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East Germany and West Germany
In the 1950s, West Germany was thriving and was prosperous with a great standard of living however East Germany had a poor standard of living due to economic problems and the strict government. The government spied of the citizens. In 1953 there were riot in East Germany which the Soviet troops had to settle. Due to the greater living standard many fled from the east to the west through Berlin. In 1958 3 million people, 1/6th of the population fled.
The Berlin Ultimatum
Khrushchev wanted full soviet control over Berlin so on the 27th November 1958 He issued the Berlin Ultimatum.
Berlin should be a free city
The west should withdraw troops in Berlin
The west had 6 months to do this otherwise Khrushchev would hand over all Berlin travel routes to the East Berlin government. This meant that if the west wanted to question this, they would have to recognize East Germany separately
Conferences
May 1959 - Geneva- foreign advisors met and discussed their views but no decision was made.
September 1959 - Camp David - No decision was made but Khrushchev agreed to discontinue the Berlin Ultimatum. Tensions were eased
May 1960- Paris- Khrushchev shot down a U2 spy plane from America which Gary Powers admitted to being for a spy mission. Khrushchev left and Eisenhower was embarrassed.
June 1961 - Vienna - Kennedy was the new president. Khrushchev though Kennedy was inexperienced and decided to bring back the Berlin Ultimatum. Relationships were strained. Kennedy spent a further 2 billion dollars on USA military
The Building of the Berlin Wall
On just one day in August 1961, 40,000 East Berliners crossed the border. the East German leader begged to close the border so on the night of 12th of August 1961 a barbed wire fence was built along the 27 mile run across berlin (165km ). Then two concrete walls were built one facing east and one facing west.
Over 130 people were shot trying to cross the border. Families and friends were separated for years. a woman threw her mattress and landed on it but died later due to injuries. Peter fletcher was shot and left dying for 45mins in “nomads land”
Consequences for The USSR
It made it seem like they had to restrict people from moving because the majority preferred capitalism over communism.
Khrushchev had power in Berlin and proved that any attempt to reunite Berlin would fail
Consequences for USA
It showed that people preferred capitalism over communism and also raised propaganda for the living situation in West Berlin.
On 26th June 1963, Kennedy gave a speech “Ich bin ein Berliner” meaning “I am a Berliner”. Kennedy was very well greeted and liked in West berlin.
