Cold War: Berlin Wall

Question 1

Marshall Aid

Answer 1

Rapid rehabilitation of the economies of Western European countries.

EG experiencing brain drain - skilled workers moving to the West due to subpar living conditions in the East.

1958 - Khrushchev demands that the West recognises the DDR and that Berlin is handed over. They refuse.

Deadlock created between the West and East

Question 2

Cold War Thaw

Answer 2

Khrushchev visited the USA in 1959 - detente
U2 plane shot down in 1960 - raises tensions

East continues to experience Brain Drain

By 1961 2 million had emigrated to the West

Question 3

Construction of the Wall

Answer 3

12 August 1961 - East German border guards ser barbed wire up around border. Railways and telephone lines blocked

Families separated instantly

Question 4

Eastern justification

Answer 4

Called it an antifascist bulwark to prevent the “fascists” from entering EG. Really was used to stop the brain drain.

27-28 October: 16 hour-long standoff between W and E at Checkpoint Charlie. Almost the outbreak of WW3.

Question 5

Post wall life

Answer 5

Before: Freely cross to and from each side
after: only cross at three checkpoints, 12 eventually built

Very rarely could Westerners and Easterners cross the border.

Question 6

The Wall

Answer 6

Grows in size, length and impenetrability between 1961 and 1989. Became a concrete symbol of the CW.

Traps, vehicle ditches, death strip and guards ordered to shoot on sight made crossing the border near impossible