The Cold war: Berlin 1958/61/63

Question 1

What caused the second Berlin Crisis

Answer 1

• Federal Republic of Germany (west) received Marshall Aid making them strong and rich
• German democratic republic (East) was poorer as the USSR gave less econ help
• Many GDR citizens were unhappy (low QOL) w the lack of freedom
• so the migration crisis happened as 3million ppl from GDR fled to East Berlin which was part of (FRoG) for a better life

Question 2

why did the migration crisis make communism look bad

Answer 2

• 3mil left German democratic republic
• made East Germany look undesirable (communists)
• made Federal Republic of Germany look more desirable

Question 3

How did Khrushchev attempt to stop the migration crisis

Answer 3

• Khrushchev decided W.Berlin would have to become part of the German Democratic Republic so that citizens of E.berlin couldnt just go to W.berlin
• So Khrushchev offered the West, The Berlin Ultimatum

Question 4

What was the Berlin Ultimatum (1958)

Answer 4

• West withdraw troops in w.berlin within 6months
• Berlin to become independent, w own goverment

Question 5

What did Eisenhower respond with, after the Berlin ultimatum

Answer 5

• he wouldn’t agree
• he would meet Khrushchev to discuss agreements

Question 6

Summit meetings order

Answer 6

Geneva (1959)
Camp David (1959)
Paris (1960)
Vienna (1961)

Question 7

Geneva summit (1959)

Answer 7

• met to discuss agreements
• no agreements were made
• they agreed to meet in USA

Question 8

Camp David summit (1959)

Answer 8

• Eisenhower and Khrushchev met in Maryland
• no agreements
• USSR withdrew ultimatum
• increased relationship as they enjoyed golf

Question 9

Paris Summit (1960)

Answer 9

• bad day
• USSR had prior to the meeting shot down American U-2 spy plane
• Eisenhower claimed the plane was for weather
• but film showed it was a spy plane
• Eisenhower refused to apologise for spying as they were inevitable
• This made Khrushchev storm out of the meeting

Question 10

Vienna Summit (1961)

Answer 10

• new leader ( JFK )
• Khrushchev reinstates ultimatum
• Kennedy refuses to give in
• no agreements made
• relationships deteriorated

Question 11

The Berlin Wall (1961)

Answer 11

Khrushchev closed borders and built berlin wall

Question 12

What resulted in the building of the Berlin wall

Answer 12

• failed summit meetings and ultimatums
• migration (refugee) crisis

Question 13

What did the construction of the berlin wall do

Answer 13

• solved migration crisis
• weakened image of communism
• strengthened image of Kennedy
• symbolised division yet peace

Question 14

What was the Berlin wall (1961)

Answer 14

165km of concrete wall dividing w.berlin and e.berlin

Question 15

why did the construction of the wall solve the migration crisis

Answer 15

people in the German Democratic Republic could no longer flee to w.Berlin as it was too dangerous
over 100 ppl died trying to cross wall

Question 16

why did the wall weaken Khrushchev’s rep

Answer 16

-his ultimatum failed
-he had to essentially trap W.Berlin to prevent his own citizens from fleeing there

Question 17

why did the west’s image improve by the wall

Answer 17

-Kennedy rejected Khrushchev’s ultimatum
-Kennedy used the wall to defame communism in his visit to w.berlin where he said ‘ich bin ein Berliner’ to symbolise unity and freedom within the city

Question 18

how did the wall symbolise division yet peace

Answer 18

• wall symbolic of divisions of east and west
• yet also showing a long-term solution to the issues about Berlin which was better than war