Brezhnev/Afghanistan Brezhnev/Poland

Brezhnev/Afghanistan

1. What 2 justifications did the Soviets publicly offer for their Afghan actions?
1) that Babrak had requested their military presence in Afghanistan in order to preserve his country for socialism, which allegedly was threatened by the United
States and China; and (2) that the threat to Afghanistan was also a threat
to the USSR. The Soviets emphasized that they would withdraw their military forces as soon as all external interference in Afghanistan's affairs.ceased.

2.What other factors may have motivated the USSR?
They provided substantial financial and economic investment in the country so when the leader was overthrown in a military coupe, by a pro-soviet by Nur Mohammad Taraki. On December 5, 1978, the USSR signed a twenty-year treaty of friendship and cooperation with the Taraki government, and in September, 1979. Also when Taraki was murdered by Amin the USSR had to kill him because Amin wanted to form relations with China and other non communist government.

3. What was the international reaction to Soviet policies in Afghanistan?
All countries of the non-Soviet world condemned Soviet behavior and activity in Afghanistan but they could not however solve the problem due to Soviet intransigence.

Brezhnev/Poland

1. What were the six areas of conflict between Poles/Soviets?

-It was a cultural confrontation between Roman Catholics and Russian Orthodox and Atheists.
-It was a massive withdrawal by Polish workers from the Soviet-imposed labor unions hence an "ideological deviation."
-It was a protest against and an expose of corruption of top Polish officials loyal to the USSR.
-It was a resistance to Soviet control and exploitation for Soviet ends of Polish economy, politics and destiny.
- It was a serious problem to the security of the USSR and to its interests throughout Eastem and Central Europe.
- Because it had many deep and diverse roots, the crisis there was potentially more
dangerous to Soviet interests.

2. What were the six events which precipitated the '80-'81 Polish crisis?

1) the growing nationwide disillusionment with the government's policies;
2) the government's failure to introduce genuine and desperately-needed economic reforms that would improve the low and precarious living standard;
3)the growing tension between political and religious leaders, which culminated in the government's refusal to allow Pope Paul VI to visit Poland in 1966 to help
commemorate the millennium of Polish Catholicism;
4) the arrest and trial of several young party intellectuals who were critical of the official establishment and its policies;
5) the government's stoppage (at the end of January, 1968) of a theater production of a poetic drama, Dziady (Forefathers), by Adam Mickiewicz, a 19th century Polish romanticist, because of its anti-Russian line;
6) the nationwide student unrest in March, 1968, which authorities put down with excessive force.

3. Which of the six areas for conflict (from #1) seem to be the most significant hindrance to Polish-Soviet relations?

It was a protest against and an expose of corruption of top Polish officials loyal to the USSR. Seems to be the most significant because if the Polish people are protesting against their own government, it seems the chances of a revolution would occur against the government, which would lead to a attempted coupe and cause the Soviet government to step in to protect her interests causing a a uprising of the Polish to fend off the USSR army.

4. Which of the six areas of conflict (from #1) seem to be the least significant hindrance to Polish-Soviet relations?

It was a massive withdrawal by Polish workers from the Soviet-imposed labor unions hence an "ideological deviation." This one seems to be the least significant to the hindrance to Polish-Soviet relations because the Soviets could just replace the Polish workers with Soviet workers and not have to worry about labor unions who are already under the impression of the soviet government.