Chapter 4: The Berlin crisis, 1961 Flashcards
When was the Berlin wall made?
1961, 12th August
Why did Khrushchev build the Berlin wall?
To prevent the West ‘spying’ on the East
He felt it would give the East the upper hand
To stop the East Berliners spending money, viewing propaganda and working and earning more in the West
To prevent Well educated East Berliners from leaving
In response to the Berlin crisis
Perfect time - he could take advantage of young Kennedy
the 4 summits had failed
Perhaps to stop trade between East and West and stopping the East getting too powerful or close to the West
What were the impacts of the Berlin wall
Lowered Eastern Morale Closed the border Stopped trade Stopped viewing of western propaganda Families split up USSR propaganda flop MADE THEM LOOK WEAK
What were the factors of the Berlin wall
165 Kilometres long
130 died trying to cross - 50 in first year
12,000 escaped
40,000 left in one day before the wall was made
Example of Peter F- an 18 year old bricklayer who was shot and left for dead for 45 minutes
Khrushchev’s views on the Berlin wall
Good:
Stopped the refugee crisis
Allowed Khrushchev to avoid war whilst appearing stronger
Bad:
Khrushchev couldn’t beat the west or make them leave the West Berlin
Humiliating that they had to build a wall to keep East Berliners in
Propaganda flop
Kennedys views on the Berlin wall
Good:
Avoided war (especially a nuclear one)
Khrushchev had admitted he could not get rid of West Berlin
Propaganda victory
Bad:
West Berlin was now encircled - limiting freedom
America had not been able to do anything
What was the “Brain drain”
By 1958, 3 million East Berliners had left - 1/6 of the population. They were mostly skilled workers that East Germany desperately needed to rebuild
Lots of skilled people left East Germany to the West for better jobs with better pay
What was the Berlin Ultimatum
This was where in 1958 Khrushchev accused the Western allies of breaking the Potsdam agreement, and that they should leave Berlin within 6 months, suggesting that Berlin should be turned into a free, neutral city
What were the four summits between 1959 - 1961
Geneva, May 1959: No agreement, but left on good terms
Camp David, September 1959: Soviets agreed to withdraw the ultimatum, and still on good terms
Paris, May 1960: A US spy plane had been shot down, and Eisenhower refused to apologise. Khrushchev stormed out
Vienna, June 1961: Khrushchev renewed the Ultimatum, and Kennedy refused. Left on bad terms
What did Kennedys visit to Berlin suggest?
When he made a speech in Berlin, he spoke to a crowd of 200,000. People on the Eastern side of the wall also clapped, making it appear that he was more popular and successful
