berlin wall

• Berlin Crises:

  • Khrushchev called for the end of the four power control of Berlin within six months (1958)
  • Konrad Adenauer (West German leader) strongly against any deal that may be struck with Khrushchev
  • Eisenhower prepared to negotiate to not risk war
• U-2 spy plane incident:

  • Eisenhower and Khrushchev scheduled to meet in Berlin (May 1960)
  • cancelled due to U-2 spy plane shot over Soviet territory
  • Eisenhower retired end of 1960
• Reasons for the Berlin Wall:

  • Khrushchev realised the USSR could not win a nuclear war as the US had 20 times the nuclear bombs they had
  • Kennedy refused to withdraw from Berlin and called Khrushchev’s bluff who was forced back down from his ultimatum
  • refugee problem continued → Khrushchev blocked route to the West
• Building of the Berlin Wall:

  • East German soldiers and police placed barbed wires around West Berlin (12 August 1961)
  • high brick wall placed with a no man’s land with mines and machine gun towers
  • anyone caught crossing was shot; 171 shot between 1961 and 1989
• Impact of Berlin Wall on US-Soviet relations:

  • Khrushchev avoided war and direct confrontations but still appeared strong and defiant
  • Kennedy failed to confront Khrushchev although American forces remained in Berlin
  • increased security at various checkpoints between East and West Berlin
  • confrontation of US and USSR tanks at Checkpoint Charlie (October 1961) → fears of no end to the Berlin Crisis
• Impact of Berlin Wall on Germans:

  • stopped refugee crisis
  • peace maintained but families divided
  • felt let down by Kennedy and betrayed by Khrushchev