7 - Berlin Wall

Question 1

Narrative account of the Berlin Wall

Answer 1

1 - Refugee crisis
By 1958 - 3 million Germans left East Germany via Berlin, skilled workers leaving = propaganda defeat and bad for economy
TO FORCE THE WEST TO LEAVE
2 - Berlin Ultimatum
Western soldiers had to leave Berlin within 6 months, refusal would mean all control over negotiations would be given to East Germany
IN RESPONSE
3 - Summits - Geneva and Camp David
1959 summits - no agreements reached, Khrushchev removed ultimatum
RELATIONS GREW TENSE AGAIN WHEN
4 - Summits - Paris and Vienna
Paris (1960) - USSR shot down American U-2 spy plane (Gary Powers), Vienna (1961) - reissued Berlin Ultimatum
TO FINALLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE
5 - Construction of the Berlin Wall
Closed border between East and West Berlin, built a wall that was 12ft high and 165km long

Question 2

Consequences of the Berlin Wall (3 points)

Answer 2

1 - Berlin was divided by a wall
2 - Illegal to cross the border from East to West
3 - Kennedy visited Berlin

Question 3

The Berlin Wall meant that Berlin was divided by a wall (duh) - evidence

Answer 3

• border closed overnight - 12th August 1961
• 13th August 1961 = construction started (12ft high, 165km long)

Question 4

The Berlin Wall meant that it was illegal to cross the border from East to West - evidence

Answer 4

• border guards ordered to shoot anybody trying to cross
• barbed wire defences + watchtowers
• 130 people killed - e.g. Peter Fletcher

Question 5

The Berlin Wall meant that Kennedy visited Berlin in 1963 - evidence

Answer 5

• toured the streets - 1.5 million people watched parade
• speech next to wall - ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’
• 200,000 people listening + others on East Berlin side

Question 6

Impact of the construction of the Berlin Wall on the Cold War (analysis for Consequences) - Berlin was divided by a wall

Answer 6

• Berlin: divided into 2 cities. communities and families split
• Cold War: Symbol of the Cold War. Showed a physical divide between East + West. Reduced tensions in Berlin

Question 7

Impact of the construction of the Berlin Wall on the Cold War - illegal to cross the border from East to West

Answer 7

• Berlin: unable to travel around the city. intimidated people of Berlin = frightened of being shot
• Cold War: USA criticised the USSR for cruelty and having to ‘lock people in’
• ends refugee crisis

Question 8

Impact of the construction of the Berlin Wall on the Cold War - Kennedy visited Berlin

Answer 8

• Berlin: people reassured that the USA would protect + support the Western part
• Cold War: Declining relations - open criticism of Khrushchev is a propaganda victory for the USA