Berlin Airlift/blockade/wall Flashcards
Germany after WW2
Split into east (communist) and west (capitalist). Berlin was in the east zone and was also split into east and west. The zones were thought to be temporary by Stalin
The Berlin Blockade 1948
Stalin wanted to take West Berlin, so he cut off all access to it from the West so Berlin would run out of food and other supplies, hoping it would make the allies give up the city.
Berlin airlift
Western powers didn’t want to look weak. Delivered 170,000 tons of supplies so Berliners could survive over the course of 11months until 9th May 1949 Stalin withdrew the Blockade. Propaganda victory for USA.
Berlin ultimatum
November 1958, Khrushchev gave the West 6 months to leave Berlin or he would let the East German government control all routes to Berlin
Camp David summit meeting-September 1959
Khrushchev withdraws ultimatum
Vienna summit meeting-June 1961
Khrushchev exploits Kennedy’s inexperience by repeating 6 month ultimatum
Berlin wall (August 1961)
Surrounded West Berlin to stop migrants entering, seperated families, heavily guarded, most who tried to cross were shot.
Consequences of the Berlin wall
End of Refugee crisis, propaganda victory for the west, west had less control over their half of the city.
Ich bin ein Berliner (I am a Berliner) speech
JFK visited Berlin in 1963 and made a speech where he criticised communism and showed his support for Berliners.
Paris conference 1960
Khrushchev storms out after Eisenhower refuses to apologise for U2 spy plane incident
Geneva summit 1959
USA and USSR meet to discuss Berlin’s future but no solution agreed
Berlin blockade and airlift consequences
Made the US look like heros and the USSR look agressive. Didn’t slove the USSR’s problem with western presence in Berlin
Why did kruhshchev want the west out of Berlin
Many thousands of people had escaped from East to West, since the end of the Blockade in May 1949. 2.7m refugees left Eastern Europe between 1949 and 1961
