Rising Tensions in the Cold War - The Berlin Wall Flashcards
What was the Berlin Crisis?
The Berlin Crisis concerned the occupational status of the city and the numbers of East Germans fleeing to West Berlin, said to be some 2.7 million people. Khrushchev delivered an ultimatum, demanding foreign troops withdraw within a period of 6 months.
When did the Berlin Crisis happen?
The Berlin Crisis took place between 1957 and 1961.
Why did people move to West Berlin during the Berlin Crisis?
- Wages were higher in West Berlin.
- West Berliners had more freedom and more variety in the goods they could buy.
- The Allies poured money into West Berlin, so the contrast between the affluence of the city’s two sides was more obvious.
How was the economy affected during the Berlin Crisis?
The West German economy benefited from skilled labourers, while the East suffered a skills shortage.
What were the key events of the Berlin Crisis?
- In 1958 the leader of East Germany, Walter Ulbricht, asked Khrushchev, the leader of the USSR, to help stop East Germans from fleeing to the west.
- In November 1958, Khrushchev issued his ultimatum demanding Western troops withdraw from West Berlin.
- In 1959, Khrushchev and President Eisenhower met in Geneva to discuss the Berlin Crisis, which resulted in Khrushchev withdrawing his ultimatum.
- A second summit, at Camp David in America in 1959, did not result in a solution.
- In 1960, a US spy plane was shot down by the Soviets.
- President Eisenhower refused to apologise for the U2 spy plane so Khrushchev left the Paris Conference of 1960. Again, this meant no solution was found to the Berlin Crisis.
- In 1961, the USA and the USSR met again in Vienna. Khrushchev reissued his ultimatum for Western powers to withdraw their troops from Berlin within 6 months.
- President Kennedy began to prepare for war, increasing American defence spending by $3.5 billion. The USSR did the same.
What were the results of the Berlin Crisis?
- East German troops began to build the Berlin Wall on 13th August, 1961.
- By October 1961 West Berlin was entirely shut off from East Germany. Initially, foreigners could cross into East Berlin through a US Army checkpoint, known as Checkpoint Charlie.
- It reduced tension as the crisis was solved without going to war.
- French, British and American troops remained in West Berlin.
- It was a propaganda victory for the West and a humiliation for the USSR, because the East had to build a wall to prevent its people fleeing.
- As the USSR had been humiliated, Khrushchev became more determined to win the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
What was the Berlin Wall?
The Berlin Wall, built by East Germany, divided East and West Berlin. It was constructed of concrete slabs in the city centre and barbed wire fences around the outer edges.
When was the Berlin Wall built?
The building of the Berlin Wall began on the 12th-13th August, 1961.
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
- To prevent East German people defecting to West Berlin.
- To keep capitalism and spies from the West out, according to the Soviets and the East German government.
What were the consequences of the Berlin Wall being built?
- It solved the refugee crisis for East Germany, which now controlled who could leave and enter East Berlin.
- West Berlin remained under Allied control, making it harder for the Soviets to control the whole of East Germany.
- The number of military alerts in Berlin decreased as the situation there became less tense.
- It was a humiliation for the USSR and a propaganda victory for the West, as it appeared a wall was needed to prevent people fleeing.
- It divided West Berliners from East Berliners. Families and friends were separated for years.
- At least 140 people died between 1961 and 1989 as they attempted to cross the Berlin Wall from the east to the west. Some reports say the figure was higher.
- It became an iconic symbol of the Cold War.
What was President Kennedy’s response to the building of the Berlin Wall?
- He said: ‘It’s not a very nice solution but a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war.’.
- He visited West Berlin in June 1963, where he gave the ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech to show his support for West Berliners.
What was the impact of the Berlin Wall on the relationship between the USA and the USSR?
- It solved the crisis over Berlin so reduced tension.
- There were fewer military alerts in Berlin as the situation had stabilised.
- Germany had been a source of conflict between the USSR and the USA since 1945. Their relationship had deteriorated so much a wall had to be built.
- It created a long-lasting symbol of the Cold War which signified the divide between the two sides.
- Khrushchev had suffered a humiliating defeat, so decided to place missiles in Cuba to show he could stand up to the USA.
- Khrushchev saw Kennedy as weak as he had not stopped the wall from being built.
What happened at Checkpoint Charlie after the Berlin Wall was built?
- There was an 18-hour standoff when Soviet tanks stopped Americans crossing the border on 27th-28th October, 1961.
- It was a high point of tension between East and West until an agreement between the USA and USSR ended the incident.
