1.8 - Berlin Blockade Flashcards
When was the blockade introduced?
June 2nd 1948
What was the significance of the starting date of the blockade?
The day following the introduction of the Deutschmark
What did the blockade do?
Blocked all road and rail links to the Western zones and to West Berlin through the Soviet Zone
What was the USSR’s argument for the blockade?
Defensive measure to stop the Soviet zone being swamped with the devalued Reichsmark, which the new Deutschmark was replacing in West Germany and West Berlin
Who was the prime mover in response to the blockade and what was his argument?
Ernest Bevin
- Allies should not use force to access West Berlin but instead it should just be supplied with essentials
Who was the US military governor and what was his argument?
General Clay
- Wanted an armed convoy to force its way through to West Berlin
What was Bevin’s plan and what did he convince the allies?
West Berlin could be supplied by an airlift made possible by aircraft flying along the three ‘corridors’ or flight paths, allocated to the Western allies by the Soviets in 1945
What was Bevin’s reaction to Clay’s proposal?
Rejected by Bevin as this could have easily provoked the Soviets into violence
How many days worth of food and fuel did West Berlin have at the time of the blockade?
36 days of food
62 days of fuel
What was the initial impact of the blockade on West Berlin?
- Road and rail links cut
- Supply of electricity from East to West cut
When was the first flight of the airlift?
June 26th 1948
In the first few weeks of blockade how many flights a day and tons of aid?
1300 flights and 1000 tons
How many tons were needed on a daily basis for the winter?
5000
When were the Moscow talks?
2 August 1948
Who attended the Moscow talks?
Three western powers ambassadors and Stalin
What were the events at the Moscow Talks
- Western powers would not reverse creation of Western state
- However they were ready to agree to the circulation of the Otsmark in the whole of Berlin (if 4 powers all had control)
- Stalin wanted total control of currency
Outcome of Moscow talks - Why Stalin disagreed?
- Talks broke down on 7th September as neither side would give way
- As the Soviets were convinced the airlift to West Berlin would not be sustained during the winter
What amount of tonnage was being transported by April 1949?
8000
What happened in Feb 1949 regarding Deutschmark and exports?
- Western powers declared the Deutschmark the only legal currency in West Berlin
- Stopped all Western exports to the Soviet zone which increased pressure on the zone’s economy
What did Stalin indicate on 31 January 1949?
Indicated he would lift the blockade depending on whether there was another meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers
What agreement was made between Foreign ministers and Stalin in May 1949?
- End the blockade on May 12th
- Agreement that another meeting should take place to discuss future of Germany and Berlin currency (However no agreement until 1971)
When did Stalin agree to end the blockade?
12th May 1949
Was FRG East or West?
West
Was GDR east or west?
East
When was the constitution for the FRG drawn up and who was the first leader?
1949
- Konrad Adenauer
When was the constitution for the GDR drawn up?
- March 1949
How does NATO show a change in foreign policy?
From isolationism to globalism
- Sought to have the power to influence events on a global scale to act as a global superpower.
Who joined the alliance system in 1949 against the USSR?
France
When was NATO founded?
4 April 1949
How many founding members (some examples) and what was its aim?
12 (UK, France, US etc)
- Settle international disputes in a peaceful manner
- Attack against one = attack against all
What was the USSR’s response to NATO?
- Soviets thought NATO was an aggressive organisation designed to pressurise states into complying with the interests of UK, US and their allies.
- Emphasise it had no intent to attack any state in Europe.
