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The Berlin Wall Crisis A divided city. Germany divided: West Berlin in the East!

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Presentation on theme: "The Berlin Wall Crisis A divided city. Germany divided: West Berlin in the East!"— Presentation transcript:

1 The Berlin Wall Crisis A divided city

2 Germany divided: West Berlin in the East!

3 Problems with West Berlin REFUGEES from East to West cause problems in the East This led to… KHRUSHCHEV’S CHALLENGE to the USA This led to… EISENHOWER’s difficult decision!

4 REFUGEES People had more freedom in West Germany than in East Germany, so many people moved west. Between 1949-1961m 2.7 million East Belriners escaped to the West. The problem was that East Germany then lost many young, skilled workers This led to economic problems in East Germany Most people escaped through Berlin, as this was the easiest place to cross.

5 KHRUSHCHEV’S CHALLENGE Khrushchev demanded that: the whole city of Berlin should belong to the East the USA should withdraw their troops. Eisenhowers difficult decision EISENHOWER did not want to lose West Berlin, but he didn’t want to start another world war! So they agree to hold an internationl meeting.

6 International Summits Khrushchev and Eisenhower meet in Geneva and then at Camp David in 1959 but can’t reach an agreement This created a bad atmosphere for the 1960 Paris Summit. Khrushchev walked out of the summit on day 1 over the U2 incident! 1961 summit in Geneva, President Kennedy refused to withdraw US troops from West Berlin and started to prepare for war $3.2 billion on defense spending and $207 million on nuclear fallout shelters THE U2 INCIDENT: May 1960 the USSR shot down and captured a US U2 spy plane over Berlin. Eisenhower claimed the plane was studying the weather, but Khrushchev produced the pilot (Gary Powers) who confessed to spying!

7 The Berlin Wall Khrushchev knew that he couldn’t defeat the USA in a nuclear war, so he couldn’t force the Americans to leave West Berlin, but… He could stop people leaving East Berlin to live in the West. During the night of 12th August 1961, East German troops built a wall around West Berlin!

8 The Berlin Wall ‘It’s not a very nice solution, but a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war!’ - Kennedy

9 Effects of the Berlin Wall 1.Stoped East Germans escaping to the west and ended the refugee crisis 2.Allowed Khrushchev to avoid war with America whilst still looking strong 3.The wall became a powerful symbol of the division of Germany and Europe (think back to Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtian’ speech)

10 Kennedy’s visit to Berlin: 1963 ‘All free men, wherever they live, are citizens of Berlin and therefore as a free man, I take pride in the words Ich bin ein Beliner!’

11 Read the statements on p 93. and copy them into one of the following two lists: Causes of building the Berlin WallEffects of building the Berlin Wall

12 What was the most important cause and most important effect?

13 What can you infer from this source about the situation in Berlin in 1961?

14 Berlin Crisis Cartoon We are often asked to analyse cartoons and images as part out History studies, now its your turn to create some historical sources of your own. Using the basic cartoon started by Miss O’Connell, add more information about the causes of the Berlin Crisis and then finish the cartoon with images up to Kennedy’s speech in 1963.

15 Exam practice Why did the USSR build the Berlin Wall in 1961? Explain your answer. (8 points) Paragraph 1: POINT – give one reason why the Wall was built EVIDENCE – give details of the reason EXPLAIN - Explain why building the wall solved this problem Paragraph 2: POINT – give one reason why the Wall was built EVIDENCE – give details of the reason EXPLAIN - Explain why building the wall solved this problem Conclusion:LINK your two points together

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