Berlin Blockade Flashcards
when?
June 1948- May 1949
origins
- 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
why did the post war powers fail to unify germany?
- 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
results of the berlin blockade
- 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
division of germany as result?
- 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 - In response; soviets set up GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
= economic and political division
continuation of 4-power control in berlin as result?
Berlin continues ad divided city
- 4 power occuptaiton within new GDR
formation of NATO as result?
- 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
causes
- introduction of new currency
- Stalin wants to prevent formation of WG state strengthened by MP
- Stalin wants to reopen talks
US reaction to blockade
- 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
causes
- introduction of new currency
- Stalin wants to prevent formation of WG state strengthened by MP
- Stalin wants to reopen talks about germany
what reasons did stalin give to justify the blocakde?
- US would not use nuclear weapons over Berlin
- Red Army would be ordered to resist any forced attempt of the USA to end the blockade through a military convoy
- If the USA decided to launch a full-fledged attack, Stalin alone would determine how to respond
germany’s key strategic position + differing aims of the main powers
- 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
increasing lack of trust between E and W as cold war develops
- difference sin aims ant attitudes in cold war
- mutual suspiscin between USSR and Western Powers
- speed of recovery of germany central cold war issue
increasing lack of trust between E and W as cold war develops
- differences in aims ant attitudes in cold war
- mutual suspiscin between USSR and Western Powers
- speed of recovery of germany central cold war issue
specific disputes between the post war powers within germany
- 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
- 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 - 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