THE U2 CRISIS AND THE THE U2 CRISIS AND THE SPACE RACESPACE RACE

Space Race – Arms Race!Space Race – Arms Race!

The race begins….The race begins….• Both countries began developing their weapons so as to be able to ‘outgun’ their opponents. This meant:

• developing more powerful weapons

• having more of one weapon than the other side

WHY NUCLEAR WEAPONS?WHY NUCLEAR WEAPONS?

• Cheaper than having a large armyCheaper than having a large army

• They were a deterrent. The idea was to have so many They were a deterrent. The idea was to have so many missiles that they could not all be destroyed. If one side missiles that they could not all be destroyed. If one side attacked then it knew that the other could retaliate. This attacked then it knew that the other could retaliate. This was known as MAD – MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTION.was known as MAD – MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTION.

•For some the Arms Race was a test of the strengths of For some the Arms Race was a test of the strengths of Capitalism v CommunismCapitalism v Communism

Why was there a nuclear arms race?

450 ICBMs250 Medium range missiles2,260 Bombers16,000Tanks32 Nuclear submarines260 Conventional submarines76 Battleships and carriers

76 IBMs

700 Medium range bombers

1,600 bombers

38,000 Tanks

12 Nuclear submarines

495 Conventional submarines

0 Battleships and cruisers

Dates of the nuclear arms race, Dates of the nuclear arms race, 1945 - 19601945 - 1960

1945 – USA tests and drops the first atomic 1945 – USA tests and drops the first atomic (A) bombs(A) bombs

1949 – USSR tests A bomb1949 – USSR tests A bomb1952 – USA tests its first hydrogen (H) 1952 – USA tests its first hydrogen (H)

bombbomb1953 – USSR tests its first H bomb1953 – USSR tests its first H bomb1957 – USSR1957 – USSR1. Tests ICBM capable of carrying an H bomb 1. Tests ICBM capable of carrying an H bomb

from USSR to USAfrom USSR to USA2. Puts the space satellite ‘Sputnik’ into orbit.2. Puts the space satellite ‘Sputnik’ into orbit.

1958 – USA

1. Places IRBMs targeted on USSR in NATO countries. Both sides could now launch direct attacks on each others’ cities

2. Launches its own satellite

1960 – USA launches first nuclear powered submarine capable of firing a Polaris missile with an atomic warhead from underwater

The failure of The failure of disarmamentdisarmament

Both sides hoped for arms Both sides hoped for arms reductions to cut defence spendingreductions to cut defence spending

After Stalin’s death East-West After Stalin’s death East-West relations had improvedrelations had improved

USSR proposed:USSR proposed:– reduction of armed forcesreduction of armed forces– Eventual abolition of atomic weaponsEventual abolition of atomic weapons– International inspections to supervise International inspections to supervise

thisthis

The USA….The USA….

Wanted strong inspection systemWanted strong inspection system Proposed ‘open skies’ – openly Proposed ‘open skies’ – openly

photograph each others sites from photograph each others sites from planesplanes

USSR rejected thisUSSR rejected this USA rejected initial USSR proposalsUSA rejected initial USSR proposals StalemateStalemate Attempts again failed at the 1960 Paris Attempts again failed at the 1960 Paris

Summit due to the U2 incident.Summit due to the U2 incident.

KeyKey

ICBMs – Inter Continental Ballistic ICBMs – Inter Continental Ballistic MissilesMissiles

IRBMs – Intermediate Range IRBMs – Intermediate Range Ballistic MissilesBallistic Missiles

MAD – Mutual Assured DestructionMAD – Mutual Assured Destruction

THE SPACE RACETHE SPACE RACE

CompetitionCompetition

Khrushchev keen to competeKhrushchev keen to compete Keen to show Communist Keen to show Communist

technology to be superiortechnology to be superior Keen to increase Soviet prestigeKeen to increase Soviet prestige Sputnik launched in 1957Sputnik launched in 1957 USA failed to launch their satellite USA failed to launch their satellite

until 1958until 1958 Race would continue until 1980sRace would continue until 1980s

The serious side was….The serious side was….

That a rocket that could launch a satellite That a rocket that could launch a satellite could also launch a nuclear warhead at a could also launch a nuclear warhead at a target.target.

So space developments led to rapid So space developments led to rapid advances in nuclear weapons.advances in nuclear weapons.

By 1960 each side had the nuclear By 1960 each side had the nuclear capability to destroy the earthcapability to destroy the earth

In 1961 Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut In 1961 Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut was the first man to orbit the earth – the was the first man to orbit the earth – the Soviets had the lead. For Khrushchev it Soviets had the lead. For Khrushchev it was a triumph for communismwas a triumph for communism

Khrushchev saidKhrushchev said

‘‘The Sputniks prove that The Sputniks prove that communism has won the communism has won the competition between communist competition between communist and capitalist countries. The and capitalist countries. The economy, science, culture and the economy, science, culture and the creative genius of people in all creative genius of people in all areas of life develop better and areas of life develop better and faster under communism.’faster under communism.’

U2U2

19601960 U2 was a spy planeU2 was a spy plane Able to fly 6000km at high Able to fly 6000km at high

altitudesaltitudes Could take photos of Soviet Could take photos of Soviet

bomber bases and missile sitesbomber bases and missile sites

EventsEvents May 1 - U2 plane piloted by Gary Powers May 1 - U2 plane piloted by Gary Powers

shot down by Soviet missile over Russiashot down by Soviet missile over Russia May 5 – Eisenhower denied it was spyingMay 5 – Eisenhower denied it was spying May 7 – Khrushchev says Powers to be May 7 – Khrushchev says Powers to be

charged with spyingcharged with spying May 11 – Eisenhower admits U2 was on May 11 – Eisenhower admits U2 was on

spying missionspying mission May 14 – Khrushchev demands apology May 14 – Khrushchev demands apology

and cancelling of all U2 flightsand cancelling of all U2 flights May 16 – U2 flights cancelled – no apology May 16 – U2 flights cancelled – no apology

– Khrushchev walks out of Paris Summit– Khrushchev walks out of Paris Summit

ResultsResults

Paris summit abandoned – hopes Paris summit abandoned – hopes on disarmament dashedon disarmament dashed

Khrushchev showed Communist Khrushchev showed Communist world he could be toughworld he could be tough

Powers sentenced to ten years. Powers sentenced to ten years. Swapped for Soviet spy after 17 Swapped for Soviet spy after 17 monthsmonths

Cold War attitudes hardened againCold War attitudes hardened again