U.S. RUSSIAN RELATIONS SINCE WW2 PART 3
COLD WAR CONTINUES
Stalin seemed reclusive and possibly paranoid, this may have been a well grounded concern, he refused to fly, he seldom left territory under his control, and was ruthless with his adversaries.
Khrushchev was much more outgoing and a bit of a showman, much more willing to travel around the world and made several trips to the U.S.. Khrushchev, who was one of Stalin's top underlings, took part in many of the excesses of the Stalin era. He took part in the purges and did as he was ordered by Stalin. After Stalin's death, he did close the Gulag camps, freed many political prisoners and instituted many reforms that benefited the people. He was willing to use extravagant language and props to bring attention to his cause. He was noted for a tirade at the U.N in 1960 were he pounded his hand on the podium and finally used his shoe to continue making his point. While he still advocated the expansion of communism, he also attempted to warm relations with the West.
With the loosening of the iron grip of Stalin, there were self determination movements in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland in the 1950's, and 1960's some that were put down by force. NATO added Greece and Turkey in 1952. West Germany was added in 1955 and the Soviets then formally instituted the "Warsaw Pact" in the same year. This tit for tat chess game continued and culminated in the Cuban Missile Crises in 1962. The U.S. stated in no uncertain terms that there could be no Soviet missiles in Cuba. Castro advised the Soviets to launch a preemptive nuclear attack on the U.S.. Finally Khrushchev relented and withdrew the weapons with an agreement that the U.S. would withdraw their missiles from Turkey. This was an agreement kept secret until the 1970's. In 1964 Khrushchev was removed and retired from politics, he died of natural causes in 1971. He was a step in the right direction for normalization of relations with the West, but change sometimes moves slowly.
Khrushchev was replaced by Leonid Brezhnev, who ended many of the cultural reforms of his predecessor. He reintroduced some of the oppressive policies of Stalin and stepped up the arms race with the West. He also supported the North Vietnamese in their war with the south. Khrushchev was opposed to the continuation of this war. Brezhnev instituted the "Brezhnev Doctrine", which stated that the Soviet policy was to support socialist governments and movements worldwide. While more of a hardliner than Khrushchev he was by no means another Stalin. While supporting communist movements in central America and Afghanistan, he moved to negotiate several arms control agreements with the west. The domestic economy moved into a period of stagnation during his term. He died on Nov. 10, 1982 and was replaced by Yuri Andropov.
Andropov was an ex KGB director, he intensified the internal struggle against dissidents and was again increasing the arms race with the west. He died on Feb. 9, 1984. He was replaced by Konstantin Chernenko who died March 10, 1985
It should be noted that the last few leaders were old and in ill health when they came into office. These men were all early leaders of the Communist party and found it difficult to lead reforms. It seemed that most who came after Stalin hoped to lessen tensions with the west, but after a lifetime of devout communism it was difficult task. Most drank heavily and often were heavy smokers. This may have been a result of a life of uncertainty and danger that may have been hard to overcome. There may be a similar situation with many in the western defense and intelligence communities who grew up in a era of the cold war and cannot put it behind them.
Chernenko was replaced by Mikhail Gorbachev on March 11, 1985, he was 54 years old, the first leader born after the revolution in 1917. He had given speeches in the Kremlin advocating reform and now had a chance to try to bring about those reforms.
This was originally publishes 1 /16/17 part 3 of 7
Khrushchev was much more outgoing and a bit of a showman, much more willing to travel around the world and made several trips to the U.S.. Khrushchev, who was one of Stalin's top underlings, took part in many of the excesses of the Stalin era. He took part in the purges and did as he was ordered by Stalin. After Stalin's death, he did close the Gulag camps, freed many political prisoners and instituted many reforms that benefited the people. He was willing to use extravagant language and props to bring attention to his cause. He was noted for a tirade at the U.N in 1960 were he pounded his hand on the podium and finally used his shoe to continue making his point. While he still advocated the expansion of communism, he also attempted to warm relations with the West.
With the loosening of the iron grip of Stalin, there were self determination movements in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland in the 1950's, and 1960's some that were put down by force. NATO added Greece and Turkey in 1952. West Germany was added in 1955 and the Soviets then formally instituted the "Warsaw Pact" in the same year. This tit for tat chess game continued and culminated in the Cuban Missile Crises in 1962. The U.S. stated in no uncertain terms that there could be no Soviet missiles in Cuba. Castro advised the Soviets to launch a preemptive nuclear attack on the U.S.. Finally Khrushchev relented and withdrew the weapons with an agreement that the U.S. would withdraw their missiles from Turkey. This was an agreement kept secret until the 1970's. In 1964 Khrushchev was removed and retired from politics, he died of natural causes in 1971. He was a step in the right direction for normalization of relations with the West, but change sometimes moves slowly.
Khrushchev was replaced by Leonid Brezhnev, who ended many of the cultural reforms of his predecessor. He reintroduced some of the oppressive policies of Stalin and stepped up the arms race with the West. He also supported the North Vietnamese in their war with the south. Khrushchev was opposed to the continuation of this war. Brezhnev instituted the "Brezhnev Doctrine", which stated that the Soviet policy was to support socialist governments and movements worldwide. While more of a hardliner than Khrushchev he was by no means another Stalin. While supporting communist movements in central America and Afghanistan, he moved to negotiate several arms control agreements with the west. The domestic economy moved into a period of stagnation during his term. He died on Nov. 10, 1982 and was replaced by Yuri Andropov.
Andropov was an ex KGB director, he intensified the internal struggle against dissidents and was again increasing the arms race with the west. He died on Feb. 9, 1984. He was replaced by Konstantin Chernenko who died March 10, 1985
It should be noted that the last few leaders were old and in ill health when they came into office. These men were all early leaders of the Communist party and found it difficult to lead reforms. It seemed that most who came after Stalin hoped to lessen tensions with the west, but after a lifetime of devout communism it was difficult task. Most drank heavily and often were heavy smokers. This may have been a result of a life of uncertainty and danger that may have been hard to overcome. There may be a similar situation with many in the western defense and intelligence communities who grew up in a era of the cold war and cannot put it behind them.
Chernenko was replaced by Mikhail Gorbachev on March 11, 1985, he was 54 years old, the first leader born after the revolution in 1917. He had given speeches in the Kremlin advocating reform and now had a chance to try to bring about those reforms.
This was originally publishes 1 /16/17 part 3 of 7
U.S. RUSSIAN RELATIONS POST WW2
REAGAN GORBACHEV YEARS
Ronald Reagan took office in January 1981, he immediately began a refurbishing of the U.S. Military. Part of his plan was a missile defense system that was a cause for concern in the USSR. The Soviets had put their resources after WW2, first into a large number of armored vehicles on the borders of western Europe, then shifted to mobile nuclear missiles and a large investment in intercontinental ballistic missiles. The introduction of a missile defense system could make much of their investment obsolete.
Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in March 1985, he was the first Soviet leader born after the revolution, he was 54 years old and had been in favor of reform for some time. He was appointed by the Politburo, so we can assume there were others who favored reform, and of course there were others who were suspicious of any changes. He introduced the policy of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring). According to Gorbachev, perestroika was the "conference of development of democracy, socialist self-government, encouragement of initiative and creative endeavor, improved order and discipline, more glasnost, criticism and self-criticism in all spheres of our society. It is utmost respect for the individual and consideration for personal dignity".
The stagnation of the Russian economy brought about by top down control, regulation and little incentive for creativity and hard work was a serious problem. The rate of alcoholism was severe and the famous Russian quote summed it up," we pretend to work and they pretend to pay us." The black market thrived for goods that were not produced by the government industry. While still a believer in socialism, Gorbachev set in motion a series of events that led to a desire for independence by most of the eastern European republics. This was started in Poland with the "Solidarity" movement in 1980, it was a series of non-violent strikes and other protests that eventually led to semi-free elections in 1989. While Gorbachev introduced the possibility of free elections and self government, he believed that they would continue as communist countries. While these reforms were moving forward Gorbachev made overtures to all the major western leaders and suspended the introduction of the soviets newest intermediate missiles. In November of 1985 he met Ronald Reagan in Geneva, and while no agreements were made they came away in a very friendly atmosphere.
In January 1986 Gorbachev proposed the elimination of all intermediate range missiles in Europe and also the possibility of the elimination of all nuclear weapons by 2000. He also began the process of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. On October 11 1986, Reagan and Gorbachev agreed in principle to eliminate INF missiles in Europe and limit them to 100 worldwide. They also agreed to eliminate Nuclear weapons by 1996. These overtures were all made by Gorbachev and found a willing partner in Reagan. In November 24, 1987 they signed the INF treaty in Geneva. In 1988 Gorbachev completed the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. In 1989 he abandoned the "Brezhnev Doctrine" and allowed elections in the former Warsaw pact countries. By 1991 all of the former soviet bloc countries had become independent. While there was an attempted coup in 1991 and much uncertainty in the future, this was an amazing accomplishment. On December 25,1991 Gorbachev resigned and the next day the flag of the Soviet Union was replace with the flag of the Russian Federation. On Dec. 27, 1991 Boris Yeltsin replaced Mikhail Gorbachev.
While Gorbachev had hoped to keep the union of the states intact, things spiraled out of control once freedom became an option. Those days in the Soviet Union will go down as a pivotal time in the 20th century, alongside WW1,WW2, and the great depression. To unwind the Soviet Union without a large scale civil war was an amazing accomplishment.
originally published 1/22/17 part 4 of 7
The stagnation of the Russian economy brought about by top down control, regulation and little incentive for creativity and hard work was a serious problem. The rate of alcoholism was severe and the famous Russian quote summed it up," we pretend to work and they pretend to pay us." The black market thrived for goods that were not produced by the government industry. While still a believer in socialism, Gorbachev set in motion a series of events that led to a desire for independence by most of the eastern European republics. This was started in Poland with the "Solidarity" movement in 1980, it was a series of non-violent strikes and other protests that eventually led to semi-free elections in 1989. While Gorbachev introduced the possibility of free elections and self government, he believed that they would continue as communist countries. While these reforms were moving forward Gorbachev made overtures to all the major western leaders and suspended the introduction of the soviets newest intermediate missiles. In November of 1985 he met Ronald Reagan in Geneva, and while no agreements were made they came away in a very friendly atmosphere.
In January 1986 Gorbachev proposed the elimination of all intermediate range missiles in Europe and also the possibility of the elimination of all nuclear weapons by 2000. He also began the process of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. On October 11 1986, Reagan and Gorbachev agreed in principle to eliminate INF missiles in Europe and limit them to 100 worldwide. They also agreed to eliminate Nuclear weapons by 1996. These overtures were all made by Gorbachev and found a willing partner in Reagan. In November 24, 1987 they signed the INF treaty in Geneva. In 1988 Gorbachev completed the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. In 1989 he abandoned the "Brezhnev Doctrine" and allowed elections in the former Warsaw pact countries. By 1991 all of the former soviet bloc countries had become independent. While there was an attempted coup in 1991 and much uncertainty in the future, this was an amazing accomplishment. On December 25,1991 Gorbachev resigned and the next day the flag of the Soviet Union was replace with the flag of the Russian Federation. On Dec. 27, 1991 Boris Yeltsin replaced Mikhail Gorbachev.
While Gorbachev had hoped to keep the union of the states intact, things spiraled out of control once freedom became an option. Those days in the Soviet Union will go down as a pivotal time in the 20th century, alongside WW1,WW2, and the great depression. To unwind the Soviet Union without a large scale civil war was an amazing accomplishment.
originally published 1/22/17 part 4 of 7
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