Berlin Ultimatum, Berlin Summits, Berlin Wall, Cuban Revolution

Question 1

Berlin Ultimatum

Answer 1

1958
By 1958, three million East Germans had crossed to the West, many via West Berlin.

Khrushchev wanted West Berlin to become part of East Germany, so issued an ultimatum.

He demanded that NATO troops leave West Berlin and Berlin must become a free city (a city with an independent government).

The Western powers were given six months to agree.
If they did not, they risked losing access to West Berlin.

Question 2

Cuban revolution and the bay of pigs

Answer 2

1959
Fidel Castro led a communist revolution in Cuba.
The USA had previously had large business interests in Cuba, which were now lost.
Cuba instead became close to the USSR, who bought Cuba’s main export, sugar.

1961
President Kennedy agreed to a CIA plan to secretly train and help Cuban exiles invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs.
The plan failed and US involvement is discovered.
Khrushchev announced he would help defend Cuba.

Question 3

Berlin Summits

Answer 3

1959: Summits were held between Khrushchev and President Eisenhower in Geneva and at Camp David.
No agreement was made on Berlin, but Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the ultimatum.

1960: A U2 spy plane was shot down over the USSR just before a summit in Paris.
Eisenhower refused to apologise for spying, so Khrushchev canceled talks.

1961: Khrushchev renewed the Berlin Ultimatum to new US president, John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy did not want to appear weak and refused.

Question 4

Building of the Berlin Wall

Answer 4

1961
Tensions over Berlin had increased the flow of refugees from East to West Germany.
East German troops constructed a barbed wire fence between East and West Berlin overnight.
This was gradually replaced with a concrete wall.
Khrushchev succeeded in stopping East Germans leaving the USSR, but had to give up hope of uniting Berlin.
Kennedy had succeeded in blocking the Berlin Ultimatum.
Events proved people would rather live under capitalism.