The Berlin wall 1958-61 Flashcards
How many Germans had left East Germany by 1958 ?
3 million. over 1/6 of the population
What kind of people were leaving East Germany during the ‘Brain drain’ ?
Skilled workers who were essential to the East German economy, such as engineers, technicians and teachers
What did Khrushchev demand in his ‘Berlin Ultimatum’ ?
He demanded that Western countries should officially recognise East Germany as an independent country
What were the names of the 4 summits held to discuss the ‘Berlin ultimatum’ and when were they ?
Geneva, May 1959
Camp David, September 1959
Paris, May 1960
Vienna, June 1961
Why did these summits go badly ?
On may 1st 1960 - as the countries prepared for the Paris peace talks and American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. Eisenhower was embarrassed but refused to apologise, Khrushchev walked out
Who was the president of the USA at the start of the Berlin crisis and who was the President at the end ? What was the effect of this change ?
Eisenhower was replaced by Kennedy in January 1961. At the Vienna summit in June 1961, Khrushchev believed that as Kennedy was inexperienced in foreign affairs, it would be possible to get the better of him. However Kennedy refused to make any concessions and, after Vienna, decided to increase spending on American armed forces by over $2 billion
What was the result of the failure of the summits to find a conclusion to the Berlin Ultimatum ?
Concerns over the talks meant that more East Germans decided to cross to the west in case Khrushchev decided to close the border.
When did the Berlin wall start ?
12th August 1961 - East German troops decided to but a barber wire fence between East and West Germany
What were the negative impacts of building the Berlin Wall the USSR ?
Khrushchev had to abandon plans to unite Germany under communist control, also it showed they had to lock people into socialist countries
What were the Negative impacts of the Berlin Wall of the USA ?
The Soviet Union had done this without asking the USA and people that wanted to escape communism could no longer do so
What were the positive impacts of the Berlin Wall on the USSR ?
It stopped large numbers of refugees from leaving East Berlin, solving the problem for the East German government. It also showed the west that communism would survive in Berlin
What were the positive impacts of the Berlin Wall on the USA ?
It showed that Khrushchev had been forced to accept western control in West Berlin. West Berlin became an emblem of freedom
What was the impact of Kennedy’s visit to Berlin in 1963 ?
Thousands of West Berliners went to see him speak. Kennedy praised the freedom of the West and contrasted them with communism in a speech
