Berlin Airlift, NATO, Historiography Flashcards
How/why was Germany divided post-WWII?
Allies wanted denazification 1945, divided Germany into four sectors: US, UK, France, USSR. Mamaux.
How did Stalin view/treat Germans and East Germany?
Wanted revenge, confiscated military, state, and Nazi industry for reparations, treated Germans harshly, wanted to use German resources to arm the USSR. Mamaux.
What led to the Berlin Blockade?
East Germany=Soviet, West Germany=Western Allies, but Berlin was also divided even though it was in the Soviet sector. W. allies proposed new currency to stabilize Germany, Stalin disagreed, at final Allied Control Council March 1948, W. Allies announced unification of W. Germany, new W. German government, new currency for W. Germany and W. Berlin; led to Blockade as Stalin wanted to oust W. allies from his sector. Mamaux.
What action did Stalin take during Berlin Blockade?
April 1948, USSR blocked military supplies from entering W. Berlin, Allies refused to leave, USSR blocked water, food, fuel, transportation from entering, Stalin knew US wouldn’t use nukes on Berlin. Mamaux.
How did the Western Allies respond to the Blockade?
US/UK organized airlift of supplies, new airstrips built, Easter Parade w/ major deliveries demonstrated Airlift could continue indefinitely, so Stalin lifted blockade May 1949 and recognized W. Berlin as linked to W. Allies. Led to Khrushchev building Berlin Wall 1961 after he couldn’t eliminate Western influence. (Mamaux)
What were the FRG and GDR?
Blockade caused allies to merge into Trizonia, created FRG (Federal Republic of Germany) May 1949, 1st chancellor=Konrad Adenauer; Soviets responded by creating German Democratic Republic- socialist state. (Mamaux)
What was NATO, why was it formed, Soviet response?
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Org., many W. European states and US signed 1949, an attack on one=attack on all, NATO led US put military bases in Europe, led to consolidation of two sections of Europe: West v. East. USSR saw NATO as aggression, formed Warsaw Pact 1955, collective security agreement of its satellite states (attack on one=all, etc.) (Mamaux)
What was the orthodox view of Cold War?
US/UK view in 1940s/50s blaming Soviet expansionism for Cold War, US actions were reactionary.
Revisionist view of Cold War
US/UK view, leftist, Cold War was extension of US expansionism staring w/ atomic bomb
Post-revisionist view
US/UK view, cannot blame one side or the other
Soviet View of Cold War
Cold War was product of US aggression.
