Why was the Berlin Wall built?

Learning objective – to be able to explain the reasons why the Berlin Wall was built. I can describe the key reasons why the Berlin Wall was built. Grade D I can explain the causes of the Berlin Wall. Grade B I can evaluate the reasons why the Berlin Wall on the Cold War. Grade A

How was Germany divided from 1949? Both sides refused to recognise the legitimacy of the other. East Germany was led by Walter Ulbricht and followed a planned economy along Stalinist lines. West Germany was first led by Konrad Adenauer, who looked to the west for support. East Germany had an emphasis on heavy industry over consumer goods. West Germany’s emphasis on consumer goods and aid from the Marshall Plan led to the 1950s being a period of prosperity. East Germany had a lower standard of living compared with West Germany, which made Ulbricht very unpopular. West Germany joined NATO and the EEC in the 1950s.

Growing division of Germany in the late 1950s. Why? USA and USSR unable to agree upon how Germany should be governed. What? Diplomatic tensions as both sides did not recognise the part of Germany it did not control. East German government was very unpopular and a steady stream of refugees escape from the East to the West through Berlin. 2.6 million people escaped East Germany for West Germany between 1949 and 1961. Many of these people were high quality professionals.

The Refugee Crisis

Khrushchev’s Berlin Ultimatum – 1958-61 Why? Khrushchev was desperate for foreign policy success as he was criticised over his handling of the Hungarian Uprising. Khrushchev was alarmed at the rate of defections from East Germany. Khrushchev wanted control over the whole of Berlin. What? In 1958, Khrushchev issued his Berlin Ultimatum – in effect, he demanded the US, French and British troops out of Berlin. He aimed to stop the flow of refugees leaving Berlin and he wanted to humiliate the USA.

What was the American reaction to the Berlin Ultimatum? Why? USA did not formally recognise the existence of East Germany and were committed to German reunification. What? This led to the USA refusing the Berlin Ultimatum and stayed in Berlin. Despite a series of summits between 1959 and 1961 at Paris, Camp David, Vienna and Geneva, no progress was made on the Berlin question other than Khrushchev repeating his demand and America resisting it.

The U2 incident - 1960 Why? U2 was a spy plane which could fly at high altitude and take photographs for intelligence purposes. What? In May 1960, the USSR shot down a U2 plane caught flying over their territory and captured the pilot, Gary Powers. President Eisenhower had denied that the USA had sent planes to spy on the USSR. Khrushchev then produced photographs of the wreckage of the U2 shot over USSR. Proved he was lying, Eisenhower refused to apologise. Significant? Undone all the good diplomatic work of 1959 and Cold War tensions increased.

Paris Summit - 1960 Why? The Paris Summit had been agreed at the Camp David Conference the previous year. Nine days before the Paris Conference, the U2 Incident had broken and tensions had increased. What? The Paris Summit was a disaster. Khrushchev walked out of the Paris Summit in protest making a series of angry statements, clearly unhappy and not interested in establishing a working relationship with the West.

The Vienna Conference - 1961 Why? John F. Kennedy had just been elected President of USA and wanted to meet with Khrushchev. The problem of Berlin remained and needed further discussion. What? Both sides refused to back down with the USSR wanting USA out of Berlin and the USA refusing to leave. Khrushchev reaffirmed his previous ultimatum of a six month deadline to leave Berlin. Significant? Khrushchev saw Kennedy as young and weak. Someone he could push around. He decided to push his luck with Kennedy and force him to back down over international problems.

Tensions rise – 1960-1 Why? Khrushchev became more bullish in his approach towards the USA. The failed conferences and summits as well as the U2 incident had made Khrushchev suspicious of the West. Khrushchev saw new US President, John F. Kennedy, as weak and inexperienced and someone he could bully. What? No progress was being made with the Berlin question. US committed more money to defence spending and building nuclear fallout shelters. Significant? A stalemate was reached as both sides refused to compromise.

Task Draw a continuum in your exercise book like the one below. Little significance Very significant Place the events below on your continuum and for each event write a paragraph which explains why you have placed it where you have on the continuum and why the event is significant in causing the building of the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Ultimatum 1958-61 The Refugee Crisis 1950s The U2 Incident 1960 The Paris Summit Vienna Conference 1961

Task This learning grid activity helps you make links between the different reasons why the Berlin Wall being built. Can you link .... Link 2 images together. Link 3 images together. Link 4 images together. Link 5 images together. Link 6 images together. Extra challenge ... Link all 9 images together!