Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.179
Object Name
Poster
Title
German big business and militarism plans a new war
Place
Germany
People
Harold Macmillan Nikita Khrushchev
Events
Cold War Berlin Wall
Date
1961
Description
Blue poster with large black letters reading 'German Big Business and Militarism plans a New War', issues by the Communist Party of Great Britain in August 1961. This poster was screen printed by the Communist Party of Great Britain in response to the Berlin Crisis of 1961, wherein Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union, issued an ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of armed forces from Berlin- inlcuding West Berlin. Berlin was a contested city during this period as Western Germany was occupied by the British, French, and Americans after Germany's defeat in WWII whilst East Germany was occupied by Soviets. When this ultimatum was issued there was rumours of war spreading, which many people campaigned against. This poster is one such campaign by the Communist Party, which urged Harold Macmillan's government to advocate for negotiating a peace treaty with the Soviet Union instead. The result of the conflict was the construction of the
Berlin Wall, which separated East and West Berlin and made it difficult for people to flee one area for another. Condition: good.
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