Berlin Blockade and Airlift Flashcards
Causes of Conflict
Disagreement over division of Germany (Potsdam and After)
US and Britain want Germany to recover
USSR wants industrial capacity and heavy reparations
Division of Germany into zones of occupation - UK, US, France, USSR
France, UK and US join zone into one – Bizonia (prospered over USSR)
US introduces Marshall Plan aid into region - 1948
Introduced new government, new currency and stopped reparations
USSR views this as threat to him and his own interests
Events of 1948
Berlin also divided into zones of occupation
Berlin within Soviet sphere or zone
Allies had to send in supplies to their zone
In effort to force the Allies out of region
Stalin closes all rail and road access to West Berlin
Truman orders B29 bombers to England in event of war
11 months Blockade continues
To overcome Allies had to airlift supplies into Western Europe
Operation Vittel – food, supplies and other goods reach W. Berlin
Finally Stalin opened the boarders to the Allies
Significance of Event
Cold War almost turns hot – potential of nuclear war
Threat of World War III
Germany divided – East and West Germany
German Democratic Republic/Federal Republic of Germany
Berlin a symbol of Western opposition to Soviet expansion
NATO established immediately after (1949) – Military Alliance
Warsaw would be established shortly after (1955)
Germany would continue to be focus of Cold War tensions
Stalemate occurred over what to do about Berlin
