After the Hungarian Uprising the ussr faced less opposition in Europe

After the Hungarian Uprising the USSR faced less opposition in Europe

• After the Hungarian Uprising the USSR faced less opposition in Europe

• Many Europeans did not want to live on the east of the Iron Curtain

• USSR citizens not allowed to travel out of USSR

• Only way to leave – through East Berlin and get to West Berlin

Freedom in West – elections, freedom of speech, no censorship

• Freedom in West – elections, freedom of speech, no censorship

• Higher wages

• Consumer goods – TVs etc

• Better quality of life – no Communism

• To become wealthier – own property etc

East Berlin had been a problem for USSR

• East Berlin had been a problem for USSR

• People living under Communism could see what non-Communists had

• There had also been strikes and anti USSR protests in East Berlin

• Since the Airlift, people had been leaving the East to live in the West

• Made Communism look bad

• E. Germany needed workers

Communist soldiers patrolled the border but it was easy to cross

• Communist soldiers patrolled the border but it was easy to cross

• Khrushchev thought the best way to solve this was with a Peace treaty

• 1958 he demands all foreign troops out of Berlin

• Allies refuse – they thought Khrushchev was trying to take over the West too

• Known as BERLIN CRISIS

1960 Summit meeting – Khrushchev hopes to solve problem

• 1960 Summit meeting – Khrushchev hopes to solve problem

• Talks collapse

1949-129,245

• 1949-129,245

• 1951- 165,648

• 1953- 331,390

• 1955- 252,870

• 1957- 261,622

• 1959- 143,917

Midnight 13 Aug 1960 East German Government seal off border

• Midnight 13 Aug 1960 East German Government seal off border

• 17 August building starts

• Any escapees are shot – four died in 1st two months

• Western leaders protest but can’t do anything

• The Iron Curtain had become real

USA’s views…

• USA’s views…

• Skilled workers leaving East

• People want away from Communism

• People want freedom

• East in fear of losing population

• Shows popularity of Capitalism