Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961? Flashcards
When was the Berlin Wall built?
13th August, 1961
How long was the Berlin Wall?
87 miles long
Why was the wall a surprise to most?
The wall was a surprise because in the June of that year (1961), Walter had stated that “No one has the intention of erecting a wall” but in August a wall had be built under instruction from Soviet Russia.
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
The erection of the wall by the East was to prevent the mass movement of people from East to West.
How many people left East Germany for West Germany between 1949 and 1961? What percentage of the population was this?
Nearly 2,600,000 East Germans had left for West Berlin or West Germany between 1949 and 1961. This was some 15% of the population.
Why was West Germany more appealing than East Germany?
The quality of life in the West was much better than that in the East after 1948
West Germany recieved financial help through the Marshall plan (from the USA) which helped to rebuild after the devastation of WW2
East Germany had suffered under a communist system after the control of the Soviet Union had been established
How did the mass movement affect East Germany socially?
Those leaving tended to be young and well-educated
Communist government in East Germany feared a “brain drain” as the more intelligent left East Germany
How did the mass movement affect East Germany economically?
Lost too many skilled workers
By 1960, only 61% of the population in East Germany was of working age vs. the 70% before the war
Engineers, technicians, physicians, teachers, lawyers, skilled workers etc. were all leaving in high numbers
How did the mass movement affect East Germany politically?
Mass numbers leaving made the communist regime look unpopular
Negative propaganda - had to compete with capitalist West
What was used to prevent the mass movement at first?
Before the first wall was built in August, the East used barbed wired, at first, to prevent the mass movement.
Why did the West do nothing about the Berlin Wall?
Their own interests were not affected
They could still send troops to West Berlin
The wall made an attempt by invasion less likely
It was great propaganda for the Cold War - the West could claim to be the side to allow freedom while the communist stated had to erect a wall to keep people in
