DDR: BERLIN WALL

Question 1

What were the economic and social motives for the Berlin Wall?

Answer 1

Economic: Seven year plan
Social: Forced Collectivisation

Question 2

How many people crossed east to west from Berlin in 1953?

Answer 2

Over 300,000 (highest year)

Question 3

Between 1949 and 1961 how many people escaped through Berlin?

Answer 3

1.6 million

Question 4

Why would the East German government be concerned at the figures of people leaving for the West?

Answer 4

1. Makes East Germany look bad
2. Proves people prefer capitalism
3. Loss of workers

Question 5

What was the Berlin ultimatum?

Answer 5

Khrushchev demanded the 3 western powers withdraw from West Berlin to create a demilitarised state in November 1958.
USA declined but negotiated.

Question 6

What was the Vienna summit?

When was the Vienna summit?

Answer 6

Khrushchev pressured JFK demanding the withdrawal of western forces from Berlin (refused).
JFK increases arms spending.
June 1961.

Question 7

How many people died trying to cross the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989?

Answer 7

86

Question 8

How did JFK react to the Berlin Wall?

Answer 8

Accepted it. Refused to pull down the wall in order to avoid war.