The 2nd Berlin Crisis

• how did the Berlin Blockade and division of Germany/Berlin affect the ability to travel between zones


  it didn't! could still travel freely between each zone
• what was happening in 1948 that allowed the German economy to grow rapidly

  Marshall Aid was being poured into west G & B. economic miracle. industry booming. rise in consumerism- capitalism + free market firmly established
• what happened in 1953


  riots against the EG gov. crushed by soviets. being treated as a colony not an ally
• EG became an even more oppressive police state

  the Stasi = secret police like Gestapo. relied on informers + arrested anyone opposing communist rule. late 1950s 1/3 of prison population = political prisoners
• what did west germany win in 1954

  the world cup!
• what did west germany join in 1955 that made the USSR feel threatened

  NATO. Germany begin rearmament e.g. tanks. could soon be in a position to invade + attack the soviet union
• what did west germany become in 1957

  a founder member of the EEC (EU). economy and population now prospering- trade.
• the East German refugee crisis


  1949-61. EGs had a lower standard of living. by 1961 4 mill EGs had defected to the west (20% of pop). communism facing propaganda disaster and losing skilled workers needed to rebuild economy
• consequences of EG refugee crisis

  lost valuable skilled workers needed to support EG's economic recovery. communism facing propaganda disaster
• what was Krushchev's Berlin Ultimatum


  issued in nov 1958. Berlin should be demilitarised and western troops withdrawn. berlin should become a free city. 6 months to make changes or Krushchev hands over control all routes into Berlin to EG's gov.
• what happened when Krushchev visited the USA in 1959


  1959 sept Camp David presidential ranch. USSR agreed to withdraw Berlin Ultimatum. 1st ever visit by Soviet leader to US- visited hollywood, ate hotdogs, met ordinary americans. but US not convinced Soviet policy on Berlin had actually changed
• what was the U2 spy plane crisis

  1st may- soviets shot down American U2 spy plane as it flew over USSR. americans claimed it was a weather plane blown off course but pilot Gary Powers admitted it was a spying mission after interrogation
• what were the consequences

  Eisenhower refused to apologise- said operations like these were unavoidable and Krushchev walked out of the 1960 Paris Summit- no agreements reached and relations soured after slight improvement
• the Vienna Summit 1961


  meeting between Khrushchev and Kennedy, where Khrushchev renewed the Berlin Ultimatum. JFK refused to make any concessions. afterwards: increased spending on US armed forces by $2 bill+ in case of war
• what did the soviets and EGs do on August 12th and 13th

  built barbed wire fence around W Berlin and between W and E Berlin
• how did it actually help the west/US

  showed Krushchev had accepted Western control in WB. WB became a symbol of freedom & defiance against communism
• describe the berlin wall and the death strip


  cut through streets & buildings. finished by the end of the summer. 27 mile death strip cut through centre of berling- booby traps, barbed wire, minefields and car barriers. lookout towers. 87 miles long
• affect on EGs and WGs

  separated friends & family for years. 130 killed trying to escape into west
• who was Peter Fechter

  most famous example of an east berliner attempting to flee to west. was shot, body fell back into east where he lay dying for 45 mins
• how did JFK react to German criticism that he was failing to act

  visited Berlin and made a speech- Ich bin ein Berliner
• how was the wall a defeat for Krushchev

  bad for communist propaganda- has to imprison people for them to accept this dictatorship rule, command market etc.
• what happened in oct 1961 at the wall


  stand off- troops and tanks stationed at checkpoints along the wall by US and USSR on either side. huge tension, relations soured further
• how did the wall help Krushchev

  solved EG refugee crisis. solidified iron curtain. separated east and west
• what did the wall become a symbol of

  the division of europe and of east and west. it also showed that EE would receive no support/aid from the USA and the West
• what did JFK do in 1963


  toured Berlin