Refugee Problem in Berlin

• 1.In 1949, Germany had divided into West German and East Germany. West Germany received Marshall Aid and so living standards and salaries became much higher than in East Germany.
• 2.The government in East Germany was unpopular and there were riots against it in 1953.
• 3.East Germans could easily travel to Berlin, cross from East Berlin to West Berlin, and then travel freely from West Berlin to West Germany.
• 4.By 1958, three million East Germans had crossed to the West. This was over a sixth of the population.
• 5.This caused a problem to East Germany, as a lot of the people were leaving were engineers, technicians and teachers, who they needed to help rebuild the economy.
• 6.This led Khrushchev to issue the Berlin Ultimatum and eventually to build the Berlin Wall.
• When was Germany divided into West and East Germany?

  1949
• What financial aid did West Germany receive?

  Marshall Aid
• How did living standards in West Germany compare to East Germany?

  Much higher in West Germany
• What happened in East Germany in 1953?

  Riots against the government
• How could East Germans travel to West Berlin?

  They could easily cross from East to West Berlin
• How many East Germans had crossed to the West by 1958?

  Three million
• What fraction of the East German population had crossed to the West by 1958?

  Over a sixth
• What type of professionals were leaving East Germany?

  Engineers, technicians, and teachers
• Why was the emigration of skilled workers a problem for East Germany?

  They were needed to rebuild the economy
• What did Khrushchev issue in response to the emigration issue?

  The Berlin Ultimatum
• What was the outcome of the Berlin Ultimatum?

  Construction of the Berlin Wall