GROUP 7: The President’s Daily Bulletin – Berlin Wall

Timeline

Post-WWII

Berlin is divided into four zones at the end of WWII, each controlled by a separate Allied country.

Within a couple years, the city is divided into two parts: 1) West Berlin, a free part of West Germany

with economic and political support provided by the US, and 2) East Berlin, a communist city controlled

by the Soviet Union.

In 1948, the Soviet Union blockades West Berlin. The US and its allies airlift in medicine and food. In

May of 1949, the blockade is lifted.

1949

The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) is formed, which means that the Soviet Union

controls most of its military, politics, and economy. Private property and industry is nationalized (taken

over by the government) and a secret police enforces Communist government policy.

The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) is created as a democratic free-market government.

1950-1953

Thousands of East Germans (and other migrants from Eastern Europe) flee to West Germany in order

to escape the authoritarian rule of the Soviet system and seek economic opportunities.

1952

East German leaders meet with Stalin in Moscow, complaining of high rates of emigration to the West

and the danger of easy access of the West to East German society and government. Stalin agrees; East

Germany’s border with West Germany is strengthened, but the border between East and West Berlin

remains open. Thousands flee to the west, reducing the East German working population considerably.

1961

On August 13, the East German army closed the border with West Berlin. Streets along the border

were torn up and barbed wire was installed around the three western sectors of the city of West

Berlin.

A wall is quickly fortified with concrete blocks, chain fences, and mine fields. People who are caught

trying to flee to the west were arrested or shot.

Many families who lived on both sides of the Berlin border were split and those with jobs in the other

sector couldn’t get to work.

On August 19, an American special ambassador and Vice President Lyndon Johnson arrived in West

Berlin to show their support for West Berlin. A convoy of western troops paraded through city streets.

BERLIN WALL – PRIMARY SOURCE 1

BERLIN WALL – PRIMARY SOURCE 2

Berlin Wall, 1961. Toni Frissell, Photographer. Source: Library of Congress,

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96506375.

BERLIN WALL – PRIMARY SOURCE 3

East German troops close the border in preparation for building of the wall. Berlin, Mauerbau, Kampfgruppen am

Brandenburger Tor, August 13, 1961, Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-85458-0002 / Junge, Peter Heinz / CC-BY-SA. Source:

German Federal Archive. Online Access: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-85458-

0002,_Berlin,_Mauerbau,_Kampfgruppen_am_Brandenburger_Tor.jpg/

BERLIN WALL – PRIMARY SOURCE 4

The view of the border between the Soviet and American sectors of Berlin from the western side, October 1961.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency booklet "CIA Analysis of the Warsaw Pact Forces: The Importance of

Clandestine Reporting," www.cia.gov/library/publications/historical-collection-publications.

BERLIN WALL – PRIMARY SOURCE 5

Briefing given by Mr. Dulles at the morning and afternoon meeting of Congressional leaders with the President on March

7, 1959. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/16/1959-

03-07.pdf.

BERLIN WALL – PRIMARY SOURCE 6

Memorandum: 10 Key Berlin Issues Coming Up for Decision, July 7, 1961. Source: Central Intelligence

Agency, http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/16/1961-07-07c.pdf.

BERLIN WALL – PRIMARY SOURCE 6 Continues

BERLIN WALL – PRIMARY SOURCE 6 Continues

BERLIN WALL – PRIMARY SOURCE 7

Cable re: Subject Defected to West Berlin Police Evening of August 12, 1961. Source: Central Intelligence

Agency, http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/16/1961-08-13a.pdf.