Yup, welts has another essay to write! This time my question is...
How were the Berlin crises resolved?
Anything I should be looking at? So far I've got quite a bit on the role of Kennedy including the famous TV speech etc. Anything else??
Cheers lads
Research topic #1
1958 Berlin ultimatum
- Krushchev told the western powers (UK, USA, France) to get out of Berlin
- Western powers would only have access with permission of East German authority
- Western powers told Kruschev to poke it
- 1959 Soviets back-down on original ultimatum
- 1959 Meeting netween Eisenhower and Kruschev seemed to find a middle ground
- 1961 it all kicked off again Kruschev again threathening to kick the allied powers out of Berlin
- Kennedy told him to poke it
Research Topic #2
1961 The Berlin Wall/Annexation of East Germany
- Early 1961 Soviets worried about people from the east emigrating to the west
- August 1961 - Soviets and East Germany start erecting the Berlin wall, and sealing off East Germany from the West
- August 1961 - Soviets effectively cut-off allied forces in Berlin
- Kennedy goes mental and orders massive US troop mobilization
Research topic #3
Potential clash of troops in Berlin
- October 1961 - There were a series of diplomatic led incursions by US and UK into East Berlin, that provoked the Soviets
and almost led to full scale military action with tanks on both sides involved in a stand-off by the Brandenburg gate
I think the conclusions should be that the building of the wall although not everyones cup-of-tea served a purpose for
decades after in keeping an uneasy peace between Ivan and the west. This allowed back channel diplomatic relations
to develop and be maintained also contributing to the peace....
As a major research topic I recommend a read-up on BRIXMIS who were the British diplomatic mission in Berlin.
I spent 3 years there 85-88 it was an amazing place at an amazing time, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world
