VII. The Contemporary Period, 1945–2000 > B. Europe, 1945–2000 > 6. Western Europe, 1945–2000 > h. Germany > 1. The German Federal Republic (West Germany) > 1961, June 4
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1961, June 4
 
A Soviet memorandum called for a peace treaty with East and West Germany and the demilitarization of Berlin as a free city; and Khrushchev declared (June 15) that the USSR would conclude a treaty by the end of the year, and would “rebuff” any Western move to enforce its rights of access to West Berlin.  1
 
July 17
 
Britain, France, and the United States rejected Soviet proposals to hold a peace conference on Germany and make Berlin a free city, and a month later a U.S. force of 1,500 troops entered West Berlin to reinforce the Western garrison.  2
 
Sept. 17
 
In parliamentary elections, Adenauer's Christian Democratic Union lost its majority with 241 seats while the Free Democratic Party, with 66 seats, made great gains, and the Social Democrats won 190 seats.  3
 
Oct. 26–28
 
A crisis arose over the right of U.S. civilians to enter East Berlin when the East German government demanded that they must submit identity papers to East German border guards.  4
 
Nov. 4
 
After two weeks of negotiations, the CDU and the Free Democratic Party agreed on a coalition government. After the Bundestag approved Adenauer as chancellor (Nov. 7), the new government took office (Nov. 14) with Gerhard Schroeder as foreign minister in place of Heinrich von Brentano, who had resigned at the insistence of the Free Democrats.  5
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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