Oct 27 1962 Notebooks today If you have

Oct. 27, 1962 Notebooks today. If you have perfect attendance take your attendance card to your seat with you.

Joseph Stalin died on the 5 th March 1953 at the age of 74. He had suffered a massive stroke (poison? ).

Moscow, March 1953: Stalin’s funeral

Molotov Bulganin Khrushchev Moscow, March 1953: Stalin’s funeral

Paradox of Stalin’s Legacy Left Huge position of strength An unviable system. Traditions of Machiavellian pragmatism: The end justifies the means. But what is the end? Making Socialist Societies Livable Cementing the Power of the State Prevention of WWIII Defense of the Motherland Victory of Communism Globally

Khrushchev spoke for 5 hours at the 20 th Congress

Nikita Khrushchev Born a peasant; fought in Red Army Stalin “yes” man; “Butcher of Ukraine” Political Reforms - - > De-Stalinization Defense focus shifts to nuclear deterrence rather than conventional forces Leader of SU 1957 - 1964

Vienna, June 1961

Unpopularity of East German government, 1949 -61 Walther Ulbricht DDR or GDR The East German economy had clearly fallen behind West Germany’s. They increasingly relied on the Stasi and army to keep control.

Defectors from East Germany 2. 19 million East Germans fled to West Germany 1949 to 1958. The East German authorities fortified the border between East and West Germany with 850 km of wire fence and mines. Berlin was effectively a gap in these defences. To make matters worse, those escaping were mainly young skilled professionals (e. g. doctors, teachers).

THE BERLIN WALL

President Kennedy accepts the Soviet wall physically, but turns the wall into a propaganda campaign. If Communism was so attractive, why was a wall needed? 1963 – Kennedy visited West Berlin ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ (I am a Berliner) famous speech

Cuban Revolution successful by 1959.

By 1961, Castro has kicked the U. S. out of Cuba and has allied with the Soviets Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev

The Bay of Pigs Invasion 1961 US funded and equipped invasion of Cuba by 1, 500 Cuban exiles. Massive failure. 1, 200 captured.

Oct. 27, 1962

Setting the Stage 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Truman Doctrine The Marshall Plan Containment The Domino Theory The Berlin Wall Bay of Pigs Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

Detonation of Tsar Bomb in 1961

Nuclear weapons stockpiles

Khrushchev’s motives: Not to wage war on the US. • Rather: – To restore Soviet image as a military superpower ready to confront US – To protect the Castro regime – To obtain strike positions against US similar to those US had against the Soviet Union. US had nuclear weapon sites in Turkey!

CIA estimated there were 6, 000 to 8, 000 Soviet Troops on the ground in Cuba.

In actuality. . . 43, 000 Soviet troops on ground. 164 nuclear missiles. 42 Medium Range Missiles (MRBM) ready. 9 tactical nukes ready to defend island.

What can Kennedy do? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Do Nothing Go to the UN Naval Blockade of Cuba Strategic Air strike Full Invasion of Cuba

All right, sir, let me ask you one simple question: Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the U. S. S. R. has placed and is placing medium- and intermediaterange missiles and sites in Cuba?

US Representative SU Representative Adlai Stevenson to Valerian Zorin “Don't wait for the translation, answer 'yes' or 'no'!” "I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over. "

Naval Blockade

Oct. 27, 1962 US spy plane shot down over Cuba. Soviet submarine forced to surface in Atlantic by US destroyer.

A US Navy destroyer intercepting a Soviet freighter off Cuba

In private conversations, both sides were greatly concerned about the influence of the military and the hardliners on the other side. “Eyeball to eyeball” - - > myth Nuclear war danger comes from fog of war.

The Agreement US: 1. A pledge not to invade Cuba 2. Removal of US nuclear missiles from Turkey SU: 1. Removal of SU nuclear missiles from Cuba The public impression: JFK won, and Khrushchev was humiliated

Why Khrushchev Settled Effectiveness of naval quarantine Conventional inferiority in the Caribbean No possible countermove Overwhelming world support for the U. S. Other possible reasons – Got what he wanted? • No U. S. invasion of Cuba • U. S. missiles withdrawn from Turkey!

Khrushchev was deposed on Oct. 14, 1964 at a meeting of the Soviet Party leadership.