Berlin Wall's Role in 60s Tension

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In the 1960’s there were many factors that contributed to the escalation of tension in the 60’s. One key factor was the building of the Berlin Wall.

I agree with the statement that the building of the Berlin Wall was the main reason for an escalation of tension in the 1960s because of the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961. The Berlin Wall was put in place to stop migration from East to West. There was a huge refugee problem in the Berlin as in East Germany there was a lack of basic necessities and there were also limits on what people can say and do however in the wealthier side of Germany in the West life was better there due to the Marshall Aid. Many East citizens decided to migrate to the West for a better chance at life. But Khrushchev did not like this he wanted more control, he wanted to stop the flow of people from East into West. Khrushchev then gave an ultimatum to the British, French and American troops should withdraw within 6 months stating that Berlin belonged to East Germany, however this led to a series of summit meetings which resolved in no agreements but more tension. Despite, the ultimatum the Western powers stayed in Berlin. Khrushchev could not risk a nuclear war with the US so he decided to construct the Berlin Wall in August of 1961.The construction of the Berlin Wall stopped East Berliners from migrating to West Berlin this stopped the refugee crisis. Khrushchev choose to avoid a nuclear war with the USA and build a wall instead. This made Khrushchev look weak as his choice of avoiding a nuclear war made him look lesser than the Western powers. The wall was an embarrassment for the Soviets as it suggested that East Germans would rather live in capitalist West Germany than stay in communist East Germany. President Kennedy states that “we cannot and will not permit the Communists to drive us out of Berlin” this shows that despite all of the summit meetings neither sides could come to an agreement, it all shows that even though Khrushchev went out of his way to build a wall he still didn’t gain more power over Berlin as the western powers still refused to leave West Berlin for the Communists. It clearly shows the rise in tension between the powers and Kennedy’s speech was significant because it represents the cold war tensions intensifying.

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In conclusion, in the 1960s there was a massive escalation of tensions between the East and West, and the building of the Berlin Wall was one of the main causes.

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Berlin Wall’s Role in 60s Tension. (2022, October 28). Edubirdie. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/did-the-building-of-the-berlin-wall-contribute-to-the-escalation-of-tension-in-the-60s-an-essay/

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