The Berlin Crisis: 1958-1961 (government report)

The Berlin Crisis of 1958-1961 was a tense standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union over Berlin, a city divided between East and West. The Soviets sought to assert control and pressured Western powers to leave West Berlin. In response, the U.S. and its allies increased military defenses and supported West Berlin's independence. The crisis escalated with Soviet efforts to reinforce their presence, including the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, which physically separated East and West Berlin. This period highlighted Cold War tensions and the struggle for influence over the divided city.