BERLIN WALL

• What event marked the start of extreme short-term military tension in 1961?


  The Berlin Wall
• How many East Germans had defected to West Berlin by 1960?


  Over 3 million
• Why did East Germans defect to West Berlin?

  To enjoy the freedom and luxury goods capitalism could offer
• When did the Vienna Summit take place?

  June 3 to 4, 1961
• What was discussed at the Vienna Summit?

  Matters like Berlin between Kennedy and Khrushchev
• How did Khrushchev's experience affect the negotiations with Kennedy?

  Khrushchev overpowered Kennedy during negotiations
• What action did East German troops take on August 13, 1961?


  They lined the border between East and West Berlin
• What was built by East German troops within the next 7 days after August 13, 1961?


  A concrete wall
• Where did Soviet tanks remain during the construction of the Berlin Wall?

  A few miles outside of the city
• Why had Khrushchev never considered the idea of a wall before 1961?


  It made communism seem like a prison
• What prompted Khrushchev to change his mind about building the Berlin Wall?

  He lost too many educated Soviets to defections
• What action did the USA take in response to the Berlin Wall?

  Sent a formal complaint to Moscow
• Why did the USA not take further action beyond the formal complaint?

  They feared Berlin was not worth the war
• What does the situation surrounding the Berlin Wall illustrate about Soviet tactics?

  It showed how the Soviets utilized brinksmanship
• What was the reason for the American diplomat and his wife being refused entry into East Berlin in October 1961?


  They would not show the guards their documents
• What action did General Clay take in response to the incident at the Berlin checkpoint?

  He sent soldiers to accompany the couple through the checkpoint
• What was the significance of the Soviet tanks being posted at Checkpoint Charlie?


  It escalated tensions between NATO and Soviet forces
• What was the potential consequence of a nervous soldier firing his weapon during the standoff?

  It could have caused a war
• How did the standoff between the US and Soviet forces end?

  Both sides agreed to withdraw their tanks
• What phrase did Kennedy use to express solidarity with the people of Berlin during his visit in June 1963?


  "Ich bin ein Berliner"
• What was the purpose of Kennedy's visit to West Berlin in June 1963?


  To get his foreign policy back on track at the front line of the Cold War
• What did Kennedy's speech to the West Berliners emphasize?

  The evils of communism and the need to protect the freedom of West Berlin
• What was the state of the Cold War after Kennedy's visit and the building of the Berlin Wall?


  Berlin ceased to be the center of tensions in the Cold War
• What did the building of the Berlin Wall signify for the Cold War?


  It settled matters in Germany, at least temporarily
• How did the Cold War shift after the events in Berlin in June 1963?


  It increasingly moved away from Europe
• What does the phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner" symbolize in the context of the Cold War?

  It symbolizes solidarity with the people of Berlin and opposition to communism
• What was NATO's status during the Berlin crisis in October 1961?


  NATO forces were on full alert
• How did the Berlin Wall affect relations between East and West Berlin?


  It created a physical and ideological divide between the two sectors
• What were the implications of Kennedy's foreign policy decisions on global politics?

  They reinforced the USA's commitment to opposing communism worldwide
• How long was the Berlin Wall up for?


  30 years
• How many west Berliners did Kennedy make his I am Berliner speech to?


  120,000