The Berlin Wall Crisis
Why the Berlin Wall was built in 1961: the refugee crisis, the ultimatum of Khrushchev, the failed Vienna summit with Kennedy, and the Wall as the symbol of the divided Cold War.
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The Berlin Wall crisis 🧱
Through the 1950s millions of East Germans fled to the West through Berlin. This drained East Germany of skilled workers and embarrassed the USSR. In August 1961, backed by the Soviet Union, East Germany built the Berlin Wall overnight to seal off West Berlin and stop the escapes.
Words for the crisis 🔑
Learn these four terms before you judge the crisis.
The problem and the solution 🆚
The USSR faced a problem in Berlin and chose a drastic answer.
Grade 9 thinking 💡
To reach the top grades, assess why the Wall was built, and weigh the refugee crisis against the wish of the USSR to save face in the Cold War.
Match the person to what they did 🔗
- Khrushchev
- Kennedy
- the Berlin Wall
- the Vienna summit
- the Soviet leader who demanded the West leave Berlin
- the US president who pledged support for West Berlin
- the barrier built to seal off West Berlin
- the 1961 meeting that ended without agreement
Match the term to its meaning 🧩
- refugee
- ultimatum
- summit
- Cold War
- a person who flees to escape hardship
- a final demand backed by a threat
- a meeting between the leaders of countries
- a rivalry of tension without direct war
Why the Wall? ❓
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
- To stop East Germans fleeing to the West through Berlin.
- To defend West Berlin from a Western attack.
- To open trade between the two halves of the city.
Results of the Wall ✅
Select the TWO results of the Berlin Wall.
- The flow of refugees was stopped.
- The Wall became a symbol of the divided Cold War.
- Berlin was reunited.
- The Cold War ended at once.
Order the crisis 🪜
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Summarise the crisis 📝
Many East Germans fled west through _____, so the USSR faced a _____ crisis. In 1961 _____ demanded the West leave, and after a failed summit in _____, East Germany built the Berlin _____ to seal off West Berlin.
Count the years 🔢
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Spot the two results 🖍️
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Cause or result? 🧭
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Assess the Wall ✍️
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