Name: ____________________________ Directions: Complete the following questions using resources provided.

Watch the video and read the article http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall

1. Following World War 2, the Allies (the United States, Britain, and France) occupied Western Germany and the Soviet Union occupied Eastern Germany. The German capitol, Berlin, was also split between west and east. What was the geographical disadvantage for West Berliners because of this divide?

2. The Soviet Union hated having a capitalist city in the middle of their sector of Germany. a. How did the Soviets attempt to force the allied nations to abandon West Berlin in 1948?

b. How did the United States and its allies respond? What was the end result?

3. Starting in 1958, the Soviet Union began to get angry over the massive amount of people fleeing East Germany by crossing into West Berlin. a. How many escaped following the end of the Berlin Blockade?

b. Why would East Germany not want people to escape? What about their professions made them valuable?

4. a. What reason did the East German government give the public for building the Berlin Wall?

b. What was the real reason the East German government started to build a wall surrounding West Berlin beginning on the night of August 12th 1961?

5. a. Prior to the Berlin wall be built, how easy was it for East and West Berliners to travel to either side of the city?

b. Following the construction of the wall, what were the only official ways to cross between East and West Berlin?

6. Following construction of the wall, what orders were given to border guards in East Germany if they saw anyone escaping to West Berlin?

7. In 1975, construction on a more secure and imposing structure, “Border Wall 75” was started. What features did the East German government include with this wall that made it even more dangerous?

8. List several ways that people used to attempt escape from East Germany and into West Berlin.

9. a. How many people is it believed were killed during their escape attempts from East Germany?

b. How many people were successful in escaping from East Germany?

10. By the end of 1980’s, the Cold War was drawing to a close. What announcement did the East German government make on November 9, 1989? What was the reaction to this announcement by people from both sides of Berlin?

11. Bonus: President Kennedy is sometimes accused of misspeaking when he gave his famous speech at the Berlin Wall on June 26, 1963. a. What did he say?

b. What did he mean with the phrase?

c. What do some people believe he actually mistakenly said?