Berlin 1958-62

while West Germany underwent an 'economic miracle' in the 1950s, East Germany struggled to present itself as a meaningful, independent state
the failure of the EG government to win over its own people was shown by the growing number of people going across the iron curtain into the prosperous west Berlin
by 1958, Khrushchev had decided firmer action was required to shore up the eastern bloc
he issued an ultimatum to the west that called for the removal of all occupying forces in Berlin
Khrushchev wanted Berlin to become a free city
the west were unwilling to give up west berlin because of the immense propaganda value in undermining the socialist bloc
thus Khrushchev's ultimatum resulted in another crisis over berlin
it was only after Eisenhower invided K to the USA that K dropped the ultimatum
the ultimatum was renewed in June 1961 when K met Kennedy at the Vienna Summit
when Kennedy made it evident he wasn't going to relinquish west…

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