Why was the Berlin Wall built Bitesize?
Why was the Berlin Wall built? The Brain Drain: throughout the 1950s thousands of East Germans had fled to the West through Berlin, leaving behind the harsh political climate and economic hardship of life under communism .
How was the Berlin Wall built?
Over the next few days and weeks, the coils of barbed wire strung along the border to West Berlin were replaced by a wall of concrete slabs and hollow blocks. This was built by East Berlin construction workers under the close scrutiny of GDR border guards.
Why did Khrushchev decide to build the Berlin Wall?
Khrushchev believed the “free city” idea was a way to solve East Germany’s refugee problem. Soviet communications from East Germany to Moscow increasingly stressed Ulbricht’s desire to establish control over the border, close “the door to the West,” and reduce the problem of East German citizens fleeing to West Berlin.
Why did the Berlin Wall fall GCSE?
The Communist Government was unable to contain it’s citizens desire for freedom once neighbouring states had abandoned Communism. 9th November 1989 – East Germany announced that it’s citizens were allowed to cross the border with West Berlin.
Who built the Berlin Wall?
Communist government of the German Democratic Republic
On August 13, 1961, the Communist government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany) began to build a barbed wire and concrete “Antifascistischer Schutzwall,” or “antifascist bulwark,” between East and West Berlin.
What did the Berlin ultimatum lead to?
1961 Berlin ultimatum Kennedy, Premier Khrushchev reissued the Soviet ultimatum to sign a separate peace treaty with East Germany and thus end the existing four-power agreements guaranteeing American, British, and French rights to access West Berlin and the occupation of East Berlin by Soviet forces.
Who was to blame for the Berlin Wall?
The Berlin crisis of 1948-9 was ultimately the fault of Stalin. Despite having legitimate concerns to the re-emergence of a capitalist Germany, heightened by American anti-communist action such as the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, his actions far outweighed the circumstances.
What happens when the Berlin Wall fell?
The Berlin Wall fell 31 years ago, on November 9, 1989. It was a moment that shocked the world and marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War — culminating in the toppling of the East German communist dictatorship, the reunification of Germany in 1990, and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
When was the construction of the Berlin Wall?
In 1960s Berlin, the USSR controlled the East and the USA offered freedom in the West. In 1961 Khrushchev closed the border and ordered the construction of a wall to stop people leaving. Photograph of East German workers laying bricks during the construction of the Berlin wall in November 1961
Why did Khrushchev want to build the Berlin Wall?
In 1961 Khrushchev closed the border and ordered the construction of a wall to stop people leaving. Photograph of East German workers laying bricks during the construction of the Berlin wall in November 1961 Relations between East and West got worse when Khrushchev responded to the West’s failure to follow his demands for them to leave Berlin.
Why was the Berlin Wall important to the Cold War?
In the end though, the wall symbolised the Cold War itself and was a physical reminder of how poor relations were between the superpowers. It was the people of Berlin who suffered most because of the tension and the inability to resolve matters by negotiation.
What was the brain drain of the Berlin Wall?
The Brain Drain: throughout the 1950s thousands of East Germans had fled to the West through Berlin, leaving behind the harsh political climate and economic hardship of life under communism. Many of those who defected were educated or highly skilled workers and the East German authorities could not afford to lose their best and brightest citizens.