Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 2: Cold War crises, 1958–70 - 1 Increased tension between East…
Full specification wording
Option P4: Key topic 2: Cold War crises, 1958–70 - 1 Increased tension between East and West: The refugee problem in Berlin, Khrushchev’s Berlin ultimatum (1958), and the summit meetings of 1959–61.
Between 1949 and 1961, around 2.7 million East Germans fled to West Germany via West Berlin, causing a severe 'brain drain' that threatened East Germany's economy.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Between 1949 and 1961, around 2.7 million East Germans fled to West Germany via West Berlin, causing a severe 'brain drain' that threatened East Germany's economy. To halt this refugee problem, Khrushchev issued the Berlin Ultimatum in November 1958, demanding Western powers withdraw troops from West Berlin within six months to create a demilitarised 'free city'. This sparked a crisis leading to summit meetings from 1959 to 1961: Geneva (May 1959), Camp David (September 1959), Paris (May 1960, derailed by the U-2 incident), and Vienna (June 1961). At Vienna, Khrushchev renewed his ultimatum to President Kennedy, who refused to yield, significantly increasing Cold War tensions.
What earns the marks
- Explain the economic impact of the refugee crisis on East Germany, specifically the 'brain drain' of skilled workers.
- Detail the demands of Khrushchev's 1958 Berlin Ultimatum, including the six-month deadline for Western withdrawal.
- Outline the sequence and outcomes of the four summit meetings: Geneva, Camp David, Paris, and Vienna.
- Analyse how the U-2 spy plane incident caused the collapse of the Paris Summit in 1960.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the Berlin Ultimatum with the Berlin Blockade.
Put it right: Ensure you distinguish the 1958 Ultimatum (demanding troop withdrawal) from the 1948 Blockade (cutting off supply routes).
Stating that the summit meetings resolved the Berlin crisis.
Put it right: Emphasise that the summits failed to reach a lasting agreement, culminating in increased tension at Vienna in 1961.
Placing the summit meetings in the wrong chronological order.
Put it right: Memorise the sequence: Geneva (1959), Camp David (1959), Paris (1960), and Vienna (1961).
Exam tips
- Use the U-2 incident as a key turning point when explaining why relations deteriorated between Camp David and Vienna.
- When discussing the refugee problem, use specific terms like 'brain drain' to demonstrate precise knowledge of the economic threat to East Germany.
- Link Khrushchev's aggressive stance at the Vienna Summit to his perception of President Kennedy's inexperience.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option P4: Key topic 2: Cold War crises, 1958–70 - 1 Increased tension between East and West: The refugee problem in Berlin, Khrushchev’s Berlin ultimatum (1958), and the summit meetings of 1959–61. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the main demand made by the Soviet Union in Khrushchev's Berlin ultimatum of November 1958?
Listen
Between 1949 and 1961, around 2.7 million East Germans fled to West Germany via West Berlin, causing a severe 'brain drain' that threatened East Germany's economy. To halt this refugee problem, Khrushchev issued the Berlin Ultimatum in November 1958, demanding Western powers withdraw troops from West Berlin within six months to create a demilitarised 'free city'. This sparked a crisis leading to summit meetings from 1959 to 1961: Geneva (May 1959), Camp David (September 1959), Paris (May 1960, derailed by the U-2 incident), and Vienna (June 1961). At Vienna, Khrushchev renewed his ultimatum to President Kennedy, who refused to yield, significantly increasing Cold War tensions. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain the economic impact of the refugee crisis on East Germany, specifically the 'brain drain' of skilled workers. Detail the demands of Khrushchev's 1958 Berlin Ultimatum, including the six-month deadline for Western withdrawal. Outline the sequence and outcomes of the four summit meetings: Geneva, Camp David, Paris, and Vienna. Analyse how the U-2 spy plane incident caused the collapse of the Paris Summit in 1960. A common slip: Confusing the Berlin Ultimatum with the Berlin Blockade. Instead, Ensure you distinguish the 1958 Ultimatum (demanding troop withdrawal) from the 1948 Blockade (cutting off supply routes). Exam tip: Use the U-2 incident as a key turning point when explaining why relations deteriorated between Camp David and Vienna.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Khrushchev issued the Berlin Ultimatum
- 2. Vienna Summit held
- 3. Geneva Summit held
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Refugee problem
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Berlin Ultimatum
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Summit meetings
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Brain drain
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Refugee problem
- Around 2.7 million East Germans fled to West Germany via West Berlin between 1949 and 1961, causing a severe 'brain drain' that threatened East Germany's economy.
- Berlin Ultimatum
- Issued by Khrushchev in November 1958, it demanded that Western powers withdraw troops from West Berlin within six months to create a demilitarised 'free city'.
- Summit meetings
- Meetings held from 1959 to 1961 at Geneva, Camp David, Paris and Vienna, which failed to reach a lasting agreement and ended with increased tension at Vienna in 1961.
- Brain drain
- The loss of skilled workers from East Germany as part of the refugee problem, threatening its economy.
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