Cold War - Berlin Crisis 1958-61 Flashcards
(11 cards)
1
Q
Give a narrative account of the Berlin Wall.
A
- On August 13th 1961, soldiers erected a barbed wire fence encircling the whole of West Berlin (43km).
- Within a week, the barbed wire fence was replaced with a concrete wall, lasting another 30 years.
- Soviets claimed they had built the wall to stop spies from entering East Germany but the true intention was to stop the brain drain issue from east to west.
2
Q
What were three consequences of the Berlin Wall?
A
- Many families divided and wouldn’t see each order until 1989
- Many East Germans who had hoped to defect to the West had to accept to living under communism.
- Some East German refugees still tried to cross the border, leading to 41 shot trying to cross to West Germany
3
Q
What was the impact of the Berlin Wall on US-Soviet relations?
A
- Kennedy angered but realised it ended the refugee crisis in Berlin therefore reducing tension
- East Germans closed border for non-Germans, breaking a key agreement in the Yalta conference in 1945
- October 28th 1961, standoff at checkpoint Charlie.
- 1963, Kennedy visited West Berlin and 1.5 mil lined the streets to greet him, he criticised the building of the wall and communism as a whole.
- Berlin Wall can be seen as a propaganda victory for West, as the need to fence in the East Berliners was a sign the communist system failed.
4
Q
When was Kennedy elected President?
A
January 1961
5
Q
What was Khrushchev’s ultimatum?
A
- 1958, Khrushchev described West Berlin as a “fishbone stuck in our throat”.
- He gave the west an ultimatum: Withdraw US, British and French forces from West Berlin within six months.
- This caused tension when the West refused to withdraw.
6
Q
How many East Germans defected to the West from 1955-60?
A
100,000
7
Q
Where did the first summit meeting between Khrushchev and Eisenhower in May 1959 take place?
A
Geneva, Switzerland
8
Q
What incident, which took place before the Paris summit of 1960, increased tension between USA and USSR?
A
The Soviets shot down a US spy plane
9
Q
What and when were the summit meetings, 1959-61?
A
- Geneva summit, May 1959
- Paris summit, May 17th 1960
(Bay of Pigs April 1961) - Vienna summit, June 1961
10
Q
Describe the events of the Vienna summit
A
- Khrushchev meets Kennedy for the first time
- Khrushchev re-issues the Berlin ultimatum
- Kennedy rejects the ultimatum and increases US defence spending.
- Thousands of East German refugees continue to cross into West Berlin.
11
Q
When did Kennedy make a speech criticising the building of the Berlin Wall and communism in general?
A
1963
