The Berlin Crisis of 1961

Question 1

What were the key events of the U2 incident?

Answer 1

USSR shot down Amerian U2 Spy Plane over the USSR + Captured the pilot Gary Powers
• USA denied spy mission - studying weather conditions
•Became clear US lied - hugely embarrassing
•Soviets scored great propaganda victory
• May 1960
•Khrushchev not happy xD

Question 2

Why was the Berlin Wall built?

Answer 2

• 1961
• High standard of living in West Berlin contrasted sharply with conditions in East Berlin
• approx 3 million people fled from East to West between 1945 and 1960. Trend seemed likely to continue
• Khrushchev also suspected vs of sending spies through west to East to the Eastern Bloc

Question 3

What was the Berlin Crisis of 1961?

Answer 3

13 August 1961 - East Germans began building a wall around West Berlin
•Initially barbed wire fence - gradually replaced with concrete
•All movement between East and West stopped
• For several days tensions were at boiling point with tanks facing each other across the divided Berlin Streets

Question 4

What were the Consequences of the construction of the Berlin Wall

Answer 4

• The flow of refugees was reduced to a trickle between 1961 and 1989
• Only 5000 people managed to cross
• Propaganda victory for Western Nations as it seemed like the Communist States needed to build a wall to stop their citizens leaving
• Wall became a symbol of the division between East and West
• it’s destruction was a symbol of reunification