The Berlin Crisis of 1961

JFK with Khrushchev in Vienna, AustriaJune 3,1961

These two men met at the U.S. Embassy

in Vienna.

The Meeting:

This was significant as the summit was the first time the two leaders had met, and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was determined to prove his apparent superiority over the young, seemingly helpless & inexperienced Kennedy.

The Focus of the Meeting: Berlin

The Summit was dominated by the discussions over the city of Berlin.

In 1961, this is what the city of Berlin looked like:

Half of the city of Berlin belongs to the

Soviets

When JFK went to Vienna in June 1961, there was no wall….

Khrushchev’s Threat: Get Out or Else

Khrushchev threatened to sign a peace agreement with East Germany that would prevent Western access to Berlin by turning over control of the access roads and air routes.

Kennedy was shocked at the tone and threats made, but refused to give up the American policy of containment of communism in Europe in the face of Soviet pressure.

Threat or a Promise?

Khrushchev told Kennedy, "Force will be met by force. If the U.S. wants war, that's its problem." "It's up to the U.S. to decide whether there will be war or peace."

Kennedy’s Response

Kennedy replied, "Then, Mr. Chairman, there will be a war. It will be a cold, long winter."

Outcome of the Vienna Meeting

Kennedy managed to stall Khrushchev, and make it clear that the

United States was NOT willing to

compromise on a withdrawal from

Berlin, regardless of whatever pressure Khrushchev may

exert.

Frustration BuildsThe two leaders became increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress of the negotiations.

After the summit, Khrushchev realized he had underestimated Kennedy.

Kennedy later claimed of Khrushchev, "He beat the h*&^ out of me."

Kennedy Responds after Vienna

Kennedy responded on June 28,1961 and July 25, 1961 with a public statement of the U.S. determination to defend the status of Berlin, including Western access rights

He made no mention of freedom of movement between East and West Berlin. This may have encouraged the Soviet and East German governments to begin construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961.

Two Months Later: A WallThe Berlin Wall was built on the night between 12th and 13th August 1961.

The Berlin Wall was built at the line of demarcation between the eastern sector of Berlin and the western sectors. Before the Wall was built the border was open.

Historians have long argued over whether East German leader Walter Ulbricht or his Soviet counterpart Nikita Khrushchev was ultimately responsible for the construction of the Berlin Wall.

Why a Wall?

The Soviets were very concerned with:

a) the growing military strength of West Germany, including the installation of tactical nuclear weapons

b) East German citizens moving from East to West Berlin.

After the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy adopted a policy of containment toward the Soviet Union. He traveled to West Berlin in June 1963 to show his support for the people there and to demonstrate that the United States would pursue a hard-line anti-communist foreign policy.

More than 2 million Germans received Kennedy enthusiastically. He gave one of the most unforgettable speeches in history. He reassured the citizens of West Berlin of the commitment of the United States to the city and its defense. To demonstrate this point, Kennedy uttered the unforgettable sentence, "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words: Ich Bin Ein Berliner." (I am a citizen of Berlin.)