9.28.4 The Cold War in Europe: Part 2

A False Thaw in the Cold War After the death of Stalin in 1953 the people of the United States and Europe were relieved when Nikita Khrushchev took over as head of the Soviet Union Khrushchev delivered a speech in 1956 called his “Secret Speech” he denounced the policies of intimidation of Joseph Stalin and ensured that the world had nothing to fear from the Soviet Union Khrushchev called for a policy of peaceful co-existence between the United States and the Soviet government Unfortunately, this “thaw” was a false hope for peace. Various Eastern European nations like Hungary and East Germany (German Democratic Republic) experienced rebellions against the Soviet leadership in their respective nations In all cases, the U.S.S.R. sent in troops and tanks to suppress the uprisings The same would happen in Czechoslovakia in 1968 when the citizens tried to gain civil liberties and reforms, but 500,000 Soviet soldiers halted the demonstrations This oppression existed in Eastern Europe, and no symbol of oppression was greater than the Berlin Wall Built in 1961 created between East and West Berlin to keep East Berlin citizens from escaping to West Berlin Over the next couple of decades, people would risk their lives trying to escape over that dreaded wall and away from the Communist system Western Europe  As Eastern Europe suffered under socialist ideologies, Western Europe began to leave the past behind them as they moved more towards industry and a market economy Spain during the 1970s Prince Juan Carlos encouraged democratic rule and economic growth thanks to support from the United States West Germany experienced prosperity as the government embraced a free market economy and provided a striking contrast of success compared to East Germany’s struggling economy under the Soviets Unfortunately, the Socialist Parties in the nations of France and Italy began to grow in popularity during the 1970s Scandinavia socialist philosophy took root led to more of a focus on mankind’s role and less on their dependence on God After World War II Great Britain fell under the control of the Labor Party that introduced national health insurance and nationalized industries until 1951 when the Conservative Party returned to power, but at that point, they were unwilling to dismantle the welfare system created Morality began to decline in Great Britain as more of its citizens turned to material rewards and less to God’s sovereignty Europe began to decline in morality and faith during the latter half of the twentieth century These nations experienced a productive economy, but a welfare system created a strain on that economy. A need for gaining material reward came at the cost of the citizens denying eternal gain