Berlin 1958-63 Flashcards
Why were the people of Berlin unhappy?
There was secret police everywhere
In 1953 riots were violently supressed by the armed forces
Why did East Germans go to west berlin?
For a better wuality of life
Higher salarys
It was easy to cross the borders
Once they were there they could freely travel to the Western Europe
In 1958 how many East Germans fleed to the west?
What type of people left?
3 million (over 1/6 of the population. Many of these were factory workers, teachers, engineers and skilled workers. Just the sort of people East Germnay needed to rebuild it’s economy
Why was West Germany more desirable than East Germany?
West Germany recieved Marshall Aid whulst the East didn’t
The west therefore had a higher standard of life
East Germnay recived little aid from Comecon and it was spent badly.
The East therefore had a low standard of living
The East German government was becoming increasingly unpopular also because there were a lot more restrictions
Why was the Berlin Crisis bad?
It showed communism in a bad way
It was a propaganda disaster for the Soviet Union
How did Khrushchev try and solve the Berlin Crisis?
He made the Belin ultimatum
What happened just before the Berlin ultimatum?
In November 1958 Khrushchev demanded that the Western countrys should officaly recognise West Berlin
What was the Berlin ultimatum?
After the west denied
On 27th November Khrushchev demanded that Berlin should be demilitarised and western troops withdrawn (basicly giving up Berlin). Berlin should become a free city.
How long did the west have to get out of Berlin?
6 months or Khrushchev would hand all routes to West Berlin to East German forces
Why was the Berlin ultimatum clever?
If the west refused they would need to enter into talks with East Germany therefore forcing them inte recognising East Germany as a country
What effects did the Berlin ultimatium have?
Worsened relations as the west saw it as the Soviets trying to spread communism
Who was the Chancellor of West Germnay during the Berlin Crisis?
What did he believe?
Chancellor Adenauer. He didn’t want to give East Germany official recognision but didn’t want to go to war over it.
Why did no one want war over Berlin?
By 1958 both superpowers had massive nuclear arsenals
When was the Geneva summit? (Berlin Crisis)
May 1959
What happened at the Geneva Summit in 1959
Both sides put forwards of how Berlin should be governed.
No agreements made
Where is Geneva?
Switzerland
When was the Camp David summit?
September 1959
What happened in the Camp David summit?
Eisenhower and Khrushchev met face to face for the first time.
Still no agreements about Berlin
Khrushchev withdrew the berlin ultimatum.
Better relations were established
When was the Paris summit meeting?
MY 1960
What happened at the Paris summit meeting
U2 spy plane incident overshadowed it
Khrushchev walked out after Eisenhower wouldn’t appologise for spying.
No decisions made
Complete Desaster
When was the U2 spy plane incident?
May 1st 1960
Who was the piot of the U2 plane that was shot down?
What did he do?
Gary Powers
Under interigation he admitted that it was a spying mission