Berlin 1958-63 | Increasing tension & impact of Berlin Wall

• • East Germans had low standards of living
  • Communism in East was unpopular
  • Division of East and West led to refugees crossing from East to West
  • By 1958 - 3 million East Germans crossed to West
  • Brain drain - people leaving were experienced workers and educated like doctors - East did not want to lose best citizens
• Berlin Ultimatum:

  • USSR wanted Allies to leave Berlin
  • Nov 1958: USSR demanded Western countries recognise East Germany as country, led to refusal
  • USSR demanded: Berlin to be demilitarised, Western troops withdrawn, Berlin to be free city (meaning controlled by USSR)
• Berlin Ultimatum:

  • West had 6 months to make changes or USSR to pass control of routes into Berlin to East German government
  • Would make West talk to East Germany and see them as country
• Ultimatum impacts:

  • West saw ultimatum as USSR trying to spread communism
  • USSR saw demands as way to stop refugees from crossing to West
• Geneva Summit:

  • Was in 1959
  • Both sides proposed how Berlin to be governed
  • No agreements reached
• Camp David:

  • Met in 1959
  • USSR withdraw from Ultimatum
  • Made better relations between USA and USSR
• Paris Summit:

  • USSR said talks to not be successful
  • USSR shot down American spy plane
  • Eisenhower refused to apologise
  • Krushchev walked out
• Vienna Summit:

  • Met in 1961
  • Krushchev renewed Ultimatum
  • USA refused
  • Relations between USA and USSR strained
  • Kennedy increased spending on armed forces - seemed USA ready to fight over Berlin
• Building Berlin Wall:

  • East Germany built 165 kilometres wall in 1961
• Impacts of Berlin Wall on Berlin

  • cut through centre of Berlin
  • seperated families for years
  • people tried to cross wall with help from West Berlin on other side
• Impacts of Berlin Wall on international relations:

  • Relations of superpowers worsened
  • Tensions over Berlin lessened
• Summary:

  • Krushchev worried about East German citizens crossing to West
  • Talks over Berlin broke down
  • Building of Berlin Wall
  • Kennedy visited West Berlin
  • Berlin Wall was symbol of division
• Impact of Berlin Wall on USA:

  • wall showed USSR accepted Western control of West Berlin
  • West Berlin was symbol of freedom and defiance from communism
• impact of Berlin Wall on USSR:

  • to stop plans uniting Germany
  • people wanting to leave showed capitalism in favour
  • wall stopped refugees from leaving
  • showed that communism would survive in Berlin
  • reuniting Germany under Western control would fail