The Second Berlin Crisis

Question 1

Why did West Berlin present a problem for Khrushchev?

Answer 1

• People in East Berlin could see how much wealthier West Berlin was
• People could easily cross from East Berlin to West Berlin, and from there flee to West Germany

Question 2

Between 1949 and 1961, how many East Germans left East Germany?

Answer 2

2.7 million (although some put the number as high as 4 million)

Question 3

What was the name given to the mass loss of skilled workers from East Germany to West Germany?

Answer 3

A ‘brain drain’

Question 4

What did the maths department at Leipzig University do in January 1961?

Answer 4

The whole department defected to West Germany on the same day

Question 5

Why was the brain drain a problem for Khrushchev and the USSR?

Answer 5

• The drain threatened to severely damage the economy of East Germany
• It was a propaganda disaster for the USSR

Question 6

What did Khrushchev do to try and solve the refugee crisis/brain drain?

Answer 6

In November 1958 he issued an ultimatum. He declared the whole of Berlin belonged to the USSR and the USA had to withdraw its troops within 6 months.

Question 7

How did Eisenhower respond to Khrushchev’s ultimatum?

Answer 7

• Cautiously: Eisenhower did not want to lose Berlin but nor did they want to start a war
• They arranged for talks to take place about the future of Berlin

Question 8

Out of the four summits, which one was attended by JFK? Camp David, Paris, Geneva, Vienna

Answer 8

The Vienna Summit (1961) was the only one attended by JFK. All the rest were Eisenhower or representatives of Eisenhower’s administration.

Question 9

Who attended the Geneva Summit in May 1959?

Answer 9

The Geneva Summit (May 1959) was attended by representatives of both the USSR and USA (but not the leaders themselves).

Question 10

What was agreed at the Geneva Summit in 1959?

Answer 10

Not much was agreed about Berlin. However, the groundwork was laid for Khrushchev to visit the USA and meet Eisenhower.

Question 11

What was the significance of the Geneva Summit to international relations?

Answer 11

• Important because it showed that a) the two nations were trying to solve the Berlin problem peacefully and b) that even though they didn’t solve it, they were arranging further talks. Thus war seems less likely.

Question 12

What happened at the Camp David Summit in September 1959?

Answer 12

Eisenhower and Khrushchev met face-to-face in Camp David (USA). They spoke frankly but failed to agree on a solution. However, they agreed to meet again the following year. Moreover, Khrushchev withdrew his ultimatum.

Question 13

What was the significance of the Camp David Summit to international relations?

Answer 13

Camp David was important for a number of reasons:

• The leaders of the two nations were talking in person, this made war less likely
• They agreed to carry on talking the following year
• Khrushchev withdrew his ultimatum. This removed, for a time, the threat of war.

Question 14

What happened shortly before the Paris Summit in 1960?

Answer 14

Shortly before the Paris Summit in 1960 the USSR shot down an American U-2 spy plane and captured its pilot.

Question 15

What happened at the Paris Summit in 1960?

Answer 15

Khrushchev walked out the summit after Eisenhower refused to apologise for spying on the USSR.

Question 16

What was the significance of the Paris Summit in 1960 to international relations?

Answer 16

• It made relations much worse
• The two leaders were now no longer talking
• The trust that had been built up through previous meetings had been broken by the U2 spying incident