The Berlin crisis 1958-1963

• When did the Berlin Blockade end?

  May 1949
• What was the geographical situation of West Berlin after the Berlin Blockade?

  It was part of a separate country but located deep inside East Germany.
• How did the Marshall Plan affect West Germany?

  It contributed to rising standards of living.
• What type of government did East Germany have?

  East Germany was a dictatorship.
• How many people escaped from East Germany to West Berlin between 1949 and 1961?

  1. 7 million people
• What was the Berlin Ultimatum issued by Nikita Khrushchev in November 1958?

  Khrushchev ordered the Americans to leave within six months.
• What were the locations and dates of the summit meetings between the USA and USSR from 1959 to 1961?

  • Geneva: May 1959
  • Camp David: September 1959
  • Paris: May 1960
  • Vienna: June 1961
• What was the outcome of the Geneva summit in May 1959?

  No solution was found, but further talks were agreed upon in the USA.
• What happened at the Camp David summit?

  The two leaders had frank discussions but did not find a solution.
• What was the significance of the Paris summit in May 1960?

  It was a disaster due to the U2 spy plane incident.
• What was the U2 incident during the Paris summit?

  A U2 spy plane was shot down over the USSR.
• How did the USA respond to the capture of U2 pilot Gary Powers?

  The USA initially thought they could deny the incident.
• What was Khrushchev's reaction to the U2 incident?

  Khrushchev accused the USA of spying and walked out of the summit.
• Who became the new American President in January 1961?

  President Kennedy
• What ultimatum did Khrushchev give to Kennedy in Vienna 1961?

  He demanded the USA to get out of West Berlin in six months.
• How did Kennedy prepare for the ultimatum from Khrushchev?

  He increased military spending by an extra $3.2 billion.
• When did the construction of the Berlin Wall begin?

  12th August 1961
• What was the length of the Berlin Wall?

  165 km long
• What was the only crossing point not sealed on the Berlin Wall?

  Checkpoint Charlie
• What did the Berlin Wall symbolize?

  It symbolized the failure of communism and the Cold War division of Europe.
• What was the impact of the Berlin Wall on families and friends?

  It split families and friends until 1989.
• Who was the first person to die trying to cross the Berlin Wall?

  Peter Fechter
• What did Conrad Schuman do on 15th August 1961?

  He was photographed jumping the barbed wire barrier to get into the West.
• What did Kennedy say during his visit to West Berlin in 1963?

  He stated "Ich bin ein Berliner" to express solidarity.
• How many people died trying to cross the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989?

  Over 200 people
• What was the long-term effect of the Berlin Wall on tensions in Europe?

  It defused tensions over Berlin and made Europe a safer place.