Notes for World History
THAW AFTER 1953
Reasons for the thaw
East-West relations began to improve during 1953. The following were the reasons for the thaw:
- The death of Stalin: It brought to the forefront new Russian leaders who wanted to improve relations with the USA.
- McCarthy discredited: Anti-communist feelings in the USA, which had been stirred up by Senator McCarthy, began to moderate when McCarthy was discredited in 1954.
How did the thaw show itself?
- Peace agreement ended the Korean war in 195 3; end of Indo-China war next year
- Russians made important concessions in 1955 such as giving up of military bases, abandoning of the Cominform
- The most important development in the thaw was the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in 1955 which made Austria independent.
The thaw was only partial which is evident from the following:
- The Warsaw Pact was signed in 1955 between Russia and her satellite states
- The Russians continued to build up their nuclear armaments
- The situation in Berlin caused more tension
- Installation of Soviet missiles in Cuba in 1962
