Cold War in Europe - Assignment Example

Cold War in Europe of Establishment Cold War in Europe Section How does the book Under a Cruel Star regard the Nazi occupationof Czechoslovakia?The book describes the Nazi’s occupation of Czechoslovakia as non-ceremonial. Despite a small group of Germans living in Sudetenland, the Germans had no right to annex the defenceless Czechoslovakia in 1939. At the Munich’s conference, the Czechs were not invited, yet Hitler’s demand for Sudetenland was approved. What is the initial impression of Communism in Czechoslovakia as Kovlay describes it?

Communism was not so popular in Czechoslovakia. There were stronger socialist parties, and the communist parties faded away with time because they were subservient to the Russians. There was also a determination for Czech to be an independent nation. How does her attitude towards Communist rule change? What specific events crystallized this change for her?The attitude of the writer towards communism changes when the Soviets take the occupation of Czech in the 1946 elections. After the Yalta agreement that ended the brutal German rule, there was a reprieve as the pre-war president, Edward Benes takes power.

The communists did well in these elections, but they did not form the majority government. They later took the power and instigated their rule with initiation of a one party state. How are the early phases of the “Prague Spring” portrayed in the book? The early phases of Prague Spring are portrayed as a call for reforms in the Dubcek governance. The voices that called for the end of centralisation of the economy and the call for the formation of the opposition Socialist party engineered the whole process.

The call for reform of the party doctrine, and the free economy reforms dominated this period. Furthermore, Dubcek wanted to form interrelationship with the West. He claimed that Czech would continue to be subsidiary to the Soviet Union and the other partners. Fearing that their own citizens would demand for similar reforms, Breshnev took action to gain control. It became clear that the Warsaw Pact powers had the right to intervene in the matter. What is Kordaly’s reaction to the Warsaw Pact invasion in 1968?

On the Warsaw Pact invasion, Dubcek called for the no-resistance, despite the sporadic fighting outbreaks. The students endeavoured to stop the Soviet tanks, and tried to involve the NATO. With over 70,000 Czech refugees, non-violent resistance took place. The president was arrested and taken to Moscow, but mass resistance led to his return to Czech. The later protests led to the removal of Dubcek as the president, and he was replaced by Gustav Husak who launched the normalisation programme (Conference Six Focus – topic 1).

What overall impression of Czech attitudes towards the political fortunes of their nation do you get from Under a Cruel Star? The impression obtained from the Czech political fortunes is that, they advocated for reforms in their system of governance. They were committed towards becoming and independent state with a democratic setting. The focus to development, other than war, was a gallant step towards their growth. Section 2 What events in the period between 1947-1953 marked the hardening of the division of the continent into two hostile camps?

(Be specific)The events that marked the hardening of the division of the continent include the communist control of the cabinet, and the introduction of the Marxist-Leninist state. How did Stalin consolidate Soviet control of Eastern Europe?Stalin consolidated the Soviet control by the Marxist-Leninist system. The central economic system, forced industrialisation, collectivisation of private property, and removal of political and religious organisations hardened this consolidation. What western steps contributed to this escalating chain of events?

The Western steps that led to these escalating events include the British support of the occupation of the Czech by the Germans. The German massacres also welcomed the Russians to establish their rule (Conference Six Focus – topic 1). What was the impact of the Cold War in Europe? The cold war led to the stabilisation of Europe as a continent. The boundaries of the conflict were clarified leading to this stabilisation. It also led to economic legacies that led to establishment of economically stable countries.

It also led to emergence of military legacies with superpower countries getting established. It also led to security through the stabilisation of the nuclear energy programs and the control of weapons. How did Europeans in the 1960s, both East and West, attempt to transcend the division of the continent into two Cold War camps? Most countries opted for neutrality to transcend against the division of the two continents. Some countries build allies such as France with the Czech. This ensured an understanding between them hence fostering ties and security.

ReferencesConference Six Focus - Topic 1