The Berlin Wall, 1961
Notes
- People had been fleeing to the west through Berlin for many years “Brain Drain” (3 mil.)
- Khrushchev wants Kennedy to pull out of Berlin and make it a free city
- Kennedy increases US strength
- Khrushchev responds by building a wall around West Berlin
- Both leaders were accused of being soft in Berlin and fixed this by ordering more tests of nuclear weapons
Summary
The Berlin wall was put up in 1961, because the people of East Germany were rapidly diminishing. This was known as the "Brain Drain", and 3 million people fled to the west of Berlin, from the east. Russian President Khrushchev wanted the Americans to pull out of Berlin, but the US only increases their strength. Khrushchev only responded by building a wall, that separated West Berlin from East Berlin. Both leaders were also accused of being soft in Berlin, so both responded with flashing their toys and testing more nuclear weapons.
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Subjunctive Question
Do you think the Berlin wall was really the best idea?
Political Cartoon
Video
Quote
The fall of the Berlin Wall makes for nice pictures. But it all started in the shipyards.
- Lech Walesa
- Lech Walesa