The fall of the Soviet Empire: Hungary 1956 and Czechoslovakia 1968

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

5 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

07/13/2009

Category :

History & geography

Sub category :

Modern history

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Summary :

Introduction
The economy in Eastern Europe
The situation in Hungary
The Warsaw Pact
The immediate effect of the Hungarian revolution
The crisis in Czechoslovakia
The downfall of the Soviet Union
Conclusion
Bibliography

Abstract

The two rebellions in hungary 1956 and czechoslovakia 1968 were interesting times for Eastern and Central Europe. To being to study these, one must put these two events in context. It was a time when the political climate in Easter Europe was very delicate because of the circumstances stemming from the post-war era. Stalin was spreading communism throughout Eastern Europe by giving assistance to communist parties to help them gain power which then led to Stalin himself gaining more power and credibility in his communist leanings. Through Cominform, the Communist Information Bureau, Stalin ensured that these other countries were adhering to the same policies of communism as the soviet Union was, and to ensure that this is what was happening, Stalin did not have a problem sending committing aggression in these areas to ensure that will agenda was being furthered.

The economy in Easter Europe at this time was weak, and Stalin was not improving the situation. Initiatives like Comecon which made sure trade with other nations in the eastern bloc was advantageous for the soviet Union. For example, Poland was put in a position where they were forced to provide Russia with coal for a fraction of what it was really worth on the open market. Stalin perished in 1953, and Nikita Khrushchev became the soviet leader afterwards. This new leader was very different from his predecessor and he had a new agenda for improving the situation in Eastern Europe.