2.1 The Berlin Crisis Flashcards
What year was the refugee problem in Berlin
1958
Why were people leaving the East for the West
Better standard of living
More freedom
West Germany benefits from Marshall Aid
How many people left the east for the west
Over 3 million
Why was the refugee problem a problem for krushchev
Because it was humiliating and showed when people had the choice of communism or capitalism, capitalism was chosen much more
Also it was a problem as all the highly skilled workers who the east need to build their economy were leaving
What was the consequence of the refugee problem in Berlin
The Berlin Ultimatum
What was the Berlin ultimatum
This was to make Berlin part of East Germany and to kick France and Britatin out.
It stated that Berlin should become a free city
Berlin should be demilitaried of western troops
They had 6 months to leave
What were he consequences of the Berlin Ultimatum
West outraged - Seen as trying to spread communism
Forced the West and East to have talks 
What were the dates of the talks
Geneva - May 1959
Camp David - Sept 1959
Paris - 1960
Vienna - 1961
What happened at Geneva 1959
No agreements but agreed to meet again
What happend at Camp David 1959
Soviets withdrew Ultimatum
Agreed to meet again in Paris
What happened at Paris 1960
US U2 spy plane got shot down, Eisenhowar refused to take any blame or apologise
Krushchev walks out
What happened at Vienna 1961
Ultimatum re issued
No agreements
JFK increased military spending by 2 billion
Made the USSR relise that the Berlin will not get sorted out by talks
When was the construction of the Berlin Wall
The night of 12 August 1961
What was the cause of the construction of the Berlin wall
Tensions grew between the US and Soviets so more and more people left the East incase Krushchev closed the boarders. For example one day 40,000 people left the East for West.
So East German leader Walter urged Krushchev to close the boarder so he did, putting up a barbed wire, which soon became concrete that stretched 165km
What was a negative impact of building the Berlin wall fir the Soviets
It showed that they had to lock people into east berlin and when people had a choice they chose the west