Historical figures
Who was the president of West Germany when the wall was built?
Heinrich Lübke
What year was the wall built?
1961
What global rivalry did the Berlin Wall symbolize during the Cold War?
The clash between capitalism (West) and communism (East).
What major event happened in Germany in 1990?
German reunification.
True or false : the Berlin Wall completely surrounded all of West Berlin effectively making it an island within East Germany
True
Who was the East German leader who pushed for the construction of the Berlin Wall?
Walter Ulbricht
Why was East Germany losing so many skilled workers before the Berlin Wall was built?
Because over 2.5 million people fled to the West in a “brain drain."
What does the term “Iron Curtain” refer to in the context of Cold War divisions
The symbolic and physical divide between communist Eastern Europe and capitalist Western Europe, with the Berlin Wall being the most visible symbol.
How did the fall of the Berlin Wall impact global politics?
It marked the symbolic end of the Cold War.
For how long did the Berlin Wall stand?
28 years
Which British PM was in office during the initial years of the Berlin Walls construction?
Harold Macmillan
What role did Nikita Khrushchev play in the creation of the Berlin Wall?
He supported East Germany’s decision to build the wall.
Why was Berlin considered a focal point in the Cold War despite being deep in East Germany?
Because Berlin was divided between East and West, making it a direct confrontation point between Soviet and Western influence.
What happened to many remaining pieces of the Berlin Wall after 1989?
They were sent to cities around the world as memorials.
What was the name of the heavily guarded area between the two walls?
The Dead strip
Who was the US president form 1961 to 1963 that gave the "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech?
John F Kennedy
What was the real reason the Berlin Wall was built, despite claims of stopping fascists?
To prevent mass emigration from East to West Germany.
Why was the Berlin Wall seen as a proxy conflict location between the U.S. and the USSR?
Because both superpowers confronted each other politically and militarily in Berlin without direct warfare.
What did the Berlin Wall come to represent after its fall?
Freedom and resilience
Approximately how many people successfully escaped over or through the Wall?
5,000
Which US president challenged Soviet leadership in a 1987 speech at the Berlin Wall, famously saying "Mr Gorbachev
,tear down this wall!"?
Ronald Reagan, June 12 1987
In which year FGR (West Germany) and GDR (East Germany) were officially founded?
1949
What Cold War event around 1962 heightened the global nuclear tensions related to the Berlin Wall?
The Cuban Missile Crisis.
What happened to Eastern Bloc governments after the fall of the Berlin Wall?
Many collapsed or transitioned away from communism.
Which side of the wall was completely covered in graffiti?
The west side