Berlin Blockade and Airlift Flashcards

1
Q

Where was Berlin located?

A

Deep inside the Soviet zone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What had both sides started to do by 1948?

A

Increase their stockpiles of weapons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What type of war had developed by 1948?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What did Stalin fear about Germany?

A

That if it recovered it could once again threaten the USSR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

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

A

So it could feed its own people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What did Stalin want to do to Germany?

A

Keep it crippled

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

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

A

Joined their zones together to form Trizonia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What did the West introduce into Trizonia in June 1948?

A

A single currency, which would help Germany recover economically

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What was the new currency called?

A

The Deutsche Mark

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What was Stalin’s aim?

A

To try and force the West out of Berlin for good

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How many people lived in West Berlin?

A

About 2 million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
What did the Airlift show?
That the Allies would not abandon Berlin
26
Why was the Berlin Blockade such a point of high tension?
It was the first point when the two superpowers came close to war
27
How many tonnes of supplies were delivered in total?
1 and a half million tonnes
28
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.