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Without Warning
The first major confrontation between the Western allies and the Soviet Union. Without warning the Soviet Union cut off all communication between the West and Berlin. -
Nikita Krushchevs' Ultimatium
After the communications were cut off Nikita Krushchev issued an ultimatum. The ultimatum was the West must recognize the sovereignty of communist East Germany and remove all troops from West Berlin. -
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Berlin Crisis
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Military increase
On July 25 Kennedy asked to increase his military strength in the whole force from 875,000 to One Million. This put great pressure on East Germany. -
The Barbed Wire Barrier
In mid-august the East Germans built a barbed wire barrier that cut off traffic bbetween East and West Berlin. Kennedy responded to this by sending extra U.S. troops to the cities aid. -
The Eyes through the Barbed WIre
For several days both sides of the barbed wire were watching each other very closely and nervously The tensions were very high and everyone was on edge. The tensions eased up when it bacame clear that Khrushchev's goal had been met. The wire stopped the mass departure of East Germans to the West through Berlin. -
The Berlin Wall
Over time the small unstable barbed wire fence was replaced by a tough wall of gray concrete complete with watchtowers. It became known as the Berlin Wall and it was the mostly widely known symbol of the Cold War. -
Berlin Airlift
One of the first major international crisis' which resulted in a few deathes. This was followed closely by the Berlin Airlift that provided 4,000 tons of food to Berlin a day. This kept the people in Berlin alive until East Germany finally stepped down from goin to war with the allies.
