Berlin Blockade and Airlift Flashcards

1
Q

Where was Berlin located?

A

Deep inside the Soviet zone

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2
Q

By 1948, what were relations like between the West and the USSR?

A

Not good - high levels of distrust had developed between the two sides.

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3
Q

What had both sides started to do by 1948?

A

Increase their stockpiles of weapons

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4
Q

What type of war had developed by 1948?

A

A propaganda war - with each side denouncing (criticising) the other

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5
Q

What did Stalin fear about Germany?

A

That if it recovered it could once again threaten the USSR

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6
Q

Why did the West want Germany to recover - at least partly?

A

So it could feed its own people

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7
Q

What did Stalin want to do to Germany?

A

Keep it crippled

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8
Q

What did Britain, France and the USA do in March 1948?

A

Joined their zones together to form Trizonia

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9
Q

What did the West introduce into Trizonia in June 1948?

A

A single currency, which would help Germany recover economically

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10
Q

How did Stalin view Trizonia and the new currency?

A

With suspicion. He felt the West was ganging up on him and saw their actions as procacative

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11
Q

What was the new currency called?

A

The Deutsche Mark

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12
Q

What did Stalin to in response to the introduction of the new currency (the Deutsche Mark)?

A

Blocked western access to Berlin by blocking all the roads, railways and canals

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13
Q

What was Stalin’s aim?

A

To try and force the West out of Berlin for good

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14
Q

Why did Stalin not like the Allies being in Berlin?

A

The Allied sectors of Berlin were more prosperous, making capitalism look more attractive than communism

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15
Q

How many people lived in West Berlin?

A

About 2 million

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16
Q

Why was the Blockade a clever plan?

A

If the Americans tried to break the blockade with force, Stalin could accuse them of starting a war

17
Q

How did the USA see West Berlin once it was blockaded?

A

As a test case. If they did not stand up to Stalin now, then he might gain in confidence (as Hitler had done in the 1930s)

18
Q

What did Truman want to prove with Berlin?

A

That he was serious about his new policy of containment

19
Q

How did the Allies respond to the Blockade?

A

With the Berlin Airlift

20
Q

What were people in Berlin initially worried about with the Airlift?

A

That the Soviets would shoot down the planes - thus starting a war

21
Q

At its peak, how often were planes landing?

A

Three every minute

22
Q

What did the planes bring to West Berlin?

A

Vital supplies: food, clothing, oil, coal

23
Q

Was life good for Berliners during the Airlift?

A

No - many left - but it was just about survivable

24
Q

When did Stalin lift the Blockade?

A

In May 1949

25
Q

What did the Airlift show?

A

That the Allies would not abandon Berlin

26
Q

Why was the Berlin Blockade such a point of high tension?

A

It was the first point when the two superpowers came close to war

27
Q

How many tonnes of supplies were delivered in total?

A

1 and a half million tonnes

28
Q

Why was the Airlift a huge propaganda victory for the West?

A

The Americans were heroes who had brought food, clothing and hope to West Berliners

The USSR looked cruel and callous, trying to starve the Berliners.