Berlin Wall

Question 1

Why was Berlin a point of high tension?

Answer 1

• it had been divided since 1945 - the USSR controlled East Berlin while the West controlled West Berlin
• Berlin had caused problems in the past, like during the Berlin Blockade and Airlift
• citizens of West Berlin enjoyed freedom and luxuries while their eastern neighbours lived in a tightly controlled state
• May east Berliners were defecting to the west by crossing the border. By 1961, thousands were crossing each day

Question 2

What happened at the Vienna Summit?

Answer 2

JFK met with Khrushchev in Vienna in an attempt to repair damaged relations from the U2 crisis. Khrushchev dominated the conversation and seemed to not take the young Kennedy seriously.

Question 3

What happened when the Berlin Wall was put up?

Answer 3

• with thousands defecting from east to West Berlin every day, something had to be done. On 13 August 1961, East German troops closed the border and stopped anyone from crossing
• within a few hours, barbed wire fencing was put up and trains were stopped from crossing the border
• over the following week, the fence was replaced by a concrete wall that would remain in place for nearly 30 years

Question 4

Why was the Berlin Wall put up?

Answer 4

The official reason for the wall was to stop western spies from entering soviet territory but in reality, it was to stop the many educated people who were leaving east Berlin. It also prevented east Berliners from seeing what life was like in West Berlin.

Question 5

What happened at Checkpoint Charlie?

Answer 5

In October 1961, there was a moment of tension when an American diplomat was refused entry to east Berlin. The incident led to a stand off at the border, involving tanks. The crisis was averted when Kennedy and Khrushchev both agreed to withdraw. The two sides took turns reversing 5m at a time. The slightest error could have led to war.

Question 6

What was Kennedy’s response to the Wall?

Answer 6

He was angered by the wall but as long as West Berlin remained free, east Berlin was not with a war. In June 1963, he travelled to West Berlin where he visited the wall and looked over into the east. The speech he gave made it clear that the USA remained committed to fighting communism, using Berlin as an example, proclaiming ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’.