3 - the cold war & the berlin blockade

Question 1

What was the only reason the East & West had been allies during the war?

Answer 1

only united by their hatred of Hitler & their desire to defeat him

Question 2

When was the Cold War?

Answer 2

1945-90

Question 3

Cold War (1945-90)

Answer 3

period of tension between USA & USSR, didn’t result in open warfare

Question 4

What term did Churchill use to describe the boundary dividing Europe into communism and anti-communism?

Answer 4

‘Iron Curtain’

Question 5

What did the US do in response to communist expansion?

Answer 5

• Truman Doctrine (promised to support governments against communism)
• Marshal Plan (offered material resources to help fight communism & reconstruct the economies of the countries with poorer living standards)

Question 6

events of the Berlin blockade

Answer 6

• June 1948-May 1949 -> Soviets blocked access to West Berlin
• blocked all transport links by rail, road, air or waterway
• aimed to starve West Berlin & force it to merge with the Soviet zone
• Allies supplied West Berlin with food, medical supplies & fuel (via Berlin’s Tempelhof airport)
• showed Soviets that they couldn’t relinquish control of the Western zone
• West Berlin became symbol of resistance to the spread of communism
• confirmed division of Germany

Question 7

How did the Allies supply West Berlin with resources during the Berlin blockade?

Answer 7

• Berlin’s Tempelhof airport
• built new airport in Tegel area of French Berlin

Question 8

impact of the Berlin blockade

Answer 8

• West = now concerned to protect Western democracy from communism & stop West Berlin falling to Soviets
• wanted to succeed without a war
• Berlin became centre of the Cold War