19.1.12

The Berlin Wall

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The Berlin Wall

On the 12th August 1961, the USSR (Soviet Union) began to build the Berlin Wall.

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Avoiding war

  • British, French and American troops stayed in West Berlin, even after Soviet orders for foreign troops to leave.
  • The USSR used the building of the wall to show strength without starting a war.
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The Wall

  • The Berlin Wall began as a fence and then became a heavy border wall designed to stop the flow of people from East Berlin to West Berlin.
  • By October 1961, West Berlin was entirely shut off from East Germany.
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Crossing the Wall

  • West Berlin became a contrast to East Berlin and a symbol of freedom.
  • Crossing the wall was not allowed and 200 people were killed trying to cross the border.
  • Foreigners were allowed to cross over to East Berlin through Checkpoint Charlie.
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Responses of the USSR

  • West Berlin remained under Allied control and this made it harder for the Soviets to control all of East Germany.
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Responses of the West

  • The Western Powers did not think that the Wall was a good idea, but agreed that it was better than war.
  • This was a propaganda victory for the West and the USA.
    • The need to build a wall to stop East Germans moving to West Berlin was embarrassing for the Soviet Union.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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