1. By Mr Crowe www.SchoolHistory.co.uk
THE BERLIN WALL

2. Another Cold War crisis
Background
East – West rivalry
Berlin divided – contrast the two halves.
WEST: Prosperous, helped by US, attracted people from the East. Seen by USSR as infection in the heart of Communist East Germany.
EAST: Much less prosperous and under Communist control

3. Crossing Points There were twelve crossing points from East to
West but only two were available to non-
Germans
Tourists from abroad, diplomats and military
personnel were only allowed into East Berlin at
one crossing point Berlin Friedrichstarsse
This became known as Checkpoint Charlie
The two other main crossing points were
Helmstedt - Checkpoint Alpha
Dreilinden - Checkpoint Bravo

4. Numbers Total length around West Berlin 155km 91 miles
Border between East and West Berlin km 27 miles
Number of watch towers 302
Number of bunkers
Concrete wall height m ft
Anti –tank trenches km miles

5. Focus on refugees from East Germany or East Berlin to West
,245
,648
,390
,870
,622
,917
,026
,356
,632
,876

6. What they wanted The West
Prevent USSR from gaining control of East Germany
To see a united, democratic Germany
The East
Maintain control over E Germany
Make the West recognise it as an independent state
Stop the flood of refugees especially the skilled and professional ones – much needed in E Germany

7. 1958-Soviet demands West should: Recognise GDR
Withdraw troops from West Berlin
Hand their access routes over to the East German government
Khrushchev bluffed that he would hand East Berlin over to the GDR. West refused and Khrushchev backed down.

8. Events of 1961 June-Vienna Summit
Khrushchev pressured new American President John F Kennedy
Demanded withdrawal of Western forces from West Berlin – Kennedy refused
July – Western powers reject Khrushchev’s Vienna demands
July 23 – Flow of refugees from East to West = 1000 a day
July 25 – Kennedy repeats support for West Berlin and announced increase in arms spending

9. Events cont’d
13-22 August – Khrushchev and East German govt. orders barbed wire barrier across Berlin, followed by a wall of concrete blocks
All of West Berlin encircled apart from access points
This was against the Four Power agreement reached in Paris on 20 June 1949.

10. Did Kennedy really mind the wall?
He had protected West Berlin and he never promised to protect East Berlin?

11. Results Important results for Berlin, Germany and the Cold War
Berlin was divided, free access ended between East and West, many families split, many attempted to escape to the West-between 1961 and 1989, 86 people died trying to cross the Berlin Wall

13. Results cont’d
Kennedy accepted the Soviet action. He refused to use US troops to pull down the wall to avoid war.
Kennedy looked weak but West turned it into propaganda – why if Communism was so attractive was a wall needed?
1963 – Kennedy visited West Berlin – pledged continued support – ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ (I am a Berliner) – famous speech
Khrushchev lost face by failing to remove the West from Berlin
LINK:CNN - Cold War-The Wall