Berlin Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis USA History post 1945 Berlin Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis

1961 – Berlin Wall

Berlin in Cold War Berlin – like Germany – divided into four occupational zones 1948 – Three Allied Zones united as Federal Republic of Germany The USSR responds with the creation of East Germany and the land blockade of Berlin Between 1949 and 1961, some 2.5 million East Germans fled from East to West Germany, most via West Berlin. By August 1961, an average of 2,000 East Germans were crossing into the West every day. Berlin Wall raised August 15, 1961 By the 1980s, this system of walls and electrified fences extended 45 km through Berlin and 120 km around West Berlin 191 people killed during the escape attempts November 9, 1989 – East German government lifts travel restrictions Novermber 10, 1989 – Berlin Wall falls symbolically

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwQsTzGkbiY

Kennedy delivers Ich bin ein Berliner speech in Berlin, June 26, 1963 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56V6r2dpYH8

Cuba Fidel Castro 1958- 59 - Cuban revolution American plots to assassinate Castro 1961 - Bay of Pigs invasion 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis

Bay of Pigs, 17 April 1961 Around 1400 Cuban exile paramilitaries, trained by the C.I.A., depart from Guatemala to ignite a counterrevolution and overthrow Castro Early on, C.I.A. provided bombers are used for air cover. Later suport is withdrawn by Kennedy. Invasion fails, most Cuban exiles arrested Kennedy administration hugely embarrassed "There's an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan ... Further statements, detailed discussions, are not to conceal responsibility because I'm the responsible officer of the Government ...” Kennedy blamed by the Cuban Exiles, blamed by right wing media, but – interestingly – never (officially or in secret reports) blamed by not by the C.I.A. Castro a strenghtened hero

C.I.A.’s official history of the Bay of Pigs invasion The C.I.A. exceeded its capabilities in developing the project from guerrilla support to overt armed action without any plausible deniability. Failure to realistically assess risks and to adequately communicate information and decisions internally and with other government principals. Insufficient involvement of leaders of the exiles. Failure to sufficiently organize internal resistance in Cuba. Failure to competently collect and analyze intelligence about Cuban forces. Poor internal management of communications and staff. Insufficient employment of high-quality staff. Insufficient Spanish-speakers, training facilities and material resources. Lack of stable policies and/or contingency plans. Example of groupthinking used by Irving Janis

1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis Soviet nuclear missiles and installations discovered in Cuba by American intelligence Blockade of Cuba (quarantine) deals with Khrushchev

John F. Kennedy Address on the Buildup of Arms in Cuba Quarantine begins 23. Oct 2963

Adlai Stevenson shows the intelligence photographs to the UN Security Council , Oct. 25, 1962

Secret deals with Khrushchev missiles removed from Cuba in exchange of the American promise nto to ever invade Cuba American missiles secretely removed from Turkey within 6 months hotline agreement Kennedy seen as soft on Communism by the right

JFK Assassination, Nov. 22, 1963