Berlin Blockade and Airlift Flashcards
Where was Berlin located?
Deep inside the Soviet zone
By 1948, what were relations like between the West and the USSR?
Not good - high levels of distrust had developed between the two sides.
What had both sides started to do by 1948?
Increase their stockpiles of weapons
What type of war had developed by 1948?
A propaganda war - with each side denouncing (criticising) the other
What did Stalin fear about Germany?
That if it recovered it could once again threaten the USSR
Why did the West want Germany to recover - at least partly?
So it could feed its own people
What did Stalin want to do to Germany?
Keep it crippled
What did Britain, France and the USA do in March 1948?
Joined their zones together to form Trizonia
What did the West introduce into Trizonia in June 1948?
A single currency, which would help Germany recover economically
How did Stalin view Trizonia and the new currency?
With suspicion. He felt the West was ganging up on him and saw their actions as procacative
What was the new currency called?
The Deutsche Mark
What did Stalin to in response to the introduction of the new currency (the Deutsche Mark)?
Blocked western access to Berlin by blocking all the roads, railways and canals
What was Stalin’s aim?
To try and force the West out of Berlin for good
Why did Stalin not like the Allies being in Berlin?
The Allied sectors of Berlin were more prosperous, making capitalism look more attractive than communism
How many people lived in West Berlin?
About 2 million
Why was the Blockade a clever plan?
If the Americans tried to break the blockade with force, Stalin could accuse them of starting a war
How did the USA see West Berlin once it was blockaded?
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)
What did Truman want to prove with Berlin?
That he was serious about his new policy of containment
How did the Allies respond to the Blockade?
With the Berlin Airlift
What were people in Berlin initially worried about with the Airlift?
That the Soviets would shoot down the planes - thus starting a war
At its peak, how often were planes landing?
Three every minute
What did the planes bring to West Berlin?
Vital supplies: food, clothing, oil, coal
Was life good for Berliners during the Airlift?
No - many left - but it was just about survivable
When did Stalin lift the Blockade?
In May 1949
What did the Airlift show?
That the Allies would not abandon Berlin
Why was the Berlin Blockade such a point of high tension?
It was the first point when the two superpowers came close to war
How many tonnes of supplies were delivered in total?
1 and a half million tonnes
Why was the Airlift a huge propaganda victory for the West?
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.
