0Still learning
Know0
Did the FRG give their citizens more or less rights and freedom than the GDR?
Enjoying Flashcards?
Tell us what you think
Did the FRG give their citizens more or less rights and freedom than the GDR?
More.
The Western powers governed West Berlin as a democracy.
Did the FRG give more or less rights and freedom than the GDR?
More.
The Western powers governed West Berlin as a democracy whereas East Berlin was under a communist dictatorship.
Define the Stasi.
The Stasi was the secret police force in East Germany. It was abolished in 1989.
Define free movement.
Free movement is the legal permission for goods, capital, services or workers to leave one country and enter another country without extra taxes, legal documents or official limits.
Was there free movement between East and West Berlin in the 1950s?
Yes.
Many Berliners travelled, worked and socialised across East and West Berlin.
By 1958, approximately million Germans had left the GDR.
By 1958, approximately three million Germans had left the GDR.
From 1955 to 1957, why did the Soviet Union reported significantly higher refugee figures than the West?
The Soviet Union reported significantly higher refugee figures than the West because inflated figures would help in the Soviet Union's negotiations with the West.
What group made up the majority of the refugees to West Berlin in the 1950s?
The majority of the refugees came from the middle classes, such as doctors, lawyers, teachers and engineers.
Why was the refugee crisis in East Germany a propaganda failure for the Soviet Union?
The refugee crisis in East Germany was a propaganda failure because, given a choice, a significant percentage of citizens under communist rule would choose Western capitalism .
Did Khrushchev want to react quickly to the refugee crisis in East Germany?
Yes.
Khrushchev needed to take decisive action to stop so many people from leaving East Germany through Berlin.
Define the term ultimatum.
An ultimatum is when a person or country warns another that, if they do not do or stop a certain action, an unpleasant consequence will happen.
Khrushchev believed that the USA had claim to Berlin.
Khrushchev believed that the USA had no claim to Berlin.
When did Khrushchev issue his ultimatum about Berlin?
On 27th October 1958, Khrushchev issued his ultimatum about Berlin.
Did Khrushchev want to make Berlin a 'free city'?
No.
Whilst Khrushchev's Ultimatum promised this, Khrushchev wanted to incorporate the whole of Berlin into the Soviet Union.
What time limit did Khrushchev set on his ultimatum about Berlin?
Khrushchev set a 6 months time limit on his ultimatum about Berlin.
Why was giving control of Berlin's transport network to the GDR was a clever political tactic by Khrushchev?
Giving control of Berlin's transport network to the GDR was a clever political tactic by Khrushchev because negotiating with the GDR would force the USA to acknowledge the GDR as an independent country.
How did Eisenhower react to Khrushchev's Ultimatum on Berlin?
Eisenhower considered Khrushchev's action as a way to force the USA out of Berlin.
Between 1959 and 1961, the USA held with the Soviet Union to discuss better solutions to the 'Berlin problem'.
Between 1959 and 1961, the USA held peace talks with the Soviet Union to discuss better solutions to the 'Berlin problem'.
Did Khrushchev's Ultimatum improve or worsen US-Soviet relations?
Worsen.
The USA did not want to agree to Khrushchev's terms but Khrushchev believed that he was right to make an ultimatum to the West.
When did the Geneva Summit happen?
The Geneva Summit happened in May 1959.
Did the Geneva Summit find a solution to Khrushchev's Ultimatum?
No.
The representatives could not agree on what would resolve Khrushchev's Ultimatum.
Did the Geneva Summit improve or worsen US-Soviet relations?
Improve.
Eisenhower and Khrushchev's relationship improved. Eisenhower invited Khrushchev to visit the USA later in the year.
When did the Camp David Summit happen?
The Camp David Summit happened in September 1959.
Did the Camp David Summit find a solution to Khrushchev's Ultimatum?
No.
The representatives could not agree on what would resolve Khrushchev's Ultimatum.
Did the Camp David Summit improve or worsen US-Soviet relations?
Improve.
Eisenhower and Khrushchev's relationship improved. They agreed to hold further talks in Paris the following year.
On 1st May 1960, the Soviet Union shot down a spy-plane.
On 1st May 1960, the Soviet Union shot down a U-2 spy-plane.
Define the term espionage.
Espionage is the discovering of a country’s or business organisation’s secrets by using spies.
Did Eisenhower apologise to Khrushchev for the U-2 spy plane incident?
No.
Eisenhower refused to apologise. He acknowledge that the Soviet Union had shot down a spy plane but that US espionage missions kept the USA safe.
Did the Paris Summit find a solution to Khrushchev's Ultimatum?
No.
Khrushchev walked out of the meeting due to the U-2 spy-plane incident.
When did the Vienna Summit happen?
The Vienna Summit happened in June 1961.
True or False?
Nixon had taken over from Eisenhower as US President by the time of the Vienna Summit.
False.
Kennedy had taken over from Eisenhower as US President by the time of the Vienna Summit.
Did the Vienna Summit find a solution to Khrushchev's Ultimatum?
No.
Khrushchev restated to Kennedy his ultimatum. The meeting ended with no resolution on Berlin.
Did the summit meetings about Berlin improve or worsen US-Soviet relations?
Worsen.
Numerous peace talks had not succeeded in resolving the issue of governing Berlin. Both countries stopped pursuing cooperation.
Define the 'Brain Drain' in East Germany.
A 'Brain Drain' is when highly skilled workers leave a country or area. The mass migration of skilled workers from East to West Germany created a skill gap in the East German economy.
The failure of the Vienna Summit in June created fear among East Germans. Over 40,000 East Germans escaped the GDR through Berlin in one day in August.
The failure of the Vienna Summit in June 1961 created fear among East Germans. Over 40,000 East Germans escaped the GDR through Berlin in one day in August.
When was the Berlin Wall built?
The Berlin Wall was built on 12th August 1961.
True or False?
The Berlin Wall was a concrete wall in 1961.
False.
Initially, the Berlin Wall was barbed wire and cinder blocks. In 1965, the divide became a series of 5-metre-high concrete walls.
Were families with members in both East and West Berlin allowed to visit each other after the construction of the Berlin Wall?
No.
The Berlin Wall ended free movement between East and West Berlin. The wall separated German families and friends for years.
In 1962, the failed escape attempt by to leave East Berlin caused international outrage.
In 1962, the failed escape attempt by Peter Fechter to leave East Berlin caused international outrage.
Did the building of the Berlin Wall improve or worsen US-Soviet relations?
Both.
The Soviet Union had acted without the authorisation of the USA which damaged relations. However, the wall 'solved' the refugee crisis which had caused tension between both countries.
When did Kennedy deliver his famous speech to West Berlin?
Kennedy delivered his famous speech to West Berlin on 26th June 1963.
What name is often given to Kennedy's famous speech to West Berlin?
That name often given to Kennedy's famous speech to West Berlin is the 'Ich bin ein Berliner' ('I am a Berliner') speech.
Initially, the Berlin Wall tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union.
Initially, the Berlin Wall increased tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union.