THE U2 CRISIS and THE THE U2 CRISIS and THE SPACE RACESPACE RACE

By Mr Crowewww.SchoolHistory.co

.uk

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 They were a deterrent. deterrent. The idea was to have so many 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 was attacked then it knew that the other could retaliate. This was known as MAD – MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTION.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, 1945 - 1960Dates of the nuclear arms race, 1945 - 1960

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

1949 – USSR tests A bomb1949 – USSR tests A bomb

1952 – USA tests its first hydrogen (H) bomb1952 – USA tests its first hydrogen (H) bomb

1953 – USSR tests its first H bomb1953 – USSR tests its first H bomb

1957 – USSR1957 – USSR

1. tests ICBM capable of carrying an H bomb from 1. tests ICBM capable of carrying an H bomb from USSR to USAUSSR to USA

2. 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 disarmamentThe failure of disarmament

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

After Stalin’s death East-West relations had After Stalin’s death East-West relations had improvedimproved

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

The USA….The USA….

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

each others sites from planeseach others sites from planes 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.

GlossaryGlossary

ICBMs – Inter Continental Ballistic ICBMs – Inter Continental Ballistic MissilesMissiles

IRBMs – Intermediate Range Ballistic IRBMs – Intermediate Range Ballistic MissilesMissiles

MAD – Mutual Assured DestructionMAD – Mutual Assured Destruction

THE SPACE RACETHE SPACE RACE

CompetitionCompetition

Khrushchev keen to competeKhrushchev keen to compete Show Communist technology to be superiorShow Communist technology to be superior Increase Soviet prestigeIncrease Soviet prestige Sputnik launched in 1957Sputnik launched in 1957 USA failed to launch their satellite until USA failed to launch their satellite until

19581958 Race would continue until 1980’sRace would continue until 1980’s

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

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

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

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

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

Khrushchev saidKhrushchev said

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

U2U2

19601960 U2 was a spy plane – that was what it was U2 was a spy plane – that was what it was

developed fordeveloped for Able to fly 6000km at high altitudesAble to fly 6000km at high altitudes Could take photos of Soviet bomber bases Could take photos of Soviet bomber bases

and missile sitesand missile sites

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

down by Soviet missile over Russiadown 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 charged May 7 – Khrushchev says Powers to be charged

with spyingwith spying May 11 – Eisenhower admits U2 was on spying May 11 – Eisenhower admits U2 was on spying

missionmission May 14 – Khrushchev demands apology and May 14 – Khrushchev demands apology and

cancelling of all U2 flightscancelling of all U2 flights May 16 – U2 flights cancelled – no apology – May 16 – U2 flights cancelled – no apology –

Khrushchev walks out of Paris SummitKhrushchev walks out of Paris Summit

ResultsResults

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

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

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

Cold War attitudes hardened againCold War attitudes hardened again