Ch 2 - Britain 1958-63 : Increased tensions and the impact of the Berlin Wall Flashcards
What happened to Germany after the war ?
After the war, Germany was agreed to be split into four zones. Berlin was also then divided into four which was controlled by Britain, France, The USSR and the USA.
How did a divided Berlin give USA, France and Britain an advantage ?
Divided Berlin gave USA a foothold inside the Soviet Eastern bloc
Where was West Berlin ?
West Berlin was deep inside Soviet-controlled East Germany
How did people feel about West Germany ?
- Many in East Germany suffered from the communist regime and suffered from a poor quality of life
- therefore, they chose to leave home to depart to West Germany since quality of life was much higher
What did West Berlin allow ?
Once in West Berlin, East Germans could easily cross into West Germany
When was the refugee crisis in Berlin ?
between 1949 and 1961
Explain the refugee crisis ?
- Between 1949 and 1961, 2.7 million
East Germans crossed into West Germany via West Berlin. - The population of West Germany increased while the economy benefitted from an influx of skilled workers.
- Many left for the West, leaving the East with a skills shortage.
How did the Soviets view the refugee crisis ?
Communism was facing a propaganda disaster, people clearly preferred West Germany when they were faced with the choice
What was an Ultimatum ?
A final demand, with a threat of physical intervention if not fulfilled
When did Khrushchev make the Berlin ultimatum ?
November 1958
What did the Berlin Ultimatum state ?
- Berlin should become a free city ( belong to east Germany )
- West Berlin should be demilitarised and west troops withdrawn
Why did the USSR create make the Berlin ultimatum instead of something else ?
- The Soviet Union knew that if it tried to push the West out of Berlin by force, a war would start that it could not win, as the US had more nuclear weapons.
- So, a series of summit meetings took place between the leaders of the USA and the Soviet Union.
When did the summit meeting of Geneva happen ?
May 1959
What resulted from the Geneva meeting ?
No solution agreed but a further summit organised for
When did the summit meeting of Camp David ?
September 1959
What happened at the summit meetings of Camp David ?
No solution agreed but a further meeting arranged in Paris.
When did the summit meeting of Paris Summit happen ?
May 1960
What happened at the summit meeting in Paris Summit ?
- A disaster. Khrushchev stormed out because the Soviet Union had shot down a US spy plane over Russia.
- The pilot admitted to being on a spying mission
- Although Eisenhower was embarrassed he refused to apologise
What did Khrushchev think of Kennedy ?
- He believed Kennedy was inexperienced in foreign affairs and therefore thought he could get the better of him
- Recognised that Kennedy’s reputation had suffered from the ‘Bay of Pigs’ incident
When did Kennedy become president ?
1961
When did the Vienna Conference happen ?
June 1961
What happened at the Vienna Conference ?
Neither was willing to back down. Khrushchev saw Kennedy’s inexperience as a weakness and reissued his ultimatum for the USA to remove its troops from Berlin.
How were the USA and Cuba very closely linked before any major events ?
Cuba was very closely linked to the USA :
- There were lots of US-owned business in Cuba
- Much of Cuba’s land was owned by America
- Usa was an important investor in Cuba’s main export - sugar
When did Cuba have a socialist revolution ?
in 1959
What happened during the Cuban revolution ?
A group of revolutionaries overthrew the pro-American government in Cuba
What happened as a result of the Cuban resolution ?
- Cuban government took over all land in Cuba owned by foreign nationals
- Castro began appointing communists in his governments and later made an agreement with USSR ( Khrushchev would buy sugar and provide economic aid )
How did the USA respond to the Cuban revolution ?
- The USA refused to recognise Castro’s government because it did not want a socialist country in their sphere of influence, especially not a country with close links to the Soviet Union.
What did the CIA do in reposing to the Cuban revolution ?
- The CIA tried to assassinate the leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, with no success.
- The CIA convinced President Kennedy that a US-backed invasion of Cuba, designed to overthrow Castro, could solve the problem.