Berlin Wall

Berlin was an important battleground of the Cold War. In 1961 it was an objective to maintain control of east European satellites. The Hungarian opposition leave the message that it was impossible to fight the Communists. This make people think that the only way of escaping was to leave altogether. The Standard living in eastern Europe fell further behind the West, that attract people to live in he West.
This contrast was very seen in Berlin, people describe west Berlin as an island of freedom in a Communist sea, they had shop full of goods, freedom, wealth and variety.

East Supermarket vs West Supermarket

In the 1950s East Germans were still able to trave into West Berlin, thousands leave and never come back. The majority that were leaving were highly skilled workers, the communists couldn´t let those leave. In 1961 Kenedy was he new USA President, Khrushchev thought that Kennedy would withdraw his troops from Berlin but he refused.
So, Sunday 13 August 1961, East German soldiers erected a barbed-wire along he fronier between East and West Berlin. This ended people crossing from East to West. It was replaced by a concrete wall. Some families were divided, some were unable to go to work or school. People trying to cross were shoot. Soviets said that they build the wall because Germans use East Berlin as a center of subversive activity and espionage centers. Kennedy replied to this "There are some who say, in Europe and elsewhere, we can work with he Communis. Let them come to Berlin"

The berlin wall created a crisis in all the world, Allies were able to cross to East Berlin since 1945, in October 1961 US troops tried to cross and Soviet tanks appeared, they face fully armed for 18 hours and then both retired. Khrushchev order Berlin lider to avoid any tension. The wall is bad but is better than a war.