Historical Investigation

Transcription

1 Formatted: Different first page header Historical Investigation What factors led to the construction of the Berlin Wall? Michelle Lezama Historical InvestigationWorld Literature Assignment 1 IB Number Instructor: Mr. Colin Roberts March 2, 2011 Word Count: 1,8781,429 Formatted: Centered, Level 1

2 Table of Contents Plan of Investigation... 3 Summary of Evidence... 4 Evaluation of Sources... 7 Analysis... 8 Conclusion Works Cited Formatted: Centered Formatted: No underline Formatted: List Paragraph, Indent: Befo 0.25", Hanging: 0.24", Line spacing: 1.5 lines, Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5", Tab stops: 5.51" Left,Leader: Formatted: No underline Formatted: List Paragraph, Line spacing 1.5 lines, Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned a 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5", Tab stops: 5.51" Left,Leader: Formatted: No underline 2

3 Plan of Investigation The Berlin Wall was the culmination of a crisis that went on for two decades between the major powers of the United Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States. This investigation focuses on the events that led to the construction of the wall and the factors that caused it. The core of the investigation is composed of the Berlin crisis, or the period of Soviet-American relations before 1961 and the events that unfolded then. These events demonstrate the magnitude of the crisis and allow drawing conclusions about what were the factors that really led to this happening. In order to reach conclusions about the causes of the Berlin wall, both perspectives were carefully scrutinized. It was concluded that the Berlin wall was erected because of economic, political and military factors that evolved during the crisis. 3

4 Summary of Evidence On January 1944 the inter-allied European Advisory Commission was set up in London. In it the Allied powers of Great Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union decided that Germany would be divided into three zones occupied by each of the three powers. The capital would also be divided into occupation zones considering its location. (Taylor) In the Yalta Conference of 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill convinced Josef Stain to allow France to take an occupation zone in Germany. (Epler 22) The Western powers proceeded to occupy their zones in Germany under Soviet regulations after plans were finalized at the Potsdam Conference of July American president Harry S. Truman announced the success of the atomic bomb. (Taylor) Stalin dismantled entire factories and shipped resources to Russia that would help after the devastation of World War II, which led to hostilities with Western powers who disagreed with Stalin's actions. (Epler 28). East German government, setting the place for the establishment of a communist regime, seized large estates, industries and properties. Meanwhile, in West Germany the Western powers introduced a democratic self-government. (Doris M. Epler) German civilians were suffering in both ends of the country but in the West they enjoyed freedom of speech and the period came to be known as the "Golden Hunger Years." (Taylor) Winston Churchill delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" speech on March 5, 1946 in which he discussed the threat of the Soviet Union in Europe. (R.G. Grant 14) 4

5 On March , President Truman issued his Truman doctrine, which offered help to any European nation that was resisting subjugation from the Soviet forces. (R.G. Grant 15) It was followed by a European recovery plan known as the Marshall plan. (Taylor) On June 21, 1948 the Western powers united their German occupation zones into one state. They agreed on issuing a West German currency; the Deutsch mark which improved West German economy significantly. (R.G. Grant 16) Enraged by the introduction of the new currency, the Soviets organized a massive blockade on West Berlin, which left them cut off and without vital resources. The United States responded by aiding the Berliners by airlift. (May) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in 1949 with the purpose of fighting Soviet aggression. The establishment of a government in West Germany headed by Konrad Adenauer led to a prosperous economy and good living conditions. Consequently, emigration from East to West Berlin increased in staggering numbers. (May) On March 1, 1953 Josef Stalin died and Nikita S. Khrushchev emerged as the strongest candidate to be his predecessor. (Epler 43) The increasingly notorious difference between Western and East Germany in terms of economic prosperity and overall living conditions was preoccupying for East German leader Walter Ulbricht who constantly appealed to Moscow for help. Emigration from East to West Berlin grew exponentially and by 1958, 12,000 people left each month. These professional and skilled workers that left the state had a significant impact on East Germany's economy. (Fursenko, Naftali 343) In November 1958, Khrushchev gave the Western powers an ultimatum. If they didn't leave West Berlin in 6 months they would sign a peace treaty with East 5

6 Germany and any justification for Allies to be involved in Germany. The Western powers ignored the ultimatum and the Soviets backed down. (Fursenko, Naftali 356) Khrushchev's ultimatum was brought up again at a conference in Vienna in The newly elected president John F. Kennedy did not agree with the conditions of the Soviet leader and he implied that they would not hesitate to use nuclear power. (Epler 47) In the morning of August 13, 1961 also known as barbed wire Sunday, a division was built by commands of Khrushchev and Moscow. What at first was an unlikely barrier that divided the city later became an 8ft. high concrete wall. (R.G. Grant 28) The Western powers failed to respond or support the West Berliners. "We were outraged and also disappointed. Our mayor didn't convince the Allies to make even a small protest." ("The Wall") The Berlin Wall cut right through parks, factories and homes, dividing families and friends who could no longer see each other. People whose houses where located near the wall lived amongst military troops and a "no man s land" up to 300 yards wide on their side of the wall. (Epler 61) 6

7 Evaluation of Sources Krushchev's Cold War: The Inside Story of an American Adversary "Ambitious, aggressive, and impatient, Khrushchev intended to leave his imprint on the world. This is the story of how he went about in doing it." (Fursenko, Naftali 9). 1 The opening line of the book defines its purpose. The authors talk about the cold war from Nikita Khrushchev's perspective. The authors of this secondary source are Aleksandr Fursenko and Timothy Naftali. Fursenko was born was a renowned Russian historian and member of the Russian Academy of Sciences who died in Naftali is an American historian and director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. These two authors have published many other books on the topic individually and. They have also co-written another book on the same topic.published "A Hell of a Gamble" together which deals with the topic of the cold war as well. The significance of this source is how the authors remain objective in telling the story with considerable amount of evidence, but at the same time manage to maintain a solid thesis. Perhaps The value of this work lies in thethe greatest positive element of this particular source is the author's access to Soviet archives, which disclosed valuable information about meetings of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. Nonetheless, Fursenko and Naftali fully experienced the Cold War and life in Russia before and after this why may affect their objectivity on the matter. However, the fact that they have come together to write this book shows a certain elimination of any possible biases. "Kennedy and the Berlin Wall: A Hell of a lot Better than a War". 1 Fursenko, Aleksandr, and Timothy Naftali. Khrushchev's Cold War. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company, Print 7

8 "Ever since I served in the U.S. Mission in Berlin during the Berlin Wall crisis, I have wanted to write this book about president John F. Kennedy and the Berlin Wall." (Smyser). 2 The statement made by the author states his purpose of portraying the Berlin crisis from the perspective of the American president John F. Kennedy. W.R. Smyser is the author of the book "Kennedy and the Berlin Wall: A Hell of a lot Better than a War". He is generally regarded as an expert concerning German matters, having lived there in the 1930 s and having been an adviser at Paris peace talks in (Smyser). 3 He has also published a variety of books on Germany and related topics. Smyser's expertise in the topic of Germany and his experience with the American government prove to be the ideal writer for a book as such. His work is significant to the investigation at hand because it represents the other side of the Berlin crisis. It has special value because of the personal accounts that the author gives along with substantial research on the topic. Though Smyser's firsthand experience with the events he is narrating may be considered a limitation. However the author's aforementioned expertise guarantee the accuracy of his work. 2 Smyser, W.R.. Kennedy and the Berlin Wall: "A Hell of a Lot Better Than a War.". Rowman & Littlefield. Aug c.256p. 3 "W.R. Smyser." Baker & Taylor Author Biographies (2000): 1. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 9 Dec

9 Analysis When faced with topics as paramount asberlin was destined to be a source of conflict from the very start. Khrushchev knew that "Berlin was the west's Achilles's heel"(mccauley 53) and he was willing to use this against them. One of the most important factors that led to the construction of the Berlin wall was economic. The contrast between East and West Germany was a chaos reflected on East and West Berlin. Even though the entire country was going through a tough economic situation with reparations and post-war inflation and turmoil, the West enjoyed democracy and the period known as the "Golden Hunger Years" (Taylor) evolved into a period of economic prosperity for West Germany. Thousands of workers crossed the border to "make decent wages" and they were paid in West German marks, which "was worth four times the East German marks." (Epler 41). In the words of Khrushchev himself, "the Ulbricht Government was anxious. He (Ulbricht) already stresses that it is impossible, we train engineers, doctors they leave the country and we can do nothing about it, it s true that they are better paid out there." (Fursenko, Naftali 358). Ulbricht pushed Moscow to do something about this situation but Khrushchev wanted to avoid war by any means. "The risk we are taking is justified; if we look at it in terms of a percentage, there is more than a 95% probability that there will be no war." (Fursenko, Naftali 356). The second important aspect that paved the way for the construction of the Berlin wall was political. The growing hostilities between Russia and the United States were aggravated by a series of events. Stalin had left somewhat of a mess that Khrushchev was in charge of dealing with. His actions after World War II were a direct disrespect to the agreements of the Yalta and Potsdam conferences. He mobilized troops into East Germany 9

10 and "shipped to the Soviet Union entire factories, many motor vehicles, railroad cars and even the rails on which the cars formerly ran." (Epler 28). Former British Prime minister said that "an iron curtain has descended over Europe", proclaiming the threat of the Soviet Union. When Khrushchev assumed leadership of the USSR, there was already tension boiling between both nations. In addition, Khrushchev launched the Berlin crisis that came before the construction of the wall because "he felt that Berlin was within the Soviet sphere of influence". (McCauley 53). Furthermore, events like the Berlin blockade, the creation of NATO only served to solidify the hostilities between both nations. The future was bleak for the growing tensions and at a Vienna conference between Khrushchev and Kennedy; Khrushchev implied that "the Soviet Union was prepared to fight a nuclear war." (Epler 49). Finally, the most important aspect that played a role in the road towards the Berlin Wall was a military one. By 1949, both Russia and the United States had successfully detonated a nuclear bomb. "The USA was building up tactical (short-range) nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles which could reach the Soviet Union."(McCauley 53). The arms race had become a key component of the American-Soviet conflict, which kept both nations constantly on their toes. The arms race was threatening the economy of Russia because of Khrushchev's re-allocations of spending. He thought, "Russia's security held the key." Even if "the greater defense spending, the less investment there would be for the civilian economy and for raising living standards." (McCauley 53) This tension over the arms race was bound to explode somewhere and the Berlin crisis had great potential to become a disaster. What was the alternative to a nuclear wall? Khrushchev ordered the construction of a wall on Barbed wire Sunday. 10

11 Conclusion Khrushchev once mentioned "in his down-to-earth language" that Berlin is "the 'West's balls. Every time I squeeze them, the west squeals'. Throughout the Berlin crisis, the main message was the battle for influence and supremacy between the Soviet Union and America, which basically dominated the Cold War. By analyzing the events that came before the construction of the Berlin wall, the main catalysts can be identified. Economic, political and military factors ultimately led to the construction of the Berlin wall. These factors developed and evolved into a crisis that threatened to explode in one way or the other. It is generally agreed that this was for the greater good of the world. 11

12 Works Cited Grant, R.G. The Berlin Wall. 1. Austin, TX: Steck-Vaughn Company, Print. Fursenko, Aleksandr, and Timothy Naftali. Khrushchev's Cold War. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company, Print. "The Wall." The Cold War. CNN: Television. 28 Nov < "The Iron Curtain." The Cold War. CNN: Television. 28 Nov < Taylor, Frederick. "The Berlin Wall." History Today. Feb 2007: Print Taylor, Frederick. Berlin Wall: A World Divided, New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, Print. May, Ernest R. "America's Berlin. Heart of the Cold War." Foreign Affairs. July 1998: Print Smyser, W.R. Kennedy and the Berlin Wall: A Hell of a Lot Better Than a War. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Print. W.R. Smyser." Baker & Taylor Author Biographies (2000): 1. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 9 Dec "An Independent Publisher for the 21st Century." Rowman and Littlefield Publishers. pag. Web. 9 Dec < 12