NATO: Military Planning for Berlin Emergency (1961-1968)

Files On-line

Military Planning for Berlin Emergency (1961-1968)

• Preface by SHAPE Historian
• NATO Archivist Note
• List of Acronyms and Key Actors
• Archival Description (PDF/126Kb)

Administrative history/Scope and content:

Following the Soviet note of 27 November 1958 which challenged the status quo established by the Potsdam Agreement, the Three Western Powers decided on 4th April 1959 to set up a Planning Group, named Live Oak, to prepare plans on land and in the air which would guarantee West Berlin’s access and would help assess Soviet’s intentions.

On 2nd April 1959 and 21st September 1960 respectively , the French and UK Representatives to the North Atlantic Council presented the Three Powers’ view on the measures to be taken in case of a crisis and on the need for coordination between NATO and Live Oak.

The crisis of 13 August 1961 and the erection of the Berlin wall, resulted in an acceleration of NATO’s plans for Berlin Emergency and the adoption of temporary measures to strengthen the Alliance’s military machinery.

More…

• Arrangement note:

Conditions of Access and Use:

• NATO Archives release declassified Cold War files

  22 Jun. 2011

  The NATO Archives is proud to announce the public disclosure of the documents on the NATO planning for a Berlin emergency during the Cold War. The files, consisting of close to four hundred declassified Council documents and correspondence spanning the years 1961 to 1968, present a treasure trove of information for researchers, librarians, students and anyone with an interest in the political and military history of this era.