The Berlin Wall 1

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The Refugee Problem in Berlin

In the 1950s, Berlin was still divided into East and West Berlin. Germany was divided into East and West Germany.

The living conditions in West Berlin were better than the living conditions in East Berlin.
Wages in West Berlin were higher than wages in East Berlin.
The difference was even greater in the 1950s.

Many East Germans were aware that living conditions were better and wages higher in West Berlin.
Because West Berlin was a US-controlled haven in East Germany, people could move from East Berlin to West Berlin and then move to West Germany.
Between 1952 and 1961, it is estimated that 3.5 million East Germans migrated to West Germany.
This was a propaganda defeat for the Soviet - people were leaving their territory and moving to American-controlled territory.
It also caused a problem for East Germany. Skilled workers tended to leave East Germany, so East Germany's output, productivity and wealth didn't rise as much. There was a shortage of skilled labour.

In November 1958, Khrushchev issued a memorandum (written document), claiming that Berlin should be absorbed into East Germany.
Khrushchev threatened that all American, British and French troops should leave Berlin within 6 months.

The ultimatum led to a series of summit meetings between the leaders of the great powers.
- The first summit happened in Geneva and the second summit happened in September 1959 at Camp David. The Camp David summit was led by the US President, Dwight Eisenhower, and Krushchev.
The U2 Spy Plane Crisis undermined all progress at the 1960 Paris Summit. Talks broke down after the USSR shot down an American 'U2' spy plane in Russian airspace.

The Berlin Wall symbolized Cold War conflict, involving missile threats, U2 spy plane events, and the 1961 Kennedy-Khrushchev Vienna Summit.

The Berlin Wall divided East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989.
The East German government built the Wall to stop people fleeing to West Berlin.
The Wall became a symbol of the Cold War division between the Soviet East and Western powers.

The Soviet Union developed Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) to deliver nuclear warheads across continents.
The US and USSR both used ICBMs to threaten each other during the Cold War.
- The presence of ICBMs increased tensions during the Berlin Wall crisis as both sides prepared for conflict.

The United States used U2 spy planes to gather intelligence over the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
In 1960, the Soviets shot down a U2 plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers.
- The U2 incident embarrassed the US and heightened mistrust during Berlin Wall tensions.

President John F. Kennedy met Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna in June 1961.
Khrushchev demanded that West Berlin become a neutral city or be controlled by East Germany.
Kennedy refused, leading to increased tensions and Khrushchev ordering the Berlin Wall's construction.

The Berlin Wall showed the failure of peaceful coexistence between East and West.
The Wall caused tension but prevented direct military conflict in Berlin.
The Berlin Wall stayed until 1989, symbolizing Cold War divisions and eventual change.

The Berlin Wall separated many families, cutting off communication and travel.
- At least 140 people were killed trying to cross the wall.
- East Germans attempted dangerous escapes, with some killed trying to cross.
The Wall showed the human cost of Cold War politics and Soviet control in East Germany.