Civilians watch in West berlin, Germany. Sergeant in tank turret looking through binoculars into the Eastern side during Berlin Crisis. East German police stand at the crossing point at Friedrichstrasse.
Civilians march and carry colorful banners during May Day Parade in East Berlin, East Germany. Balloons in the air.
East German boys in red uniforms marching during the Communist May Day parade in East Berlin, East Germany. Spectators lined on the curbs. Military trucks on road sides.
Cars drive up to NATO headquarters at the Palais de Chaillot (Palais de Chaillot 1 place du Trocadéro et du 11 novembre - 75116 Paris) Paris. Inside some delegates to the NATO military committee are seen seated around a large round conference table. Closeup of some delegates as they deliberate about a trouble spot at a location in France, described in a newspaper that one holds up for all to see. The delegates are seated with National identities shown on place markers. German General Adolf Heusinger is the Chairman of the NATO military committee. Camera pans about to different delegates as the chairman asks for their comments and thoughts. It focuses briefly on delegate from Germany, then quickly to other delegates, not identified. Later it pauses on Norway, Turkey, and the U.S.A. NATO members are polled by the Chairman and vote unanimously to support the consensus position. Scene shifts to a steam whistle blowing at end of shift at a heavy industrial complex. Some workers depart on bicycles. Others leave by private cars. Steam and smoke rise from multiple smokestacks and other sources at the plant. Scene shifts to airbase where two jet fighters with single bubble canopies and twin intakes, taxi on a ramp. In the background several Dassault Mirage III aircraft are seen parked in a line. The taxiing aircraft are headed toward two more like them that have just arrived and parked on the ramp. The pilots move those two forward as French pilots approach them. Closeup of pilot climbing out of the cockpit. View of the NATO conference table being abandoned for the day. In the headquarters, A man walks about, where machines are seen that have transmitted the results of the day's meeting and decision, to all the NATO member nations. NATO staff chefs in a planning session. View of the empty NATO conference room.
United States President John F. Kennedy addresses a press conference in Washington DC. President Kennedy outlines the West's reply to Nikita Khrushchev's threats to sign a peace treaty with East Germany. He calls on the Soviet government to reconsider its course. “A city does not become free merely by calling it a "free city." For a city or a people to be free requires that they be given the opportunity, without economic, political or police pressure, to make their own choice to live their own lives. The people of West Berlin today have that freedom. It is the objective of our policy that they will continue to enjoy it.” President Kennedy said in his speech.
Refugees from East Berlin step down from a tram in West Berlin. They walk with their luggage. Refugees stand in line as many others join them outside the border station, fleeing East Berlin while they still can.