8.Berlin Blockade And Air Lift

Question 1

When was the Berlin blockade?

Answer 1

6 am June 24 1948 to 12 May 1949

Question 2

What happened in the Berlin blockade?

Answer 2

The su stopped all rail, road and canal traffic from west Germany to sectors of Berlin under western control and cut off all gas, coal and electrical supplies from east Berlin into West Berlin

Question 3

What did the Berlin blockade cause?

Answer 3

2.5 million in West Berlin were surrounded by soviet troops being short of power and resources

Question 4

Why did Stalin initiate the blockade?

Answer 4

After tensions increased when a British and soviet plane collided in June 5 1948

Question 5

What happened in 1947 that caused the blockade?

Answer 5

When Britain and the USA joined their zones to create bizonia and then France joined in 1948 creating trizonia for further economic recovery creating a clearer divide between east and west

Question 6

Why was bizonia such an issue?

Answer 6

It created the Deutschmark to strengthen west German economy causing an economic crisis in east Germany as everyone changed their marks and so made Stalin feel betrayed

Question 7

What did Stalin think the blockade could do?

Answer 7

Force the allies out of West Berlin by starving the population and leaving them dependant on the su

Question 8

Why were war reparations a cause of the blockade?

Answer 8

As he had t received many from the German zones promised by the allies at Potsdam causing him to form a stronger mistrust

Question 9

Give two examples to show Stalin wanted Germany to stay weak and so the blockade was important for this to happen.

Answer 9

• By 1948, west Germany was receiving Marshall aid but east Germany was not because it was forbidden to.
• the su also stripped the east from industrial resources as part of reparations

Question 10

When was the Berlin airlift?

Answer 10

June 26 1948 to May 12 1949

Question 11

Where was the Berlin airlift happening?

Answer 11

In West Berlin along 3 open air corridors

Question 12

What was the Berlin airlift doing?

Answer 12

Food and resources were being flown to West Berlin by the British and Americans

Question 13

Who was involved in the Berlin airlift?

Answer 13

The western allies (mainly American supplies) and Germans

Question 14

How was the Berlin airlift happening?

Answer 14

With planes flying in 4600 tonnes of supplies a day but by 16th to 17th April 1949, 1398 flights landed almost 13000 tonnes of supplies in just 24 hrs (known as the Easter parade)

Question 15

How precise were the plane landings?

Answer 15

Had to fly both day and night along the air corridors with a landing time of exactly 90 second intervals

Question 16

How was the airlift significant to America?

Answer 16

• propaganda that the us could openly stand up to communism

- presented America’s 10 month victory in the struggle against communism

Question 17

How was the airlift significant to the Cold War

Answer 17

Definitely signified it’s beginning as it made war very possible in that time and relations between east and west became irreparable

Question 18

Give 2 considerations proving the west was determined to stand up to communism

Answer 18

It was a risky operation and it would cost a lot of money to supply 2.5 million Berliners by air

Question 19

Give two features of the airlift itself that show the west were determined to stand up to communism

Answer 19

The operation was dangerous and they only had 90 second intervals to land

Question 20

Give 2 consequences of the airlift

Answer 20

Germany was now permanently divided and relations between east and west had worsened

Question 21

Name organisations created as a consequence of the airlift that prove the division between east and west had worsened

Answer 21

• west Germany becoming the federal republic of Germany in 23 may 1949
• German democratic republic of October 1949 as an su style communist state
• in April 1949 the North Atlantic treaty organisation (NATO) was created where the USA was to protect west Europe but the su rival Warsaw Pact was created 6 yrs later