The Berlin Wall Flashcards
Many East Germans were fleeing to West Germany through Berlin to escape the communist system. Why was this a problem?
Many of the people who left were professionals or skilled craftsman. Their work was needed for the economy and without them, the economy began to suffer. This hardened Krushchev’s resolve and he wanted the Allies out of Berlin.
What was the Berlin Ultimatum?
Issued in 1958 and it accused the allies of breaking the Potsdam agreement and asking them to leave Berlin within 6 months, allowing it to become a neutral city.
How did relations between Eisenhower and Krushchev grow cold?
Krushchev and Eisenhower were set to meet for discussions in May, 1960 but before this, an American spy plane was shot down by the Soviet Union. There were bitter exchanged at a preliminary meeting and Eisenhower cancelled his trip to the Soviet Union.
Why was Krushchev worried about West Germany?
It had joined NATO and Krushchev saw it as a military threat.
Between 1949 and 1961, approximately how many people fled from East Germany to West Germany.
4 million.
What did Krushchev first to solve the economic problems?
He arranged a summit conference with new US President Kennedy. He thought the could push Kennedy around yet failed to note that Kennedy had re-asserted the Truamn Doctrine. At the June 1961 Vienna summit, Krushchev again demanded that the allies leave Berlin. Kennedy refused and increased US defense spending.
What happened on the 13th of August 1961?
The border between East and West Germany was closed and construction of the wall began. It was finished the next day.
What were the effects of the Berlin Wall?
- Travel restrictions were put in place.
- Families were split up/
- Germany felt let down by the Russians who had broken post-war agreements.
- Germany felt let down by the Amercians for doing nothing to stop the wall being built.
- The drain on the East German economy stopped as the flow of people escaping slowed.
- The Russians saw the building of the walla s a great victory.
- the USA used the wall as propaganda to highlight the lack of freedom of Soviet control.
