Berlin Blockade

Question 1

Military mark

Answer 1

introduced as German currency in 1945

• soviet zone printed lots of notes of this currency however, which led to devaluation
• inflation was a risk due to this, as well as shortages in 1946/7

Question 2

Deutschmark

Answer 2

• replaced the Military mark
• Soviet zone rejected the change of currency
• the currency reform in the other three zones led to renewed confidence in the German economy

Question 3

Soviet mark

Answer 3

• soviets introduced their own currency in response to the reform of the allied currency

Question 4

Berlin Blockade - causes

Answer 4

• currency reform is the direct trigger

- blockade is more widely the result of the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan

Question 5

Berlin Blockade - what happened

Answer 5

• Soviet Union blockaded Berlin under the pretext of technical difficulties
• transport to West Berlin was blocked
• they wanted to cut West Berlin off from the west, forcing it into a soviet zone

Question 6

Berlin Blockade - western response

Answer 6

• airlift was organised in response, travelling through unblocked air canals
• they knew that if they went through the blockade with tanks or troops it would start a war
• between 26th June and 12th May 1949 supplies were flown into Berlin each day
• 2.3 million tonnes of supplies were brought in through 279,000 flights
• the west refused to let communism spread to West Berlin

Question 7

Berlin Blockade - conclusion

Answer 7

• it was recognised by the USSR that the west wouldn’t give up West Berlin
• on the 12th May 1949 the blockade ended

Question 8

Berlin Blockade - significance

Answer 8

• turning point for Germany and its division

- first direct conflict between east and west