Berlin crisis 1958-61

Question 1

Issues concerning west Germany for Khrushchev

Answer 1

• 1955= West Germany joined NATO
• ## West Germany was economically strong and seen as a military threat (German invasion)

Question 2

Refugee problem in Berlin

Answer 2

• 1949-61= 4 million East Germans fled to west (dissatisfied with communist conditions)
• Left East with skills shortage and threatened economic collapse
• looked bad for USSR and communism

Question 3

What was Khrushchev’s Berlin ultimatum and when was it issued?

Answer 3

• 1958
• Accused allies of breaking Potsdam agreement and that they should leave Berlin within 6 months
• Einsenhower wanted to negotiate
• USSR knew war would break out that they couldn’t win if they forced them out, so opted for summits instead

Question 4

Outcome of Geneva summit

Answer 4

• May 1959
• foreign representatives only
• no solution agreed but further summit organised

Question 5

Outcome of Camp David summit

Answer 5

• September 1959
• involving Eisenhower and Khrushchev
• No solution agreed but further meeting arranged

Question 6

Outcome of Paris summit

Answer 6

• May 1960
• involving Eisenhower and Khrushchev
• Khrushchev stormed out because USSR had shot down a US U2 spy plane over Russia and Eisenhower would not apologise

Question 7

Outcome of Vienna Conference

Answer 7

• June 1961
• involving Kennedy (new president) and Khrushchev
• Khrushchev thought Kennedy’s inexperience meant he could push him around
• Neither would back down and led to Khrushchev reissuing his Berlin ultimatum
• Kennedy refused and increased defence spending

Question 8

Why was the Berlin Wall built and when?

Answer 8

• August 1961- October 1961
• Summit meetings worsened tensions
• Khrushchev could not risk nuclear war (he wouldn’t win) but needed to resolve refugee issue and look strong
• Wall prevented immigration from East to West

Question 9

Impact of Berlin wall for superpower relations

Answer 9

• led to stand off in October 1961
• USA had issues with USSR guarding the checkpoints with troops and tanks and retaliated by doing the same on their side
• Kennedy resolved this by agreeing with Khrushchev to mutually remove troops

Question 10

Impact of Berlin Wall on Germans

Answer 10

• made escape difficult, guards would often shoot people who tried
• Berlin wall meant peace was maintained but families were split up

Question 11

Consequences of the Berlin crisis

Answer 11

• Khrushchev felt he had beaten Kennedy
• lack of refugees stopped economic crisis
• tension was eased as crisis ended