Berlin 1958-63: Increased Tension and the Impact of the Berlin Wall Flashcards
Describe the Differences Between East and West Germany
-In 1949, Germany had been split into two: West Germany was democratic and East Germany was firmly under the control of the communist Soviet Union.
-West Germany received Marshall Aid and in the 1950s became a prosperous country where most people enjoyed a high standard of living. East Germany received far less aid from the Soviets.
-The government’s economic policies in the 1950s were largely unsuccessful too, so East Germans suffered from a low standard of living and a shortage of basic goods.
-The communist regime in East Germany was increasingly unpopular. There were restrictions on what citizens could do and they were monitored by the secret police.
Describe the Refugee Problem in Berlin
-Under the circumstances in East Germany, many East Germans chose to leave home and move to West Germany. They knew the quality of life was higher in West Germany.
-By 1958, three million East Germans, over a sixth of the country’s population, had crossed to the West.
-Many of them were the types of people east Germany urgently needed to build its economy.
-Skilled workers, such as technicians, engineers and teachers left, knowing they could earn much higher salaries in West Germany.
Explain why the Berlin Refugee Crisis Posed an Issue to Khrushchev
-The Soviet Leader, Khrushchev could not allow so many skilled workers to continue leaving East Germany.
-Not only was East Germany losing valuable people, but communism was facing a propaganda disaster.
-In Berlin, people had a choice between the communist East and the capitalist West. They were making it clear that they preferred the West.
Explain why Khrushchev Issued His Berlin Ultimatum
-Khrushchev decided the answer to the refugee crisis was for the whole of Berlin to become part of the surrounding territory of East Germany.
-If the Americans, British and French left Berlin, it would be much harder for East Germans to get into West Germany.
-However, Khrushchev knew that Britain, France and the USA would not agree to leave. They would need to be forced.
-So in November 1958, Khrushchev demanded that Western countries should officially recognise East Germany as an independent country.
-Because they still believed that Germany could be reunited, they refused to do so.
Describe Khrushchev’s Berlin Ultimatum
-On 27 November, Khrushchev issued his Berlin Ultimatum. He demanded that Berlin should be demilitarised and Western troops withdrawn. Berlin should also become a free city.
-The West had six months to make these changes or Khrushchev would hand over control of all routes into Berlin to the government of East Germany.
-If this happened, it would force the Western powers to talk to the East German authorities and so force them to acknowledge East Germany was a legitimate country.
Describe the Impact of the Berlin Ultimatum on International Relations
-The West was outraged by Khrushchev’s demands and saw his actions as another example of the Soviet Union trying to spread communism.
-Khrushchev, however, saw his demands as an essential action to stop the flood of skilled workers from East Germany.
-By 1958, both the USA and the Soviet Union had large numbers of nuclear weapons and neither side wanted this crisis to lead to war.
-As a result, a series of talks were held between 1959 and 1961 to try to solve the ‘Berlin problem’.
Describe the Geneva Summit Meeting
-The first summit meeting between the foreign ministers of the various countries was held in May 1959 in Geneva.
-Both sides put forward proposals for how Berlin should be governed, but no agreement was reached.
-President Eisenhower invited Khrushchev to the USA for further talks.
Describe the Camp David Summit Meeting
-Eisenhower and Khrushchev met face-to-face for the first time at the presidential ranch in September 1959.
-There was still no agreement about a way forward for Berlin but the soviets did agree to withdraw the Berlin Ultimatum.
-The meeting appeared to establish better relations between the two leaders and it was agreed that further talks would be held in Paris the following year.
Describe the Paris Summit Meeting
-As the various parties prepared for the Paris talks, the Soviet Union made an announcement that destroyed any chance of those talks being successful.
-On 1 May 1960, they had shot down an American U-2 spy plane as it flew over the Soviet Union.
-The Americans tried to claim that it was a weather plane that had blown off course, but the Soviets interrogated the pilot who admitted to being on a spying mission.
-Although Eisenhower was embarrassed by what had happened, he refused to apologise, saying that spying operations like this were unavoidable.
-Khrushchev walked out of the meeting and it ended with no decisions being made.
Describe the Impact of Kennedy on the Vienna Summit Meeting
-In January 1961, Kennedy became president of the USA. He followed a policy of building up the USA’s military forces but also tried to resolve the difficulties with the Soviet Union through talks.
-Khrushchev believed that as Kennedy was inexperienced in foreign affairs, it would be possible to get the better of him.
-He also knew that Kennedy’s reputation had suffered after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba in April 1961.
-As a result, Khrushchev took a tough stance towards Kennedy at the Vienna summit in June 1961.
Describe the Vienna Summit Meeting
-As part of his tough stance, Khrushchev renewed the Berlin Ultimatum.
-Kennedy was extremely concerned by Khrushchev’s approach but was determined not to appear weak and not to give way over control of Berlin.
-He refused to make any concessions and once again the meeting ended with no final decision on Berlin. The relationship between Kennedy and Khrushchev became very strained.
-After Vienna, Kennedy decided to increase military spending to over $2 billion to protect the USA if war broke out.
Explain why the Berlin Wall was Built
-Khrushchev’s tough line on Berlin had forced Britain, France and the USA to get involved in talks about the city’s future. However, it had an unfortunate side-effect.
-As tension between East and West grew, more East Germans decided to cross the border just in case Khrushchev decided to close the border.
-On just one day in August 1961, for example, 40,000 East Germans crossed to the West.
-The East German leader, Ulbricht, urged Khrushchev to close the border so on the night of 12 August 1961, East German troops built a barbed wire fence around Berlin between East and West.
Describe the Impact of the Berlin Wall on the German People
-The Berlin Wall cut through streets and buildings, splitting up families and friends in the process, often for years.
-During its construction, many more people made attempts to escape.
-It is estimated 130 Germans were killed trying to cross the wall as East German guards were ordered to shoot.
Describe the Impact of the Berlin Wall on the Soviet Union
-The building of the Berlin Wall forced Khrushchev to abandon his plans to unite Germany under Soviet control.
-It also showed that the Soviet union had to force people to stay in East Germany, through the construction of the wall, proving that people preferred capitalism over communism.
-However, Khrushchev had solved the refugee problem, preventing migration to the West and keeping skilled labourers and professionals in the East.
-It also sent the West a message that communism would survive in Berlin and any attempt to reunite Germany under Western control would fail.
Describe the Impact of the Berlin Wall on the United States
-The USA looked weak as the Soviets had managed to close the border without consulting American diplomats.
-Despite this, the wall forced Khrushchev to accept Western control in West Berlin. It also showed that Kennedy was not going to be bullied by Khrushchev as he did not bow the Ultimatum.
-Berlin also became symbolic of the struggle against communism.
-On a visit to Berlin in 1963, Kennedy was welcomed by thousands of Berliners lining the streets. The people were celebrating their freedoms in contrast to the East.
-He gave his ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech there, underlining this symbolism and outlining the freedoms the West had.
