Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.548
Object Name
Poster
Title
Danger Spot
People
Nikita Khrushchev
Events
Cold War Berlin Wall
Date
1961
Description
Black poster with red spot and white text, 1961. A large red spot is in the top left hand corner of the poster, next to which the words "Danger spot" are printed in white text. Underneath, the headings "West Berlin" and Khrushchov proposes that West Berlin" are printed in red, with white bullet points underneath. The text is as follows: "West Berlin - lies 110 miles inside the Socialist East Germany. It is not the capital of West Germany. -is the centre of a huge network of spying and Nazi-type organisations. -has as its main role, says its Mayor Willi Brandt: "to slow up as much as possible and disturb as much as possible the stabilisation" of East Germany. -could therefore spark off nuclear war. KHRUSHCHOV proposes that West Berlin -be a neutral, demilitarised, free city. -its way of life to be decided by its citizens. -be guaranteed free access with the outside world. -have its status guaranteed by
token forces from the Four Powers and UNO. NEGOTIATE NOW TO END THE WEST BERLIN WAR DANGER." This poster was made during the Berlin Crisis of 1961, a conflict during the Cold War 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 Writing on the back reads: "October 1961 (Set of 4 Information on Berlin)"
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