Berlin Blockade And Airlift 1948-1949

Question 1

When did the Berlin Blockade start?

Answer 1

24 June 1948

Question 2

What is the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 2

On 24th June 1948, Stalin cut all land access to Berlin for the Allies

Question 3

What did the Berlin Blockade mean?

Answer 3

Berlín could now only be accessed by air, resulting in a restriction on the freedom to travel outside of Berlin.
This led to a shortage of food, basic goods like fuel and medicines.

Question 4

What is the Berlin Airlift?

Answer 4

The Allies decided that their sectors of Berlin would be supplied by air. This lasted for 11 months until the blockade was lifted in May 1949

Question 5

What did Stalin want?

Answer 5

Stalin wanted Germany to remain weak, unthreatening and as a ‘buffer zone’ between it and the West

Question 6

What happened after WW2?

Answer 6

After WW2, Germany had been divided into 4 zones of occupation, each controlled by one of the Allies. Berlin lay inside the Russian zone and was also divided. Access to Berlin for the Allies was by road, rail, canal, and via three specific air corridors