4- the Berlin Crisis

Question 1

What were the official Names of West and East Germany from 1949?

Answer 1

• WG:The federal republic

- EG: The Democratic republic

Question 2

Why was west Germany seen as threat by Khrushchev?

Answer 2

• It was economically stronger than EG

- WG had joined NATO in 1955

Question 3

Why was WG also seen as a military threat?

Answer 3

Soviet Union, German attack again is seen as a problem

Question 4

What was WG seen as a base for what activity?

Answer 4

American spies in WG were spying on EG

Question 5

What was the refugee problem?

Answer 5

• Between 1949-1961 approx 4 million EG fled to West
• Didn’t like forced Collectivisation
• Large number of professional people also left + skilled craftsmen
• Threatened Economic collapse of EG

Question 6

Why were Germans ‘defecting’ from east to west?

Answer 6

• Collectivisation of Agriculture
• Economic + Political conditions at home
• Shortages of Consumer goods

Question 7

What was the ‘brain drain’?

Answer 7

Large no. Of professional people left eg. an entire maths department defected to the west

Question 8

What was Khrushchev’s Berlin Ultimatum?

Answer 8

• 1958
• Accused allies of breaking Potsdam agreement
• Eisenhower was willing to negotiate + didn’t want war

Question 9

What happened 9 days before the Paris summit in 1960 which changed the situation quite dramatically?

Answer 9

• Conference were to due happen
• SU announced that they shit an American U-2 spy plane
• Pilot parachuted + captured, Gary Powers
• Eisenhower refuses to apologise + cancelled summit

Question 10

Why was Khrushchev more hopeful regarding negotiations with Eisenhower’s successor?

Answer 10

• John. f kennedy replaces

- Young + felt like he could push him around

Question 11

How successful was the Vienna summit of 1961?

Answer 11

• JFK key Truman Doctrine

- JFK refuses to withdraw his forces + increases US spending

Question 12

How did the situation between JFK + Khrushchev deteriorate further on 13 August 1961?

Answer 12

Khrushchev closed border between EG and WG

Question 13

How long + high was the Berlin Wall?

Answer 13

• 27 miles long

- 3.6m high

Question 14

Why was the area beyond the wall virtually Impossible to cross?

Answer 14

• Chain fences

- EB soldiers shot WB people who crossed the walls

Question 15

What happens at various checkpoints in Oct 1961 + name an important checkpoint?

Answer 15

• Checkpoint Charlie
• American stationed their troops behind the checkpoint
• Soviet soldiers did the same
• USA said if SU moved their troops so would they + they ended the feud

Question 16

How did some EG manage to escape to the West after the Berlin Wall was built?

Answer 16

• Tunnelling
• Swimming
• Jumping out of windows near the wall
• Some tried to climb the wall

Question 17

How did the Berlin Wall affect families?

Answer 17

Families were split + couldn’t see one another

Question 18

What did Khrushchev mean when he said the wall was “Guarding the gates of socialist paradise”?

Answer 18

Flow of refugees + Economic crisis in EG came to an end