East-West division in Berlin and Europe

Question 1

Reasons for the building of the Berlin Wall

Answer 1

• 12000 West Berliners working in Eastern sector, but 53 000 Easterners in the West - Causes comparisons to be drawn.
• West/East border was escape route to the FRG, inner German border sealed in 1952
• 1949-1961, 2.5 million leave GDR, and 1.6 do so through BERLIN. Driven by shortages and suppression vs the economic miracle in the West. Ulbricht accused West of sapping strength from GDR by stealing all the young and able workers.
• Berlin site of cold war tensions. Clear that US would not move, so Khrushchev bowed to pressure from Ulbricht

Question 2

The ‘Berlin Crisis’ of 1958-1961

Answer 2

• Berlin ultimatum: 6 months to withdraw from Berlin, making it a free demilitarised city
• If Western Allies would not comply USSR would relinquish its own Berlin rights, including control of communications with West Berlin. Thus to contact West Berlin the Western Allies would have to accept the GDR
• -> Ultimatum rejected by Britain and France. Ultimatum withdrawn in 1959,
• Paris conference May 1960 ends when American spyplane shot down over USSR, Khrushchev walks out.
• -> Negotiations set off panic that door to West would be closed: 199 000 leave in 1960.
• 4 power agreement stipulates free travel and no German troops. John F Kennedy not manipulated and increases military strength
• -> Khrushchev convinced that border must be plugged by Summer 1961, Vienna summit, ultimatum renewed and no negotiation from US

Question 3

The building of the Berlin Wall

Answer 3

• 12th August 1961
• Barbed wire raised
• Border guards and military presence on Eastern side
• Border closed by Morning of Sunday 13th. Train networks and streets separated
• Khrushchev did not sign peace treaty with GDR as promised by the ‘Berlin’ ultimatum, retaining control of access routes to Berlin. Also ordered Ulbricht not to further tension

Question 4

The immediate consequences of erecting the Berlin Wall

Answer 4

• West unsure how to react. October diplomats/troops cross over to East to test right of access under four power agreement
• Late October: Soviet/American standoff at checkpoint Charlie lasting 18 hours. Signified that GDR could keep wall and unification looking increasingly unlikely
• Some feeling that wall was not ideal but that major conflict regarding Berlin had been rejected
• Kennedy recalled reinforcements from West Berlin in Summer of 1962 but promised Americans would not leave their zone and gave ‘I am a Berliner’ speech to ease anxiety

Question 5

Consequences of erecting the Berlin Wall for East Berlin/the GDR

Answer 5

• Allowed Ulbrich to consolidate his power
• Initial chaos: unable to work in West or visit relatives
• Learned to live with the wall as opposition was futile
• Stasi acted against youth anticonformity and Western behavior
• SED referred to wall as defense against Western Imperialism

Question 6

Consequences of erecting the Berlin Wall for West Berling/the FRG (how did West Berlin pull through?)

Answer 6

• West survived on FRG subsidies to prevent mass exodus, given 1/2 city was lost
• by 1970, 1/4 in FRG aged 65+ - exodus
• Low buisness taxes/grants/cheap rent
• No conscription into Bundeswehr
• ->West Berlin kept operational

Question 7

Improving communications between the FRG/GDR in the 1960s/early 1970s

Answer 7

Christmas 1963: FRG>GDR for 1 day in 3 week period for 10 DM

1964: GDR pensioners could visit relatives in FRG/West Berlin
1971: Telephone lines reconnected
1971: Four Power Accord, negotiated travel rights, FRG>GDR 30 days per year

Question 8

Wall escapes and victims

Answer 8

Victims:

• Border guards instructed to shoot-to-kill from late August 1961. 15 people lost lives that month
• In 28 years, 100+ people lost lives and 3200 imprisoned
• West German ‘escape agent’ shot GDR guard June 1962. Used as pretense for strengthening wall

Escapes:

• 85 border guards flee in the first 6 weeks
• Hundreds leave via Bernauerstrasse street in first few days, residents later evicted and buildings knocked down
• 5000 succeeded in escaping
• Instances of tunneling

Question 9

The extension of the Berlin Wall

Answer 9

• November 1961: metre wide concrete plates
• Border units established in GDR army from September 1961
• June 1962: second parallel fence. Death strip between fences with gravel, guard dogs

Question 10

Influences on the GDR: Relations with the USSR

Answer 10

-Positioned firmly in Soviet bloc
-Dependent on Russian backing:
Appealed to USSR to give Russian tanks/army to crush workers rebellion of June 1953. Also needed backing for Berlin wall August 1961
-Looked Eastwards: Gorelitz treaty July 1950, GDR accepted Polish/German frontier. However according to NATO GDR illegitimate and can’t make treaties, uncertain treaty would last

Question 11

Influences on the GDR: The West/FRG

Answer 11

• Hallstein doctrine: FRG refused to diplomatically relate to any country acknowledging the GDR. Any country wanting to trade with FRG alienated the GDR
• FRG turned from GDR preferring prospect of Western integration
• Late 1960s USSR/US policy of detente following cuban missile crisis, chance of rapprochement. Coalition of CDU/CSU in West replacing CDU gvt in 1966, Hallstein Doctrine abandoned and relations with Eastern block improved. Relations changed further with Willi Brandt’s (West) ‘Ostopoltik’ from 1969

Question 12

Warsaw pact:

Answer 12

• FRG joins nato 1955, USSR fears of armed Germany on its borders
• –>May 1955: USSR establishes Warsaw Pact, states of Eastern block in single military command. Caused recognition of GDR by USSR
• Mutual defense, no interference with internal affairs
• Demanded own army: National People’s army (NVA)
• established 1956. Ex nazis (good), 90% SED by late 1960s
• -> Conscription from 1962, 170 000
• Warsaw pact, GDR sovereigty=hardened division!