Post 1968 World Ending the Cold War: Victory for Democracy and Capitalism?
Dominos Fall in Berlin [2min Video, no commentary]
I was 14 when I first went to Berlin and the wall was still firmly in place. I was staying with family friends who wanted to show me the beauty of West Berlin but I was intent on seeing "the wall". I remember pressing my hand against it and marvelling that it was only bricks and mortar but was symbolic of years of terror and intimidation. Years later I watched that wall being dismantled by East and West Berliners and wept with joy for their liberation and with utter desolation for those who had died so meaninglessly. Sharsh, UK
... And the Wall Comes Down: November 9, 1989 I was living in Germany on the day the wall came down and well remember talking to my German neighbour. With tears streaming down his face he kept saying in English and German: "I never thought I would live to see this." Malcolm Harrison, Canada
... And the Wall Comes Down: November 9, 1989 I was in school on the day that it was announced that the borders were open, and everyone in the school was put on a bus, and taken to a nearby border crossing point. There we handed out flowers, provided by the RAF Base commander, to all people crossing from the East. The vast majority of people crossing were not actually going anywhere, they just wanted to cross to see if it was really true,... I remember one woman, crying her eyes out and hugging us all... When our German teacher translated, we understood why: Her son had been killed trying to escape East Germany just a year previously. Richard Price, UK
... And the Wall Comes Down: November 9, 1989 I was in East Berlin and East Germany in February 1989 and later that year in Hungary. I was told repeatedly by East Germans I met, that the "Wall" would come down soon. I thought they were being a little over optimistic to say the least. What amazed me in November 1989, and amazes me to this day, is how everybody in the East knew what was coming and was pushing harder and harder to bring the day closer when they would be free.... the West in general...bdid not believe it would happen and were stunned when they woke up on 10 November 1989.... I cried as I realized that people I had met a few months earlier, who had lived all there lives under one tyrant or another, would now be free. Rob, USA (then UK)
... And the Wall Comes Down: November 9, 1989 We thought it was going to change the world! Joseph, Portugal [above quotations from The Night the Wall Came Down, Add l Rdgs]
What was this all about? What was the significance of taking down the wall (or initially, climbing over it and pouring through gates like the Brandenburg)? Why would people be so moved as to cry even hearing about it, let alone being there? Why would anyone think it would change the world?
The Berlin Wall and the Cold War The Berlin Wall symbolized the Cold War: its destruction equally symbolized the ending of that War But the story is more complicated than the dramatic footage of East Europeans pouring unrestrained, unchecked, through armed gates or celebrating on top of the Wall or toppling pieces of that wall not to mention taking them away as souvenirs
The Berlin Wall and the Cold War the wall was more than a symbol: it was approximately 150 kms of wall and highly defended border over 43 kms divided the city of Berlin itself [see interactive website http://www.berlin.de/mauer/verlauf/index/index.en.php] While the wall began as a division within the city, it was expanded to surround it completely cutting off West Berlin from surrounding (East European, Soviet influenced countries) but also preventing East Berliners from visiting, working in West Berlin
The Berlin Wall and the Cold War
Wall escalated in June August 1961: from no question of a wall or barrier (June 15) to normal border checks will be put in place (August 12) to temporary barriers and the tearing up of connecting roads/paths between East and West Berlin (overnight August 12/13) to first installation of barbed wire fencing across city (August 13) to first concrete barrier: over next few days/weeks replaced barbed wire with permanent Wall
But Why? Post War World importance of Soviet sphere of influence to new super power status should not be underestimated Stalin not happy with four way division of Berlin ( compromise post war agreement, see earlier lecture) 1948 had blockaded Berlin (surrounded by East Germany): US airlift rescued city 1949 soviet scientists perfect/explode Atomic Bomb: creating the nuclear age
1953: Stalin died seen as hero of Soviet Union, mourned by many But not in Eastern Europe Authority based on terrorism, repression: death marked moment to resist Khrushchev (successor): faced uprisings in Germany, Poland, Hungary
Hungary 1956 The Soviet air force has bombed part of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, and Russian troops have poured into the city in a massive dawn offensive. At least 1,000 Soviet tanks are reported to have entered Budapest and troops deployed throughout the country are battling with Hungarian forces for strategic positions. The Soviet invasion is a response to the national uprising led by Prime Minister Imre Nagy, who has promised the Hungarian people independence and political freedom. [from BBC report, see Hungary, Resources]
Germany divided into West and East West Germany admitted to NATO 1955 economy flourishing thanks to Marshal Plan In East Germany: Berlin divided into East/West spheres by open border. from early 1950s, accelerated after 1953: 1000s fled communist system (including East Germany)
To keep their people in, the East Germans, with Soviet backing, build The Wall [see The Rise and Fall of the Wall, 45min video, Resources]
Became Iconic Symbol of Cold War: US presidents (beginning with Eisenhower, ending with Regan) visited West Berlin : Wall meant West Berlin epitomized freedom Kennedy made famous 'Ich bin ein Berliner speech on June 26, 1963
"Today in the world of freedom the proudest boast is 'Ich bin ein Berliner (I am a Berliner) all free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein Berliner.' [see also Ronald Regan 1987 Tear Down Your Wall, Add l Rdg]
Czechoslovakia: had moved towards liberalization in 1960s under new leader: Prague Spring promised human rights, some form of democracy, reformed economy Censorship ended 1968: level of public opposition unexpected led to further promises of reforms Worried Soviet government who remembered Hungary
Czechoslovakia: August 20 21 1968 Warsaw Pact forces invaded Surprised everyone: but no one intervened successful in preventing further liberalization in Czechoslovakia but also in restricting other countries resistance Used right to protect Communist regimes to continue interference
Czechoslovakia 1968
Czechoslovakia 1968
Czechoslovakia 1968 For more photos see Invasion of Czechoslovakia-Photos, Resources
Escalation of Resistance 1970s, 1980s: Poland [textbook p 1018] Poland had remained more resistant to Communist rule than others: Catholic Church powerful Suffered same economic problems as other non western countries by 1970s 1978: Polish Pope elected political in that he spoke for human rights and spiritual rights in Poland itself
Poland: 1980s workers took lead in resisting working class revolt (ironic against Communist Marxist regime, yet this was exactly what Marx predicted) Solidarity movement 1980 81: began as trade union but later gained widespread popular support Leaders arrested [see Solidarity Leader Speaks from Prison ] But movement grew: pressured Communist Leaders for Free Elections 1989
Poland: Solidarity candidates won across the board First non communist prime minister in Eastern Europe in over a generation
Iconic Solidarity poster featuring Gary Cooper! (Above his Sheriff s Star, he wears a Solidarity badge)
Czechoslovakia: Followed suit: movement elected a dissident playwright as its first non Communist President [see Vaclav Haval Textbook p. 1017)
Haval Wenceslas Square 1989
Soviet Union: changes also occurring there Within the Soviet Union major changes in post war society While politics engaged with Eastern Europe (and crises in places like Egypt/Suez Canal, Cuba and Middle East) [previous lectures and Middle East (December 7)] domestic political climate changing Urbanization, education, public debate
Soviet Union: changes also occurring there Mid 1980s: new leader Mikhail Gorboachev Dramatic move to democratic socialism Characterized by: Perestroika, Glasnost and liberalization of foreign policy 1989: withdrew from controversial Afghanistan, offered free elections for East Europeans
Soviet Union: changes also occurring there Subsequent elections across Eastern Europe overwhelmingly overthrew Communist regimes Or at least: they supported regimes that promised support for democratic elections and human rights Eastern Europe changed overnight [Textbook p 1016]
Fall of the Berlin Wall: over 100,000 East Europeans tried to escape across the inner German border or the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1988 More than 600 were shot and or died in other ways during their escape attempt At least 136 people died at the Berlin Wall alone between 1961 and 1989
Fall of Berlin Wall: East Germany decided that the flood of those who wished to move freely between the East and West needed to be addressed (note: they did NOT necessarily wish to remain in the West only to be able to move, work, visit family etc. freely ) Story about mis understood/mis directed message: bottom line was border guards stepped aside and literally let everyone pass
it would change the world did it? Fall of Wall was more than symbolic but were consequences what were imagined at the time? Impact in former Soviet States? Impact in former Soviet Union?
Soviet Union: post 1985 Initiated democratic Socialism : Perestroika, Glasnost, reversal of foreign policy the latter resulted in a rejection of Communism across Eastern Europe
Victory of Democracy? Capitalism? In fact post communism not easy transition Move from managed, centralized economy to freemarket advantaged those already in positions of power (former communists) West had moved significantly ahead as consequence of Marshal plan: Stalinism as economic ideology (inherited in various ways in Eastern Europe) had no role in 1980s
Victory of Democracy? Capitalism? Yugoslavia great post communist tragedy [textbook] example of how authoritarian rulers (in this case Tito) were able to keep very divergent regions together Ethnic violence dated back to 19 th century, reiterated during WWII 1989: led to revival of Serbian goals, wars throughout region, leader charged under UN war crimes act
Victory of Democracy? Capitalism? Soviet Union: 1990 Soviet Communist Party defeated in local elections Gorbachev proposed new constitution in face of growing opposition from Boris Yeltsin Leader of Russian Parliament: May 1990 announced Russian Independence from Soviet Union
Victory of Democracy? Capitalism? 1991: Yeltsin elected President of Russian Federation Provoked direct confrontation with Gorbachev : protecting Soviet Union 1991: Communist hardliner attempted coup d etat Yelstin emerged as hero defending country and revolution
Victory of Democracy? Capitalism? led to Anti Communist Revolution in the Russian Federation Yeltsin and his allies declared Russia independent and withdrew from the Soviet Union Russia was followed by all the Soviet Republics December 25, 1991: Soviet Union ceased to exist
Break Up of Soviet Union Post Soviet states in English alphabetical order: 1. Armenia; 2. Azerbaijan; 3. Belarus; 4. Estonia; 5. Georgia; 6. Kazakhstan; 7. Kyrgyzstan; 8. Latvia; 9. Lithuania; 10. Moldova; 11. Russia; 12. Tajikistan; 13. Turkmenistan; 14. Ukraine; 15. Uzbekistan
Victory of Democracy? Capitalism? It would be easy to answer these questions in the affirmative but... former Soviet Union experienced same economic problems Eastern Europe had Similar exacerbation class divisions: few very wealthy positioned to benefit from liberalizing of economy eroded public services: health care in particular declined
Victory of Democracy? Capitalism? workers, poor in general suffering Yeltsin s successor (Putin) forced to put controls on democracy to keep discontent in line: increasingly authoritarian Also seen in Russian Imperialism : example Chechnya [see Textbook 1021]
Victory of Democracy? Capitalism? discontent in/between other new states increasingly drew Russian intervention for example the Ukraine/Crimea crisis 2014 (continues) Recent conflict with Turkey Region rife with instability: Russia seems poised to reestablish old Soviet influence War without Definition : not victory envisaged in 1989