1960s Timeline

Latest Podcasts

Aug 13, 2021

East Germany Accuses West of "Perfidious Agitation"

Aug. 13, 1961 - The quietness of East Berlin's deserted streets was shattered in the early hours of the morning by the screaming of...

Aug 13, 2021

🚨East Germany Closes Border Between East and West Berlin

Aug. 13, 1961 - East Germany closed the border early this morning between East and West Berlin. East German troops stood guard at the...

Aug 12, 2021

U.S Commander in Berlin not Worried about Defending Allied Sector

Aug. 12, 1961 - Premier Khrushchev said today that it was "a fairy tale" that the West would fight for West Berlin. But the 5,000-man...

Aug 10, 2021

Soviets Tap Marshal Ivan S. Konev as Commander of Soviet Troops in East Germany

Aug. 10, 1961 - Marshal Ivan S. Konev, former supreme commander of East European forces and one of the leading longtime Communists in the...

Aug 8, 2021

Sharp Increase in Refugees from East Germany into West Berlin

Aug. 8, 1961 - The influx of refugees to West Berlin from East Germany increased sharply today, a rise attributed to reaction to Premier...

Aug 7, 2021

Khrushchev Reaffirms Intention to End Allied Occupation Rights in West Berlin

Aug. 7, 1961 - Premier Khrushchev combined today a proposal for a conference on Berlin with a warning that Soviet divisions might mass on...

Jul 31, 2021

Communist East Germany Restricts Travel, Claims West Germany Spreading Polio

July 31, 1961 - Communist East Germany moved today to restrict travel between its territory and West Germany with a contention that West...

Jul 30, 2021

East Germany Hints at New Measures Against "Border Jumpers"

July 30, 1961 - Many East Germans took refuge in West Berlin over the weekend. Refugee officials said more than 1,900 had registered at...

Jul 28, 2021

Over 1,000 Refugees Pour into West Berlin

July 28, 1961 - One thousand thirty refugees made their way to West Berlin in the 24 hours ending at 4 p.m. today, indicating that East...

Jul 28, 2021

Senate Approves Kennedy's Request for More Weapons and Troops for Berlin

July 28, 1961 - The Senate approved overwhelmingly today President Kennedy's request for more weapons and troops to cope with Soviet...

Jul 16, 2021

Special Program on Berlin Crisis on CBS-TV to Air Aug. 11

July 16, 1961 - A special 60-minute news program on the Berlin situation will be televised Aug. 11 at 8:30 p.m. on CBS. A major part of...

Jul 15, 2021

East German Wins Miss Universe Contest

July 15, 1961 - A blonde 24-year-old German woman won the title of Miss Universe today. She is Marlene Schmidt, who reached Stuttgart,...

Jul 11, 2021

East German Refugees Flood West Berlin

July 11, 1961 - The flight of East Germans to West Berlin has increased substantially in the last few days, refugee officials said today....

Jul 6, 2021

Secretary of State Rusk: Don't Cut Foreign Aid

July 6, 1961 - Secretary of State Dean Rusk warned today that any cuts in the Administration's foreign aid program would be "a great...

Jul 5, 2021

Movies: Godard's "A Woman Is a Woman"

July 2, 1961 - A French comedy of married love, "A Woman Is a Woman," has stirred the first real excitement at the Berlin Film Festival....