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Three crises: Berlin, Cuba and Czechoslovakia
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Between 1960 and 1968, three crises brought the superpowers into dangerous confrontations.
Berlin, 1960 to 61
In May 1960 an American U2 spy plane was shot down over the USSR. Khrushchev walked out of the Paris Summit.
Millions of East Germans had fled to the West through Berlin.
On 13 August 1961 East Germany sealed the border; the Berlin Wall was built.
Millions of East Germans had fled to the West through Berlin.
On 13 August 1961 East Germany sealed the border; the Berlin Wall was built.
Cuba, 1961 to 62
Castro's Cuba moved towards the USSR. The US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion (April 1961) by Cuban exiles failed.
In October 1962 US planes found Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba. Kennedy ordered a naval blockade.
After thirteen days, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles; the USA promised not to invade Cuba and secretly agreed to remove its missiles from Turkey.
In October 1962 US planes found Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba. Kennedy ordered a naval blockade.
After thirteen days, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles; the USA promised not to invade Cuba and secretly agreed to remove its missiles from Turkey.
Czechoslovakia, 1968
Alexander Dubček introduced reforms, the Prague Spring: more freedom of speech and less censorship.
In August 1968 Warsaw Pact troops invaded and Dubček was removed.
The Brezhnev Doctrine said the USSR would intervene in any communist country that threatened the Eastern bloc.
In August 1968 Warsaw Pact troops invaded and Dubček was removed.
The Brezhnev Doctrine said the USSR would intervene in any communist country that threatened the Eastern bloc.
Why was the Cuban Missile Crisis so dangerous?
- Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba could hit most US cities.
- Kennedy's blockade risked a clash between US and Soviet ships.
- Any shot could have escalated to nuclear war.
Answer: Both superpowers came close to a nuclear war.
Berlin: U2 incident and failed Paris Summit (1960); the Berlin Wall (13 August 1961). Cuba: Bay of Pigs (1961); Missile Crisis (October 1962), ended by deals on missiles. Czechoslovakia: Prague Spring under Dubček, Warsaw Pact invasion (August 1968), Brezhnev Doctrine.
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