The Berlin Blockade 1948-1949 Flashcards
How did the USA’s actions help to cause the Berlin crisis?
- West Germany (and West Berlin) were benefitting from
Marshall aid - Britain and USA had combined there zones to form
BIZONIA, then TRIZONIA (french zone) - They introduced a new currency across Trizonia called
Deutschmark
How did Stalin interpret the US’s actions?
The USSR believed that this was part of the USA’s to rebuild Germany into a strong nation once more and leave the Soviet zones in poverty. Now two Germany’s had been created: East and West. The West was now more prosperous.
Why did Stalin decide to impose a blockade on Berlin in June 1948?
By blockading road and rail links from West Germany into West Berlin, Stalin hoped to test the strength of the USA and to force them into surrounding West Berlin where two million people lived free from Soviet rule.
Why did the USA and Britain decide to fly in supplies to West Berlin?
They could not break the road and rail blockades with force as this might be seen as an act of war; nonstop flights (a total of 275,000) ensured that 1,000 tons of food and other necessities came to Berlin each day. This was known as Operation Vittles or the BERLIN AIRLIFT.
Why did Stalin not shoot down the planes?
This would be seen as an aggressive act of war (furthermore the US had placed B29 bombers in Britain, capable of dropping the atom bomb on the Soviets
What were the consequences of the Berlin Blockade?
- Stalin gave in and ended the blockaded in May 1949 (he
was humiliated) - The USA, Britain and France combined there zones to
form WEST GERMANY - Stalin set up East Germany in 1949. West Germany
refused to recognise it until 1970s. - NATO, a military alliance of western nations, was set up
in 1949 to ensure that any future attack by Stalin would
be met with force. West Germany joined in 1955. - Stalin set up the Warsaw Pact in 1955 (a similar alliance
of Eastern European countries; by 1949 Soviet scientists
had also developed the atom bomb).
