4.1 Flashcards
How many refugees left for the West through Berlin?
4 million East Germans
1949-1961
Why did East Germans flee?
Dissatisfied with political and economical situations
Forced collectivisation of agriculture and end of private trading were not popular
Shortages of consumer goods
What happened from January 1961?
Number of refugees leaving East Berlin for West increased rapidly to more than 20000 a month
Large numbers of refugees were skilled people
Entire Maths Department of University of Leipzig defected
Why was the refugee crisis bad for East Germany?
Drain of labour and economic output threatened to bring about the economic collapse of Easy Germany
When was the Berlin Ultimatum?
November 1958
What was the Berlin Ultimatum?
An ultimatum ordering the allies to leave Berlin within 6 months and leave it a free, neutral city.
On what grounds did Krushchev issue the Berlin Ultimatum?
He accused the allies of breaking the Potsdam Agreements
When was the Paris Summit?
May 1960
What happened just before the Paris Summit?
Nine day before
USSR announced it has shot down an American U-2 spy plane
Near Soviet city of Sveldovsk
Gary Powers
Why did tensions rise at Paris?
Khrushchev demanded that all flights stop and that the USA give an apology
Eisenhower was prepared to stop the fights but would not apologise
Bitter exchanges between them at the preliminary meeting
What happened at Paris?
Khrushchev stormed out of the first session
Eisenhower immediately cancelled his planned visit to the USSR
The Paris Summit did not take place
When was the Vienna Summit?
June 1961
What did Khrushchev think he could do at Vienna?
Felt that he would be able to use his experience against he young John F Kennedy
What did JFK do in his acceptance speech?
Re-asserted the Truman Doctrine on January 1961
What happened at Vienna?
Khrushchev demanded again that Western powers leave West Berlin
Claimed that he would make a treaty with East Germany to end all occupation rights, including Western access to Berlin
