How did the Berlin Wall become a symbol of the Cold War?

Learning objective – to be able to explain the impact of the Berlin Wall on the Cold War. I can describe the key Impact of the building of the Berlin Wall. Grade D I can explain the Impact of the Berlin Wall. Grade B I can evaluate the impact of the Berlin Wall on the Cold War. Grade A

A Wall in Berlin? - 1961 Why? Khrushchev realised that the USSR could not win a nuclear war. USA had 20 times the amount of nuclear bombs and they were placed close enough for the USSR unable to react in time. Kennedy’s refused to withdraw from Berlin, called Khrushchev’s bluff who was forced to back down from his ultimatum. The refugee problem continued and Khrushchev had to block that route to the West.

The Berlin Wall is built - 1961 What? On the night of 12th August 1961, on orders from Moscow, East German soldiers and police put up a barbed wire fence around West Berlin. The fence was then reinforced with a high brick wall topped with barbed wire, with a no man’s land created stuffed with mines and machine gun towers which were heavily guarded. Anyone caught trying to cross the wall was shot. 171 people would be shot between 1961 and 1989.

Impact of the Berlin Wall on US-Soviet relations Khrushchev avoided war and direct confrontation with America but still appeared strong and defiant. Kennedy was seen as all talk and no action failing to confront Khrushchev. Although American forces remained in West Berlin. Increase security at the different checkpoints between East and West Berlin. Confrontation of USA and USSR tanks at Checkpoint Charlie in October 1961, led to fears that the Berlin Wall had not ended the Berlin Crisis. Only a secret message from Kennedy to Khrushchev eased tension.

Impact of the Berlin Wall on Germans The Berlin Wall stopped the refugee crisis. Peace was maintained but families were divided. Germans felt let down by Kennedy and betrayed by Khrushchev.

Kennedy’s ‘Ich Bin Ein Berliner’ Speech - 1963

Knowledge Questions Outline how the Berlin Wall was built in August 1961. Explain the consequences of the building of the Berlin Wall on US-Soviet relations and on the Germans. What was the importance of Kennedy’s Ich Bin Ein Berliner Speech?

Task This visual hexagon activity helps you make links between the different areas of the Berlin Wall being built. In pairs, make links between each hexagon and write two sentences for each link explaining them fully.