The Berlin Wall, 1961 (AQA GCSE History: Wider World Depth Study (Paper 1: Section B)): Flashcards
Exam code: 8145
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Why was West Berlin important to the USA?
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Cards in this collection (26)
Why was West Berlin important to the USA?
West Berlin was important to the USA because it was a symbol of capitalism and freedom deep inside communist East Germany.
Why did the USSR want full control of Berlin?
The USSR wanted full control of Berlin to secure the Eastern Bloc and stop the West spying and spreading anti-communist ideas.
What did FRG and GDR stand for?
FRG stood for West Germany (capitalist) and GDR stood for East Germany (communist).
Define the 'Brain Drain'.
The 'Brain Drain' was the loss of skilled East Germans — doctors, teachers, engineers — fleeing to the West.
By 1958, about million Germans had left the GDR.
By 1958, about three million Germans had left the GDR.
Why was the refugee crisis so damaging to East Germany?
The refugee crisis was so damaging to East Germany because it lost skilled middle-class workers, creating a skills gap and propaganda embarrassment.
On what date did Khrushchev issue his Berlin ultimatum?
Khrushchev issued his Berlin ultimatum on 27 November 1958.
What did Khrushchev's 1958 ultimatum demand?
Khrushchev's 1958 ultimatum demanded that the West leave Berlin and make it a demilitarised 'free city'.
True or False?
Khrushchev genuinely wanted Berlin to become an independent free city.
False.
It was a political tactic to force recognition of the GDR.
Who became US President in January 1961, meeting Khrushchev at Vienna?
John F. Kennedy became US President in January 1961 and met Khrushchev at Vienna.
Why did Khrushchev think he could manipulate Kennedy?
Khrushchev thought he could manipulate Kennedy because Kennedy was young (43) and Khrushchev saw him as inexperienced.
What was the outcome of the 1961 Vienna Summit?
The outcome of the 1961 Vienna Summit was no resolution on Berlin; relations between Kennedy and Khrushchev worsened.
Formally, East and West Germany were divided after the Berlin of 1948-49.
Formally, East and West Germany were divided after the Berlin Blockade of 1948-49.
On what date did East Germany begin building the Berlin Wall?
East Germany began building the Berlin Wall on 12 August 1961.
What did the Berlin Wall first consist of, before it became concrete?
Before it became concrete, the Berlin Wall first consisted of barbed wire, with guards.
Who ordered the building of the Berlin Wall?
The building of the Berlin Wall was ordered by Khrushchev, with the GDR leader Walter Ulbricht.
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
The Berlin Wall was built to stop the mass migration of East Germans escaping to the West through Berlin.
On one day in August 1961, over East Germans escaped the GDR through Berlin.
On one day in August 1961, over 40,000 East Germans escaped the GDR through Berlin.
True or False?
The Berlin Wall separated German families for years.
True.
The Berlin Wall did separate German families for years.
Roughly how many people did the GDR kill trying to cross the Wall (1961–89)?
The GDR killed over 130 people trying to cross the Wall (1961–89).
Whose 1962 death, shot escaping and left in no-man's-land, caused international outrage?
Peter Fechter's 1962 death, shot escaping and left in no-man's-land, caused international outrage.
Give one 'positive' outcome of the Wall for US-Soviet relations.
One 'positive' outcome of the Wall for US-Soviet relations was that it eased tensions and created a stalemate, reducing the risk of nuclear war over Berlin.
In June 1963, Kennedy visited West Berlin and gave his ' ein Berliner' speech.
In June 1963, Kennedy visited West Berlin and gave his 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech.
What did Kennedy mean by 'Ich bin ein Berliner'?
By 'Ich bin ein Berliner', Kennedy meant 'I am a Berliner' — showing US solidarity with, and pride in, free West Berlin.
What did Kennedy say was better than a war?
Kennedy said a wall was better than a war — 'a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war'.
In which year did the Berlin Wall finally fall?
The Berlin Wall finally fell in 1989.
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