The Berlin Wall

Why was the Berlin Wall built?

The ❌ Drain: throughout the 1950s thousands of East Germans had fled to the West through Berlin, leaving behind the harsh ❌ climate and economic ❌ of life under communism. Many of those who defected were ❌ or highly skilled workers and the East German authorities could not afford to lose their best and brightest citizens.

❌ of the West: during the 1950s travel was relatively ❌ between the Eastern and Western sectors of Berlin. People living under communism in the Eastern sector could visit the West and see what ❌ offered. There was ❌ housing, shops full of goods and relative ❌: all provided by the Western Allies.

Espionage: Berlin was a Western ❌ in a communist sea – an ideal place for American ❌ to gather ❌ on the Soviet military.

Stand-off at ❌ Charlie

Once the Wall had been constructed, the US decided to ❌ how far they could push the USSR. ❌ were still allowed to cross the Wall, and the ❌ regularly sent troops and ❌ into the ❌ sector through Checkpoint ❌, one of the guarded crossing points between East and West. Both sides were entitled to do this under the Four Powers Agreement made after the ❌ Conference, but by constructing the Wall the Soviets were ❌ this Agreement and there was a ❌ over whether or not East German guards were ❌ to examine the travel ❌ of Americans passing through the checkpoint. On 27 October 1961 the US stationed ❌ on its side of Checkpoint Charlie.

Fearing the US tanks might try to break down the Wall or pass into its sector, the Soviets ❌ with an equal show of force and ❌ Army tanks pulled up to their side of Checkpoint Charlie. All day long the two sides, with tanks and soldiers at the ready, faced each other in a tense ❌. The nail-biting crisis lasted for 18 hours until diplomatic ❌ agreed that both sides would slowly withdraw.