I.
1945,
what would happen now?
A.
hopes for move toward freedom etc.
B.
reality – move back to
totalitarian days “The war on fascism ends…”
C.
purges
return
D.
Communist
party reasserts authority
1.
5
year plans return – goal?/bear burden?
2.
transplant
Stalin system to eastern Europe – one party states, no freedoms/civil
liberties, collectivization of agriculture
3.
Yugoslavia
– notable exception b/c Red army was not there
E.
anti-western
purges – any artist with western leanings was denounced; Soviet Jews verbally
assaulted as pro-western
II.
De-Stalinization
A.
1953
Stalin dies – reform is evidently needed – secret police curbed, forced-labor
camps closed
B.
question à how much reform? Conservatives (“hard liners”) want little, Reformers want
more led by Nikita Khrushchev
C.
Khruschev assails Stalin’s
activities which is a bright light itself
D.
De-Stalinization
– communist party still only one; resources shifted from ind/mil
to consumer/ag; standard of living up
E.
Writing
boom – Doctor Zhivago
challenges communism by horrifying the Revolution of 1917; One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
accounts a forced-labor camp
F.
“détente”
and Asia/Africa problems on the horizon with communism
G.
Independence
ignited in E. Europe – Poland riot brings more autonomy; Hungary seeks liberal
communist gov’t but is crushed by iron fist of USSR
III.
Breznev
A.
1964
– opposition to Khrushchev yields Leonid Brezhnev
B.
Reasons:
“softness” and bumblings by Khrushchev
1.
Berlin
ultimatum 1958
2.
Berlin
wall 1961
3.
Cuban
Missile Crisis 1962
C.
Brezhnev
– takes a hard line; arms build-up
D.
Eastern
Europe meanwhile…
1.
modest
improvements to standard of living
2.
Czechoslovak
communists voted in liberal communist.
Sought to create communism with personal freedom & internal
democracy; “socialism with a human face”; Soviet iron fist comes down
3.
Brezhnev
Doctrine – Soviets can intervene whenever they feel the need in E. Eur
IV.
Post-war
trends
A.
Science
1.
union
of pure and applied science – radar, jets, atomic bomb
2.
Big
Science – the application of theoretical science within a large scientific
organization; often in the defense industry
3.
rocketry,
nuclear subs, spy satellites, and space race
4.
“brain
drain” scares Europeans
B.
Class
structure
1.
more
mobile, democratic, old barriers lessened
2.
middle
class – OLD mid-class was landowners or business owners; NEW were managers and
professionals from whichever class
3.
based
on education, ability, specialization
4.
social
reformers abound – unemployment benefits, pensions, health care, family
allowances, low income housing
5.
standard
of living increases – food budget increase, gadget revolution, installment
paying, vacations
C.
ladies
1.
new
family trends – 1945-65 – marry early &
have kids as birthrate increases (baby boom); 1965 on – marry early
& have kids early yet birthrate declines
2.
women
now had less time at home due to fewer pregnancies; could go to work and gain
fulfillment through a career
3.
25%
married women work in 1950; 40-70% work in 1980s