Just Finished Reading: Berlin 1961 – Kennedy, Khrushchev, and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth by Frederick Kempe (FP: 2011)

Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin – 27th October 1961. Across a space measured in yards 10 Soviet and American tanks face each other, engines running, guns poised, and ready for action (actual picture below). One misunderstanding, one mistake, one over enthusiastic officer, one dropped gun could start a firefight that could lead to a nuclear exchange and world war. How did this happen and, more importantly, who got us in this mess in the first place?

With a young, untested and naïve President in the Whitehouse and an old political bruiser in the Kremlin it was only a matter of time before Premier Khrushchev pushed his luck. Pushed by political problems at home and an ever more belligerent, and desperate, East German government watching their country haemorrhage their best and brightest across an open border, the Soviet leader had to press his case to solve the ‘German Question’ once and for all. The proposal was to make Berlin an ‘open city’ with access to it devolving to East Germany over time. Not wanting to provoke the Russians into any action neither side could step back from the Americans decided to negotiate – against widespread advice that the Soviets would see negotiation of Germany sovereignty as a sign of weakness. With Khrushchev running rings around the heavily outclassed Kennedy at the conference in Vienna it looked like the Russians might actually get their way. After hedging, delaying and frankly being unsure what to do the US President decided to put Berlin on the back burner and think about Cuba instead. What followed became known as the ‘Bay of Pigs Disaster’ further undermining Kennedy’s reputation around the world and especially behind the Iron Curtain. Seen as both weak and indecisive the Russians pushed again and again in Berlin.

But it was the East Germans who pushed the hardest. Deciding once and for all that they must stop the massive, and increasing, flight from the East to the West a daring scheme was hatched and the border – open by international treaty – was closed along its whole length in a matter of hours. The Allied response? Nothing. Actions in East Berlin, the Americans believed, where not sufficient to go to war over with the loss of millions of American lives. But inaction on the Allied Powers part did not stop the Soviets pushing and pushing again. As the ‘Wall’ became a permanent feature the East imposed illegal travel restrictions until challenged by the American Military authorities in West Berlin. Told to co-operate with the Russians the American military liaison tended his resignation only to have it rejected by the President. Knowing that the Russians only respected a show of strength, and without informing his superiors in Europe or Washington the American officer on the ground called up tanks to show that they would not be intimidated. In response the Russians brought up their own tanks and the dangerous stand-off began. Who knew where it would lead?

This is a truly fascinating moment in history explained with consummate skill by a marvellously talented historian. It was quite simply a superb piece of historical writing and was amongst the best history books I’m come across in years. I think I learnt more about the Cold War and Kennedy in 500 pages that in the previous 30 years of reading. Gripping in the style of a political thriller this is an account of events of that fateful year that will leave you open mouthed in amazement that World War 3 didn’t start in 1961. So many mistakes, so many misunderstandings it’s truly frightening. Kennedy himself does not come out of this at all well and he is quite clearly blamed for allowing the Cuban Missile Crisis, which most definitely could have killed us all, to develop because of his weak stance on Berlin. Amazing and very highly recommended.