How Did Khrushchev Contribute To The Cuban Missile Crisis

Which was a more serious threat to world peace: the Berlin crisis of 1961 or the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962? (10)

In the early 1960s the fragile relationship between the capitalist US and the communist USSR threatened to break down at any moment and be the cause of a third World War; something no country wanted.
By 1961 tensions were high between the communist East Berlin that was ruled by Russia and the capitalist West Berlin. Khrushchev, the leader of Russia, didn't like people being able to see how much better West Berlin was then East Berlin as it was an embarrassment to him. Due to this On the night of August 13th 1961 a concrete and barbed wire wall was erected that completely divided East and West Berlin and sealed all crossing points

Khrushchev claimed that Kennedy was provoking conflict and using West Berlin as a spy base for both US and Allied spies. He ordered that Kennedy remove his US troops from West Berlin. Kennedy had made a promised to get tough on communism and couldn't have another failure after his disastrous attempt to invade Cuba and remove it communist leader, Fidel Castro, so he wasn't just going to back down. He refused Khrushchev’s orders and when they met in July of the same year in Vietnam Kennedy refused Khrushchev’s same demands again. Instead of removing his troops he increased his reservist troops by 150,000 and increase funding for the US armed forces. Even though Kennedy made a move that some might have taken to mean he was preparing for a war he was just showing his strength, but this could have been taken the wrong way by Khrushchev and led to Khrushchev sending in some more troops of his own. Checkpoint Charlie was also a cause for conflict as the Russians wouldn't let US officials through without proper documents, even though they were allowed to pass. This led to the US getting a

Cuba’s anti-communist leader had been overthrown by Fidel Castro, making Cuba the only communist state. Worrying that a US invasion may happen, because the US wanted to contain the spread of communism, Castro turned to the USSR for help. Khrushchev sent a $100 million package of economical aid to Cuba and started sending them military equipment, including nuclear weaponry, and technical advisers. This worried America because not only was Cuba communist and getting weapons from the USSR, but it was also only 90 miles off the coast of America. On 14th October the US sent a U2 spy plane over Cuba which took photos of nuclear missile sites making the US worry that Cuba may actually use these missiles, or at least threaten to do so. US spy planes had also reported 20 soviet ships heading towards Cuba carrying missiles. Some of Kennedy’s military advisers wanted to bomb and invade Cuba, but Kennedy didn't want a war on his hands as he knew that if they attacked Cuba the USSR would get involved so instead he wanted to first try to deal with the missiles in a less destructive way. He blockaded Cuba. US navy ships were sent to stop Soviet ships 800KM from the Cuban coast. He also assembled troops in Florida, ready for a possible invasion of Cuba should this not work. Khrushchev told troops to expect and resist an invasion. If the USA did attempt to invade Cuba then there would be troops there ready and waiting to fight back.