American in the sky over China. Despite heavy casualties on both sides, the war ended almost in the same positions in which it began ( see also KOREAN WAR).
On the other hand, the Western countries suffered important defeats in the colonial wars France lost the war in Vietnam in 19461954, and the Netherlands in Indonesia in 19471949.
The Cold War led to the fact that in both "camps" repressions unfolded against dissidents and people who advocated cooperation and rapprochement between the two systems. In the USSR and the countries of Eastern Europe, people were arrested and often shot on charges of “cosmopolitanism” (lack of patriotism, cooperation with the West), “low worship of the West” and “Titoism” (connections with Tito). In the United States, a “witch hunt” began, during which secret communists and “agents” of the USSR were “exposed”. American "witch-hunt", as opposed to Stalinist repressions did not lead to mass terror. But she also had her victims caused by spy mania. Soviet intelligence was indeed working in the US, and the US intelligence agencies decided to show that they were able to expose Soviet spies. The employee Julius Rosenberg was chosen for the role of "chief spy". He did indeed render minor services to Soviet intelligence. It was announced that Rosenberg and his wife Ethel "stole America's atomic secrets". Subsequently, it turned out that Ethel did not know about her husband's cooperation with intelligence. Despite this, both spouses were sentenced to death and, despite the solidarity campaign
with them in America and Europe, executed in June 1953.The execution of the Rosenbergs was the last serious act of the first stage of the Cold War. Stalin died in March 1953, and the new Soviet leadership, headed by Nikita Khrushchev began to look for ways to improve relations with the West.
In 1953-1954 the wars in Korea and Vietnam were stopped. In 1955 the USSR established equal relations with Yugoslavia and the FRG. The great powers also agreed to grant a neutral status to Austria occupied by them and to withdraw their troops from the country.
In 1956, the situation in the world worsened again due to unrest in the socialist countries and attempts by Great Britain, France and Israel to seize the Suez Canal in Egypt. But this time, both "superpowers" the USSR and the USA have made efforts to ensure that conflicts do not escalate. Khrushchev during this period was not interested in intensifying the confrontation. In 1959 he came to the USA. It was the first ever visit of the leader of our country to America. American society made a big impression on Khrushchev. He was especially struck
the successes of agriculture much more efficient than in the USSR.However, by that time the USSR could also impress the United States with its successes in the field of high technologies, and above all in space exploration. The system of state socialism made it possible to concentrate large resources for solving one problem at the expense of others. On October 4, 1957, the first artificial earth satellite was launched in the Soviet Union. From now on, the Soviet rocket could deliver cargo to any point on the planet. Including
and a nuclear device. In 1958, the Americans launched their satellite and began mass production of rockets. The USSR did not lag behind, although the achievement and preservation of nuclear-missile parity in the 60s required the exertion of all the forces of the country. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a wave of workers' uprisings swept across the USSR, which were brutally suppressed. see also NUCLEAR WEAPON.Rockets were built in a hurry, often neglecting safety precautions. In 1960, during the preparation of the rocket for launch, an explosion occurred. Dozens of people died, including Marshal Nedelin, Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Missile Forces. But the race continued at the same pace.
Successes in space exploration were also of great agitational significance - they showed what kind of social system is capable of achieving great scientific and technical successes. On April 12, 1961, the USSR launched a spacecraft with a man on board. Yuri Gagarin became the first cosmonaut. The Americans were on their heels their first astronaut Alan Shepard was in space as early as May 5, 1961.
In 1960, relations between the USSR and the USA worsened again. The Americans sent a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft flying over the territory of the USSR. He flew at heights inaccessible to fighters, but was shot down by a missile. A scandal erupted. Khrushchev expected an apology from Eisenhower at the upcoming summit. Not having received them, Khrushchev abruptly interrupted the meeting with the president. In general, Khrushchev behaved in the presence of Western leaders more and more irritably and willfully. He banged his shoes on the table at the meeting General Assembly UN, said frightening phrases, for example: "We will bury you." All this created the impression of the unpredictability of Soviet policy.
New US President John F. Kennedy attempted to overthrow the pro-communist regime of Fidel Castro in Cuba. This operation was prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) the main US intelligence service under Eisenhower. The Americans hoped to overthrow Castro by the hands of the Cubans themselves, but the landing of counter-revolutionaries in Cuba failed.
No sooner had Kennedy recovered from this defeat than a new crisis overtook him. At his first meeting with the new American president in April 1961, Khrushchev demanded that the status of West Berlin be changed. Berlin was used for the work of Western intelligence, uncontrolled by the communists passed through its territory cultural exchange. People could almost freely cross the border between the "two worlds". This led to a "brain drain" specialists who received a cheap education in the GDR then fled to West Berlin, where their work was better paid.
Kennedy refused to make concessions to the USSR and the GDR, which led to the Berlin Crisis. Khrushchev did not dare to start a military clash. The authorities of the GDR in August 1961 simply surrounded West Berlin with a wall. This wall became a symbol of the division of Europe and Germany into two hostile parts, a symbol of the Cold War.
In the Berlin Crisis, neither side gained obvious advantages, but the conflict did not lead to significant losses either. Both sides were preparing for a new test of strength.
The Soviet Union was surrounded on all sides by American military bases that had nuclear weapons. While vacationing in the Crimea, Khrushchev drew attention to the fact that even his beach was within direct reach of American missiles in Turkey. The Soviet leader decided to put America in the same position. Taking advantage of the fact that the Cuban leaders have repeatedly asked
The USSR to protect them from a possible US attack, the Soviet leadership decided to install medium-range nuclear missiles in Cuba. Now any US city could be wiped off the face of the earth in a matter of minutes. In October 1962 this led to the Caribbeancrisis ( see also CUBA CRISIS).As a result of the crisis, which brought the world closest to the brink of a nuclear missile catastrophe, a compromise was reached: the USSR removes missiles from Cuba, while the United States guarantees Cuba against military intervention and withdraws its missiles from Turkey.
The Caribbean crisis taught both the Soviet and American leadership a lot. The leaders of the superpowers realized that they could bring humanity to ruin. Having approached a dangerous line, the Cold War began to decline. The USSR and the USA for the first time agreed to limit the arms race.
1 On August 5, 1963, an agreement was signed banning nuclear weapons tests in three environments: in the atmosphere, space and in water.The conclusion of the 1963 treaty did not mean the end of the Cold War. The very next year, after the death of President Kennedy, the rivalry between the two blocs intensified. But now it has been pushed away from the borders of the USSR and the USA to Southeast Asia, where in the 60s and the first half of the 70s. war broke out in Indochina.
In the 1960s, the international situation changed radically. Both superpowers faced great difficulties: the United States was bogged down in Indochina, and the USSR was drawn into conflict with China. As a result, both superpowers preferred to move from the "cold war" to a policy of gradual détente ("détente").
During the period of détente, important agreements were signed to limit the arms race, including treaties to limit anti-missile defense (ABM) and strategic nuclear weapons (SALT-1 and SALT-2). However, the SALT treaties had a significant drawback. While limiting the total volume of nuclear weapons and missile technology, it almost did not touch upon the deployment of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the opponents could concentrate a large number nuclear missiles in the most dangerous parts of the world, without even violating the agreed total volumes of nuclear weapons.
In 1976, the USSR began modernizing its medium-range missiles in Europe. They could quickly reach the goal in Western Europe. As a result of this modernization, the balance of nuclear forces in Europe was temporarily disturbed. This worried the leaders of Western Europe, who feared that America would not be able to help them against the growing nuclear power of the USSR. In December 1979, the NATO bloc decided to deploy the latest American Pershing-2 and Tomahawk missiles in Western Europe. In the event of a war, these missiles could destroy the largest cities of the USSR in a matter of minutes, while the territory of the United States would remain invulnerable for a while. The security of the Soviet Union was threatened, and he launched a campaign against the deployment of new American missiles and was even ready to make concessions, dismantling part of his nuclear weapons in Europe. A wave of rallies against the deployment of missiles began in the countries of Western Europe, since in the event of a first strike by the Americans, Europe, and not America, would become the target of a Soviet retaliatory strike. New US President Ronald Reagan proposed in 1981 the so-called "zero option" - the withdrawal of all Soviet and American medium-range nuclear missiles from Europe. But in this case, British and French missiles aimed at the USSR would remain here. Brezhnev refused the "zero option".
Detente was finally buried by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The Cold War resumed. In 1980-1982, the United States imposed a series of economic sanctions against the USSR. In 1983, US President Reagan called the USSR an "evil empire." The installation of new American missiles in Europe has begun. In response, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Yuri Andropov, stopped all negotiations with the United States.
By the mid-1980s, the countries of "real socialism" entered a period of crisis. The bureaucratic economy could no longer meet the growing needs of the population, wasteful spending of resources led to their significant reduction, the level of social consciousness of people grew so much that they began to understand their lack of rights, the need to
change. It was becoming increasingly difficult for the country to bear the burden of the Cold War, support allied regimes around the world, and wage war in Afghanistan. The technical backwardness of the USSR from the capitalist countries was more and more noticeable and dangerous.Under these conditions, the US President decided to "push" the USSR to weaken. According to Western financial circles, the USSR's foreign exchange reserves amounted to 2530 billion dollars. In order to undermine the economy of the USSR, the Americans had to inflict “unscheduled” damage to the Soviet economy on such a scale otherwise, the “temporary difficulties” associated with the economic war would be smoothed out by a fairly thick currency “cushion”. It was necessary to act quickly in the second half of the 80s. The USSR was supposed to receive additional financial injections from the Urengoy gas pipeline Western Europe. In December 1981, in response to the suppression of the labor movement in Poland, Reagan announced a series of sanctions against Poland and its ally, the USSR. The events in Poland were used as an excuse, because this time, unlike the situation in Afghanistan, the norms international law were not violated by the Soviet Union. The United States announced the termination of supplies of oil and gas equipment, which should have disrupted the construction of the Urengoy gas pipeline Western Europe. However, the European allies, interested in economic cooperation with the USSR, did not immediately support the United States. Then the Soviet industry managed to independently manufacture pipes that the USSR had planned to purchase in the West earlier. Reagan's campaign against the pipeline failed.
In 1983, US President Ronald Reagan proposed the idea of a "Strategic defense initiative" (SOI), or " star wars» space systems that could protect the US from a nuclear attack. This program was carried out in circumvention of the ABM treaty. The USSR did not have the technical capabilities to
creating the same system. Although the United States was also far from successful in this area, the communist leaders feared a new round of the arms race.Domestic factors undermined the foundations of the "real socialism" system much more significantly than US actions during the Cold War. At the same time, the crisis in which the USSR found itself put the question of "savings on foreign policy" on the agenda. Despite the fact that the possibilities of such savings were exaggerated, the reforms that began in the USSR led to the end of the Cold War in 1987-1990.
In March 1985, a new General Secretary CPSU Central Committee Mikhail Gorbachev. In 1985-1986 he proclaimed a policy of sweeping reforms known as Perestroika. It was also envisaged to improve relations with the capitalist countries on the basis of equality and openness (“new thinking”).
In November 1985, Gorbachev met with Reagan in Geneva and proposed a significant reduction in nuclear weapons in Europe. It was still impossible to solve the problem, because Gorbachev demanded the abolition of SDI, and Reagan did not concede. The American president promised that when the research was successful, the US would "open its laboratories to the Soviets," but Gorbachev did not believe him. “They say, believe us, that if the Americans are the first to implement SDI, they will share it with the Soviet Union. I said then: Mr. President, I urge you, believe us, we have already stated that we will not be the first to use nuclear weapons and we will not be the first to attack the United States of America. Why are you, while maintaining all the offensive potential on Earth and under water, are still going to launch an arms race in space? You don't believe us? Turns out you don't believe me. And why should we trust you more than you trust us?” Despite the fact that no significant progress was achieved at this meeting, the two presidents got to know each other better, which helped them to agree in the future.
However, after the meeting in Geneva, relations between the USSR and the USA deteriorated again. The USSR supported Libya in its conflict with the United States. The United States refused to comply with the SALT agreements, which were carried out even during the years of confrontation in 1980-1984. This was the last wave of the Cold War. The "cooling" in international relations dealt a blow to the plans of Gorbachev, who put forward a large-scale disarmament program and seriously counted on the economic effect of conversion, the transformation of military production into civilian ones. Already in the summer, both sides began to probe the possibilities for holding a "second Geneva", which took place in October 1986 in Reykjavik. Here Gorbachev tried to challenge Reagan to retaliatory concessions,
by proposing large-scale reductions in nuclear weapons, but "in a package" with the rejection of SDI. At first, Reagan was pleasantly surprised by Gorbachev's proposals and even showed hesitation on the issue of SDI. But after deliberation, the president refused to cancel SDI and even feigned indignation at the linkage of the two problems: “Already after everything, or almost everything, as it seemed to me, was decided, Gorbachev threw a feint. With a smile on his face, he said: “But it all depends, of course, on whether you give up SDI.” As a result, the meeting in Reykjavikactually came to nothing. But Reagan realized that to improve international relations it is possible not by pressing on the USSR, but by means of mutual concessions. Gorbachev's strategy was crowned with success The US actually froze SDI until the end of the century. In 1986, the US administration abandoned the frontal offensive against the USSR, which ended in failure.Despite the fact that the pressure from the United States weakened, the financial situation of the USSR began to deteriorate for reasons not directly related to the Cold War. The income of the Soviet Union depended on oil prices, which began to fall in 1986. Chernobyl disaster further undermined the financial balance of the USSR. This made it difficult to reform the country "from above" and made it more active to stimulate the initiative from below. Gradually, authoritarian modernization was replaced civil revolution. Already in 19871988. Perestroika led to a rapid increase in social activity. By this time, the world was in full swing towards ending the Cold War.
After an unsuccessful meeting in Reykjavik in 1986, the two presidents finally came to an agreement in Washington in December 1987 American and Soviet intermediate-range missiles were withdrawn from Europe. The "new thinking" has triumphed. The most important crisis that led to the resumption of the Cold War in 1979 is a thing of the past. It was followed by other "fronts" of the "XB", including the main European one.
The example of Perestroika activated the reformists in Eastern Europe. In 1989, the reforms carried out by the communists in Eastern Europe escalated into revolutions. Together with the communist regime in the GDR was destroyed and Berlin Wall, which became a symbol of the end of the division of Europe. Faced with difficult problems, the USSR could no longer support the "brotherly" communist regimes. The "socialist camp" collapsed.
In December 1988, Gorbachev announced to the UN about the unilateral reduction of the army. In February 1989, Soviet troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan, where the war between the Mujahideen and the pro-Soviet government of Najibullah continued.
In December 1989, off the coast of Malta, Gorbachev and the new US President George W. Bush were able to discuss the situation of actually ending the Cold War. Bush promised to make efforts to extend the most favored nation treatment in US trade to the USSR, which would not have been possible if the Cold War had continued. Despite the persistence of disagreements over the situation in some countries, including the Baltics, the atmosphere of the Cold War is a thing of the past. Explaining the principles of “new thinking” to Bush, Gorbachev said: “ Main principle What we have adopted and are following in our new thinking is the right of every country to free choice, including the right to revise or change the choice originally made. It's very painful, but it's a fundamental right. The right to choose without outside interference.” By this time, the methods of pressure on the USSR had already changed.
In 1990, supporters of the fastest "Westernization", that is, the restructuring of society according to Western models, came to power in most countries of Eastern Europe. Reforms began based on "neoliberal" ideas close to Western neo-conservatism and neo-globalism. The reforms were carried out very quickly, without gradual preparation, which led to a painful breakdown of society. They were called "shock therapy" because it was believed that after a short
"shock" will come relief. Western countries provided financial support for these reforms, and as a result, Eastern Europe managed to create market economy according to the Western model. Entrepreneurs, middle class, part of the youth benefited from these transformations; workers, employees, the elderly lost. Eastern European countries found themselves financially dependent on the West.The new governments of the countries of Eastern Europe demanded the speedy withdrawal of Soviet troops from their territory. The USSR had neither the ability nor the desire to maintain its military presence. In 1990, the withdrawal of troops began, in July 1991 the Warsaw Pact and the Comecon were dissolved. The only powerful military force NATO remains in Europe. The USSR did not outlive its military bloc for long. In August 1991, as a result
unsuccessful attempt by the leaders of the USSR to establish an authoritarian regime (the so-called GKChP), real power passed from Gorbachev to the leaders of the republics of the USSR. The Baltic States withdrew from the Union. In December 1991, in order to consolidate their success in the struggle for power, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus signed an agreement in Belovezhskaya Pushcha on the dissolution of the USSR and the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States.The near-exact coincidence of the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union has sparked controversy about the connection between these phenomena. Perhaps the end of the Cold War is the result of the collapse of the USSR and, therefore, the United States won this "war". But by the time the Soviet Union collapsed, the Cold War had already ended. Considering that the missile crisis was resolved in 1987, an agreement on Afghanistan was concluded in 1988, and Soviet troops were withdrawn from this country in February 1989, authoritarian regimes disappeared in almost all countries of Eastern Europe in 1989, then we can talk about the continuation of the Cold War after 1990 is not necessary. The problems that caused the aggravation of international tension not only in 1979-1980, but also in 1946-1947 were removed. Already in 1990, the level of relations between the USSR and Western countries returned to the state before the Cold War, and it was remembered only in order to proclaim its end, as President D. Bush did when he announced victory in the Cold War after the collapse of the USSR and Presidents B. Yeltsin and D. Bush, announcing its termination in 1992 These propagandist statements do not remove the fact that in 1990-1991 the signs of the "cold war" had already disappeared. The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR have a common cause - the crisis of state socialism in the USSR.
Alexander Shubin
- 1962 - 1979- The period was marked by an arms race that undermined the economies of rival countries. The development and production of new types of weapons required incredible resources. Despite the presence of tension in relations between the USSR and the USA, agreements on the limitation of strategic weapons are signed. A joint space program "Soyuz-Apollo" is being developed. However, by the beginning of the 80s, the USSR began to lose in the arms race.
- 1979 - 1987. - Relations between the USSR and the USA are again aggravated after the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. In 1983 the United States deploys ballistic missiles at bases in Italy, Denmark, England, the FRG, and Belgium. An anti-space defense system is being developed. The USSR reacts to the actions of the West by withdrawing from the Geneva talks. During this period, the missile attack warning system is in constant combat readiness.
- 1987 - 1991- The coming to power in the USSR of Gorbachev in 1985, entailed not only global changes within the country, but also radical changes in foreign policy, called "new political thinking". Ill-conceived reforms finally undermined the economy of the Soviet Union, which led to the country's virtual defeat in the Cold War.
The end of the Cold War was caused by the weakness of the Soviet economy, its inability to support the arms race any longer, and also by the pro-Soviet communist regimes. Anti-war speeches in various parts of the world also played a certain role. The results of the Cold War were depressing for the USSR. A symbol of the victory of the West. was the reunification in 1990 of Germany.
As a result, after the USSR was defeated in the Cold War, a unipolar model of the world was formed with the US as the dominant superpower. However, there are other consequences of the Cold War. This is the rapid development of science and technology, primarily military. So, the Internet was originally created as a communication system for the American army.
Today, many documentaries and feature films about the Cold War period have been shot. One of them, which tells in detail about the events of those years, "Heroes and Victims of the Cold War."
War in Korea (participation of the USSR).
Participation of the USSR, USA and China in the Korean War. The role of the UN. Tens of thousands of American soldiers died in the Korean War
It cannot be said that the participation of the above countries in the Korean War was of great importance. In fact, the war was not fought between North and South Korea, but between two powers that sought to prove their priority by any means available. In this case, the United States became the attacking party, and the “Truman Doctrine” proclaimed at that time is a vivid example of this. In line with its "new line of policy" towards the USSR, the Truman administration did not consider it necessary to "make further compromises." She actually refused to comply with the Moscow Agreement, disrupted the work of the Joint Commission on Korea, and then transferred the Korean question to the UN General Assembly.
This US step cut off the last thread of cooperation with the USSR: Washington openly violated its allied obligations, according to which the Korean issue, as a problem of post-war settlement, was to be resolved by the allied powers. The transfer of the Korean question to the UN was required by the United States in order to establish the South Korean regime that they are creating as the only legitimate government in Korea in the international political plan. Thus, as a result of the US imperialist policy and contrary to the desire of the Korean people to create a united, independent, democratic Korea, the country was divided into two territories: the Republic of Korea dependent on the USA and the same dependence, only on the USSR, the DPRK, in fact, the border between which became the 38th parallel.
It is no coincidence that this happened precisely with the transition of the United States to the policy of the Cold War. The split of the world into two class-opposed camps - capitalism and socialism, the resulting polarization of all political forces on the world stage and the struggle between them led to the emergence of knots of contradictions in the system of international relations, in which the political interests of states of opposing systems collide and are resolved. Korea, due to historical circumstances, has become such a knot. It turned out to be the arena of the struggle of capitalism represented by the United States against the positions of communism. The outcome of the struggle was determined by the balance of power between them.
Both during the Second World War and after it, the USSR consistently strove for a compromise solution of the Korean question, for the creation of a single democratic Korean state through the trusteeship system. Another thing is the United States, there was practically no room for compromise solutions on Korea. The United States deliberately contributed to the growth of tension in Korea, and if they did not take a direct part, then by their policy they actually pushed Seoul to organize an armed conflict on the 38th parallel. But in my opinion, the miscalculation on the part of the United States was that they extended their aggression to China without realizing its capabilities. This is also said by the senior researcher of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Candidate of Historical Sciences A.V. Vorontsov: “One of the decisive events during the war in Korea was the entry of the PRC into it on October 19, 1950, which practically saved the DPRK, which was in a critical situation at that time, from military defeat (this action cost more than two million lives of “Chinese volunteers”)” .
The intervention of American troops in Korea saved Syngman Rhee from military defeat, but the main goal - the elimination of socialism in North Korea - was never achieved. As for the direct participation of the United States in the war, it should be noted that the American air force and navy were active from the very first day of the war, but were used to evacuate American and South Korean citizens from the frontline areas. However, after the fall of Seoul, the Korean Peninsula landed ground troops USA. The US Air Force and Navy also deployed active fighting against the troops of the DPRK. In the Korean War, US aviation was the main striking force of the "UN armed forces" that helped South Korea. She acted both at the front and on objects of the deep rear. Therefore, the reflection of air strikes by the US Air Force and its allies has become one of the most important tasks of the troops. North Korea and "Chinese volunteers" throughout the war years.
The help of the Soviet Union to the DPRK during the war years had its own peculiarity - it was intended primarily to repel US aggression and therefore went mainly along the military line. military aid The USSR to the struggling Korean people was carried out through gratuitous deliveries of weapons, military equipment, ammunition and other means; the organization of rebuffing American aviation by formations of Soviet fighter aviation stationed in the border regions of China adjacent to the DPRK and reliably covering various economic and other objects from the air. Also, the USSR was engaged in the training of command, staff and engineering personnel for the troops and institutions of the Korean People's Army on the spot. Throughout the war, combat aircraft, tanks and self-propelled guns, artillery and weapon and ammunition for it, as well as many other types of special equipment and military equipment. The Soviet side strove to deliver everything in a timely manner and without delay, so that the KPA troops were sufficiently provided with everything necessary to fight the enemy. The KPA army was equipped with the most modern weapons and military equipment for that time.
After the discovery of key documents from the government archives of the countries involved in the Korean conflict, more and more historical documents emerge. We know that the Soviet side assumed at that time the enormous burden of direct air and military-technical support to the DPRK. About 70 thousand personnel of the Soviet Air Force participated in the Korean War. At the same time, the losses of our air connections amounted to 335 aircraft and 120 pilots. As for ground operations to support the North Koreans, Stalin sought to completely shift them to China. Also in the history of this war there is one interesting fact- 64th Fighter Aviation Corps (JAC). The basis of this corps was three fighter aviation divisions: the 28th Iac, the 50th Iac, the 151st Iac.
The divisions consisted of 844 officers, 1153 sergeants and 1274 soldiers. They were armed with Soviet-made aircraft: IL-10, Yak-7, Yak-11, La-9, La-11, as well as jet MiG-15. The office was located in the city of Mukden. This fact is interesting because Soviet pilots piloted these planes. Considerable difficulties arose because of this. It was necessary to maintain secrecy, since the Soviet command took all measures to hide the participation of the Soviet Air Force in the Korean War, and not to give the United States evidence that Soviet-made MiG-15 fighters, which was not a secret, were piloted by Soviet pilots. To this end, the MiG-15 aircraft had the identification marks of the Chinese Air Force. It was forbidden to operate over the Yellow Sea and pursue enemy aircraft south of the Pyongyang-Wonsan line, that is, up to 39 degrees north latitude.
In this armed clash, a separate role was assigned to the United Nations, which intervened in this conflict after the US government handed over to it the solution of the Korean problem. Despite the protest of the Soviet Union, which insisted that the Korean question was an integral part of the problem of the post-war settlement as a whole and the procedure for its discussion had already been determined by the Moscow Conference, the United States put it in the autumn of 1947 for discussion by the 2nd session of the UN General Assembly. These actions were another step towards consolidating the split, towards moving away from the Moscow decisions on Korea and towards the implementation of American plans.
At the November session of the UN General Assembly in 1947, the American delegation and representatives of other pro-American states managed to reject Soviet proposals for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and push through their resolution, create a temporary UN commission on Korea, which was entrusted with supervising the elections. This Commission was elected from representatives of Australia, India, Canada, El Salvador, Syria, Ukraine (its representatives did not participate in the work of the commission), the Philippines, France and Chiang Kai-shek China. It was to carry out the transformation of the UN into a "center for harmonizing actions on the Korean question", to provide the Soviet and American administrations and Korean organizations with "consultations and advice on every step related to the establishment of an independent Korean government and the withdrawal of troops", and to ensure, under its supervision, the conduct of Korea elections based on secret ballot of the entire adult population.
However, the UN Commission in Korea failed to create an all-Korean government, as it continued its course towards the formation of a reactionary authority pleasing to the United States. The protests of the masses and public democratic organizations in the South and North of the country against its activities led to the fact that it was unable to fulfill its functions and turned to the so-called Intersessional Committee of the UN General Assembly for assistance. The Committee recommended to the Interim Commission, thereby canceling the decision of the UN General Assembly of November 14, 1947, to hold elections to the highest legislative body - the National Assembly only in South Korea, and submitted the corresponding draft resolution to the session of the UN General Assembly. Many states, including Australia and Canada - members of the Interim Commission on Korea - did not support the United States and argued that such an action would result in the permanent division of the country and the presence of two hostile governments in Korea. Nevertheless, with the help of an obedient majority, the United States passed the decision they needed on February 26, 1948, in the absence of a Soviet representative.
The adoption of the American resolution had disastrous consequences for Korea. By encouraging the establishment of a "national government" in South Korea, which inevitably entailed the creation of a national government in the North, it also pushed for the dismemberment of Korea, instead of contributing to the formation of a single independent democratic state. Those who advocated separate elections in the South, such as Syngman Rhee and his supporters, actively supported the decisions of the UN General Assembly, arguing that a strong government was necessary to protect against a North Korean "offensive." The leftists were against separate elections and the activities of the UN Commission, they proposed a meeting of the political leaders of North and South Korea in order to resolve internal affairs themselves after the withdrawal of foreign troops.
It is not difficult to conclude that the UN Commission stood on the side of the United States and worked in its favor. A clear example is the resolution that turned American troops in Korea into " armed forces UN". Formations, units and subunits of 16 countries operated in Korea under the UN flag: England and Turkey sent several divisions, Great Britain equipped 1 aircraft carrier, 2 cruisers, 8 destroyers, marines and auxiliary units, Canada sent one infantry brigade, Australia, France, Greece, Belgium and Ethiopia one infantry battalion each. Additionally, field hospitals and their personnel arrived from Denmark, India, Norway, Italy and Sweden. About two-thirds of the UN troops were American. Korean War cost the UN 118,155 killed and 264,591 wounded, 92,987 were taken prisoner (most died of starvation and torture).
The death of Stalin, internal party struggle, exposure of the cult of personality
March 5, 1953. died I.V. Stalin, who for many years stood at the head of the party and state. With his death, an entire era ended. Stalin's comrades-in-arms had to not only resolve the issue of the continuity of the socio-economic course, but also divide party and state posts among themselves. Considering that society as a whole was not yet ready for radical changes, it could be more about softening the political regime than about abandoning the Stalinist course. But the possibility of its continuation was quite real. Already March, 6 Stalin's associates proceeded to the first section of leadership positions. The first place in the new hierarchy was taken by G.M. Malenkov, who received the post Chairman of the Council of Ministers and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
In the Council of Ministers, he had four deputies: L.P. Beria, a close associate of Malenkov, who headed the Ministry of Internal Affairs; V.M. Molotov, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Two other posts of deputy chairmen of the Council of Ministers were held by N.A. Bulganin and L.M. Kaganovich. K.E. Voroshilov was appointed chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. N.S. Khrushchev was appointed to the secretariat of the Central Committee of the party. From the very first days, the new leadership took steps against the abuses of the past. Stalin's personal secretariat was dissolved. On March 27, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR announced an amnesty for all prisoners whose term did not exceed five years. In mid-July 1953, at one of the meetings in the Kremlin, which was chaired by G.M. Malenkov, who in those years was the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR N.S. Khrushchev made accusations against L.P. Beria. N.S. Khrushchev was supported by N.A. Bulgarin, V.M. Molotov and others. As soon as they started voting, Malenkov pressed the hidden bell button.
Several high-ranking officers arrested Beria. The military side of this action was led by G.K. Zhukov. By his order, Kantemirovskaya and Tamanskaya were introduced to Moscow. tank divisions occupied key positions in the city center. This action was carried out by force. However, there was no alternative then. IN September 1953. N.S. Khrushchev was elected First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. By this time, having been in party work since 1924, he had passed all the steps of the apparatus ladder (in the 1930s he was the first secretary of the Moscow organization of the CPSU (b), in 1938 he headed the party leadership of Ukraine, in 1949 he was appointed Secretary of the Moscow City Party Committee). After the elimination of L.P. Beria between G.M. Malenkov and N.S. Khrushchev began conflicts that concerned two main aspects: economy and the role of society in the ongoing changes. As for the economy, the strategy for the development of light industry, advocated by Malenkov, and the "union" of agriculture and heavy industry, proposed by Khrushchev, were opposed here.
Khrushchev spoke of the need to raise purchase prices for the products of collective farms that were on the verge of ruin; on the expansion of sown areas and the development of virgin lands. Khrushchev achieved significant results for the collective farms. increase in public procurement prices(5.5 times for meat, twice for milk and butter, 50% for cereals). The increase in purchase prices was accompanied by the write-off of debts of collective farms, the reduction of taxes on household plots and on sales on the free market. Expansion of cultivated areas, development of virgin lands Northern Kazakhstan, Siberia, Altai and Southern Urals constituted the second point of Khrushchev's program, the adoption of which he sought at February (1954) plenum of the Central Committee. Over the next three years, 37 million hectares, which was three times more than planned in February 1954 and accounted for approximately 30% of all cultivated land in the USSR at that time, were developed. In 1954, the share of virgin bread in the grain harvest was 50%.
On Plenum of the Central Committee 1955 (January) N.S. Khrushchev came up with a project corn cultivation to solve the food problem (in practice, this manifested itself in an unprecedented action to introduce this crop, often in regions that are not at all adapted for this). At the same Plenum of the Central Committee, G.M. Malenkov for the so-called “right-wing deviationism” (G.M. Malenkov, unlike N.S. Khrushchev, considered the development of light industry rather than agriculture as a priority). The leadership of the government passed to N.A. Bulganin. Position N.S. Khrushchev in the political leadership of the country has become even stronger. 1953-1956. - this period entered the consciousness of people as " thaw” (based on the title of the novel by I.G. Ehrenburg, published in 1954).
A distinctive feature of this time was not only the holding of economic events that largely ensured life Soviet people, but also softening of the political regime. The “thaw” is characterized by the collegial nature of management. In June 1953, the Pravda newspaper spoke of such management as an obligation to the people. New expressions appear - "the cult of personality", laudatory speeches disappear. In the press during this period, there was not so much a reassessment of Stalin's rule as a decrease in exaltation in relation to the personality of Stalin, frequent quoting of Lenin. The 4,000 political prisoners released in 1953 are the first breach in the repressive system. These are changes, but still unstable, like a “thaw” in early spring. N.S. Khrushchev is gradually gathering allies around him to expose Stalin's personality cult.
There are such historical phenomena that are really important not only for passing the exam but also to understand the entire period. For example, if you are just learning foreign policy Soviet Union, but did not pay attention to the fact that the lion's share of events relate to this historical phenomenon, then it will not be easy for you to remember all this.
In this article, we will briefly reveal the reasons for the points cold war, which lasted from 1946/49 to 1989. A publication on this topic will help you answer the most “dumpy” exam question: why did the anti-Hitler coalition disintegrate so quickly, and the allied countries turned out to be enemies after 1946?
Causes
The Cold War is a period of political, economic and military confrontation (confrontation) between states and systems of states. It was mainly between the USSR and the USA, between two systems of economic and political structure. In fact, there are key reasons for this.
- The confrontation was due to mutual distrust between countries, between Soviet Union and USA. Added fuel to the fire was the fact that the Soviet army was right in the center of Europe, and nothing prevented it from moving further - to the West.
- A big difference in ideologies: capitalism dominated in the USA with its inherent liberalism and neoliberalism; in the Soviet Union - the Marxist-Leninist ideology dominated, which, by the way, provided for a course towards world revolution. That is, it was about the overthrow of the bourgeois governments by the forces of the local working class and the establishment of Soviet power.
- Different system of management: in the USA there was a market and mainly natural market mechanisms, which were improved after the Great Depression of the 30s. In the USSR, there was a planned command-administrative system of management.
- Popularity post-war USSR was extremely large throughout the world: this also added fuel to the fire.
You should also remember about the accompanying prerequisites: in the course of the liberation of the states of Europe from the Nazis and fascists, pro-Soviet and pro-communist regimes were established in them, in which, immediately after the war, industrialization and collectivization of the Soviet type took place. Of course, it was incomparably softer than in the Soviet Union itself, but it was.
Such an unprecedented intervention of the USSR in the internal affairs of the liberated states created a real threat to the existence of other independent states. As a result, no one could give guarantees that the Soviet army would move further: towards England, or France, or the USA. It was these fears, among other things, that W. Churchill expressed in his speech in Fulton on March 5, 1946. By the way, I highly recommend reading this speech, because the text from it may well be included in the exam.
Course of events
As part of a regular post, I do not have the opportunity to talk in detail about these events. In addition, I have already done this in my video tutorials available on our training courses and in. But I still wanted to name the events in order to give you at least some guidance.
- 1949 - the formation of NATO, the testing of the Soviet atomic bomb.
- 1950 - 1953 - The Korean War is the first serious military confrontation in which both sides indirectly and directly participated.
- 1955 - the formation of the Department of Internal Affairs.
- 1956 Suez Crisis.
- 1961 - Cuban Missile Crisis. This is the peak of the confrontation between the USSR and the USA, when these countries, and indeed the whole world, were on the brink of nuclear war. It was this event that initiated the process of defusing international tension under L.I. Brezhnev. It was after this event that subcultures appeared in the West in large numbers, within which young people are trying to find their way in life.
- 1965 - 1975 - Vietnam War.
- 1973 - 75 - negotiations in Helsinki and the adoption of the Final Act on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
- 1979 - 1989 - the war in Afghanistan.
Again, these are just guidelines. I have analyzed everything in detail in my video tutorials, and
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