Two effects of the construction of Berlin Wall, 1961

Question 1

1st consequence

Answer 1

The first effect was it improved relations between the USA and the Soviet Union as it solved the refugee crisis in Eastern Germany.

• the issue of refugees crossing into the West had been a problem that strained relations since 1945.
• The number of people that could enter and leave East Berlin was controlled/supervised.
• the number of military alerts in Berlin decreased as the situation there became less tense

Question 2

2nd consequence

Answer 2

The second effect was that Khrushchev suffered a humiliating defeat and the West woman’s propaganda victory, worsening relations

• the wall showed that the Soviet Union had to ‘lock’ people into East Germany to stop them from leaving, proving that given a choice they preferred capitalism over communism, which was humiliating
• the wall also showed that Khrushchev had been forced to accept Western control in West Berlin and that he could not get away with bullying Kennedy anymore.
• however, due to Khrushchev’s humiliating defeat, he decided to place missiles in Cuba to show he could stand up to the USA, increasing tensions