Berlin Blockade Flashcards

1
Q

when?

A

June 1948- May 1949

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2
Q

origins

A
  • during Yalta + Potsdam; decided that Germany should be divided temporarily into 4 zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, France)
  • expected for Germany to emerge as united, independent state again
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3
Q

why did the post war powers fail to unify germany?

A
  • germany’s key strategic position + differing aims of the main powers
  • increasing lack of trust between E and W as cold war develops
  • specific disputes between the post war powers within germany
  • berlin blockade
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4
Q

results of the berlin blockade

A
  • division of Germany
  • continuation of 4-power control in Berlin
  • formation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
  • humiliation for Stalin as failed
    • Berlin becomes symbol of western determination to prevent the spread of communism as a political force
  • gives WG confidence in American support; lowers likelihood of communism being adopted
  • soviets have to recognize political rights of wester berlin as separate political entity
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5
Q

division of germany as result?

A
  1. failure of blocakde; division pound to happen
    = west moves to set up FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY with Konrad Adenauer as Chancellor; divided germany protected by u perferable
  2. In response; soviets set up GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
    = economic and political division
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6
Q

continuation of 4-power control in berlin as result?

A

Berlin continues ad divided city

- 4 power occuptaiton within new GDR

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7
Q

formation of NATO as result?

A
  • justification rather than cause for formation
  • Soviet threat to Berlin (along with czech coup); reinforce West suspiciouns about Stalin= WANT TO ESTABLISH A DEFENCE COMMITEMENT TO EUROPE
  • nato formed with US, Cannada, Scandanavia powers, iceland, italy, portugal
  • West germany joins nato 1954; confirms soviet suspicions about danger of armed germany on its borders
    = results in Soviets producing WARSAW PACT; brings all states of eastern europe under a single military command
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8
Q

causes

A
  • introduction of new currency
  • Stalin wants to prevent formation of WG state strengthened by MP
  • Stalin wants to reopen talks
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9
Q

US reaction to blockade

A
  • seen as direct challenge from Stalin
  • didn’t want military confrontation; use ‘airlift’; american and british planes fly to berlin and deilver food and coal to west berliners (last 324 days)

= threat to soviet military response
= stalin ends blocakde 1949

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10
Q

causes

A
  • introduction of new currency
  • Stalin wants to prevent formation of WG state strengthened by MP
  • Stalin wants to reopen talks about germany
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11
Q

what reasons did stalin give to justify the blocakde?

A
  1. US would not use nuclear weapons over Berlin
  2. Red Army would be ordered to resist any forced attempt of the USA to end the blockade through a military convoy
  3. If the USA decided to launch a full-fledged attack, Stalin alone would determine how to respond
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12
Q

germany’s key strategic position + differing aims of the main powers

A
  • Germanys geographic position in the centre of Europe; potential of economic sgrength
  • United germany; threat to Soviet Securty but also want their REPARATIONS
  • US wants European peace + rapid german economic recovery contain communism (marshall plan ideology); UK endorses view as its bankrupt
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13
Q

increasing lack of trust between E and W as cold war develops

A
  • difference sin aims ant attitudes in cold war
  • mutual suspiscin between USSR and Western Powers
  • speed of recovery of germany central cold war issue
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14
Q

increasing lack of trust between E and W as cold war develops

A
  • differences in aims ant attitudes in cold war
  • mutual suspiscin between USSR and Western Powers
  • speed of recovery of germany central cold war issue
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15
Q

specific disputes between the post war powers within germany

A
  1. economic conflict;
    a. reparations (set up in potsdam; USSR wants 25% of German industrial equipment food and raw matierals); USSR wasnt delivering enough food to west so US/UK stop supplying soviet zone

b. germany coal; soviet want coal from west, americans want german to use coal for eocnomic resconstruction of western europe; merginig of british and american zones to BIZONIA

  1. Polictical conflict
    a. Stalin wants to incorporate reunified Germany in Moscow’s sphere of influence using REd Army; Soviets merge political parties of Wast under SOcialist UNity Party
    =West rejects idea so East Starts forming own regime
  2. Consolidation; Western powers want to create privisional germany government; want to create NEW CURRENCY
    = Stalin sees it as establishment of new germany in west; motivated blockade
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