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Berlin Wall . Kennedy & Crisis. Bay of Pigs Invasion. Background Fidel Castro was in power in Cuba. Came to power after a guerrilla war, promised to restore people’s rights and freedoms Once in power, he seized private businesses and made overtures to Soviet Union. Kennedy
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Berlin Wall Kennedy & Crisis
Bay of Pigs Invasion • Background • Fidel Castro was in power in Cuba. • Came to power after a guerrilla war, promised to restore people’s rights and freedoms • Once in power, he seized private businesses and made overtures to Soviet Union. • Kennedy • Kennedy learned that the CIA was training troops to invade Cuba and topple Castro. • His advisors were mixed. • Kennedy was worried about Communism spreading to Latin America. • Kennedy gave the go-ahead. • The Invasion • Bay of Pigs invasion failed. • Information was leaked early. • Air strikes failed. • Castro prepared for a land attack. • Invaders were captured and ransomed back to United States. • Strengthened Castro’s ties to the Soviet Union
Kennedy & the Cold War Timeline • 1960: November -- John F. Kennedy elected President • 1961: April -- Bay of Pigs invasion • 1961: July -- Kennedy requests 25% spending increase for military • 1961: August 13 -- Berlin border closed • 1961: August 17 -- Construction of Berlin Wall begins
The Berlin Crisis Berlin’s Significance • Khrushchev demanded that the United States recognize East Germany as an independent Communist nation. • West Berlin was an island of freedom. • Many East Germans fled to West Germany through Berlin. • Kennedy refused to be bullied, sent troops into West Germany, built nuclear shelters, and waited for Khrushchev’s next move. The Berlin Wall • On August 13, 1961, Khrushchev closed the crossing points between East and West Berlin. • A high concrete wall was built to prevent further escapes to freedom. • Kennedy sent more troops, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson visited West Berlin. • Kennedy said “A wall is a … lot better than a war.” • Over time, the wall was extended and fortified.
1949-129,245 1951- 165,648 1953- 331,390 1955- 252,870 1957- 261,622 1959- 143,917 1961- 207,026 1962- 21,356 1963- 42,632 1964- 41,876 Focus on refugees from East Germanyor East Berlin to West
In an attempt to escape and gain access to West Berlin a large network of tunnels were built. • They were dug mostly by college students but many people used them. The first known successful tunnel was dug in a grave yard. • This tunnel was found after a women accidentally dropped into the tunnel and left her baby in a carriage on top. • The tunnel was then sealed off. • The most successful tunnel was in a basement of a house at 60 Westerstrasse. • There were 29 people freed from this location alone.
Flying Over the Wall • The Wetzel’s and Strelczyk’sescape through ingenuity. • Bought cloth and bed sheets to make a balloon. • 4 propane tanks. • Floated into West Berlin. • Due to this attempt the purchase of light weight cloth was strictly controlled.
Did Kennedy really mind the wall? “A wall is better than a war”. 5000 attempted escape 100 died
Results • Important results for Berlin, Germany and the Cold War • Berlin was divided, free access ended between East and West, many families split, many attempted to escape to the West-between 1961 and 1989. • 200 (estimated) people died trying to cross the Berlin Wall
Results cont’d • Kennedy accepted the Soviet action. He refused to use US troops to pull down the wall to avoid war. • Kennedy looked weak but West turned it into propaganda – why if Communism was so attractive was a wall needed? • 1963 – Kennedy visited West Berlin – pledged continued support – ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ (I am a Berliner) – famous speech • Khrushchev lost face by failing to remove the West from Berlin
