Revolt in Hungary and Czechoslovakia
In 1956, the Hungarian army protested against the Soviet government by storming Budapest with hammer and sickle flags. “From the youngest child to the oldest man, no one wants communism” the mob yelled in protest against the communist government. Imre Nagy formed a new government in which he promised the people free elections and kick the soviets out of Hungary. In response to this radical action, Soviet troops and tanks entered Budapest in November to fight the defending Hungarian freedom fighters, who were poorly armed. A new pro soviet government was created and Imre was killed.
Another part of Eastern Europe that was in chaos during the Cold War was Czechoslovakia. After the Second World War, Czechoslovakian production and economy was at an all-time high. However with the turn of the 1950’s came economic failure which caused the people to outrage. The Czechoslovakians replaced their current communist leader with Alexander Dubcek, who promised a lot of reform and socialism with “a human face”. The Czechoslovakians continued to reform for a certain period called the “Prague Spring”. Russia responded to this spring by sending armed forces into Czechoslovakia. It stated that Russia had the right to prevent it’s neighboring countries from rejecting communism
Another part of Eastern Europe that was in chaos during the Cold War was Czechoslovakia. After the Second World War, Czechoslovakian production and economy was at an all-time high. However with the turn of the 1950’s came economic failure which caused the people to outrage. The Czechoslovakians replaced their current communist leader with Alexander Dubcek, who promised a lot of reform and socialism with “a human face”. The Czechoslovakians continued to reform for a certain period called the “Prague Spring”. Russia responded to this spring by sending armed forces into Czechoslovakia. It stated that Russia had the right to prevent it’s neighboring countries from rejecting communism
Berlin Airlift
When the United States, France and Britain decided to finally recombine Germany into one country the Soviet Union refused to give up their part of it, which had Berlin. The Soviets, hoping to have the others retreat, closed all highways, canals and railroads going into West Berlin. They even went as far as to build a wall separating the two areas.This didn’t stop the nations from helping the West Berliners. The U.S. and its allies proceeded for a year dropping supplies into the area. They dropped a total of 2.3 million tons of supplies
The Iron Curtain
Winston Churchill was delivering a speech at Westminster College in Missouri in March 1946. He said the “iron curtain had descended across the continent.” This curtain separated the communist nations and democratic/capitalistic nations into two two hostile areas. Stalin believed this was a “call to war with the Soviet Union.” The Iron Curtain was located in Eastern Europe and separates Russia's new land and the other European States.