You Won’t Believe What JFK Said to Khrushchev After the Berlin Wall Went Up

On August 12, 1961, the Soviets constructed the Berlin Wall, one of the most infamous symbols of division caused by the Cold War. Not only did it divide democracy and communism, it divided the city of Berlin between East and West. Its creation has a profound impact across the world and was captured by JFKs speech about the issue.

Letters About the Berlin Wall

After World War II, Germany and Berlin was divided into four occupation zones by the Allied powers. This included the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, and France. Eventually, the British, France and the United States would combine their halves of Germany and Berlin. However, the Soviet Union refused to surrender its control and placed a puppet regime in place. With Berlin deep in the Soviet Union, this meant that West Berlin was nearly cut off from the rest of Germany, becoming the only place in East Germany where people could access Western goods and government.

This prompted as many as 2.5 million East Germans to flee to West Germany through West Berlin, causing a significant brain drain on the population. Seeing this departure, the Soviets tried to restrict access to West Berlin by constructing the Berlin Wall on August 12, 1961. This was officially called the “Antifaschistischer Schutzwall” (Anti-Fascist Protection Wall) and restricted access between the city’s two halves.

The wall was topped with guard towers, trenches, and barbed wires, and was constantly patrolled by guards who were ordered to shoot anyone attempting to escape.

However, the rest of the world did not just watch as this happened. President John F. Kennedy gave a rousing speech, condemning these actions. This was meant to galvanize the people regarding this injustice. This was captured in his speech.

“Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was civis romanus sum [“I am a Roman citizen”]. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is “Ich bin ein Berliner!”… All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words “Ich bin ein Berliner!”

-John F. Kennedy, Former President of the United States.

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