Berlin Crisis Flashcards
Background
Soviets Wanted weak and divided Germany
Allied powers believed United Germany = Stable Europe
At Yalter Conference Germany decided into 4 Zones
3 Western Zones ( France , USA and Britain Joined and Germany currently reformed
Reforms + Marshall Plan , could see evidence of economic recovery
Stalin felt as Western Allies went against terms of Yalter Conference so he responded by Cutting Roads and Canal links to stamp his authority on Berlin and force western powers from the importation of provisions such as food fuel , medicine
Attempt to force Berlin to submit to West Berlin. Referred as the West Berlin Blockade
3 Options for Western Powers to respond to Berlin Blockage
1) To pull out of Berlin
2) To airlift supplies to West Berlin
3) To ignore the airlift and Blockade and drive through it
Powers chose to Airlift
West Berliners continued to support them rejecting soviet pressure
1949 Soviets admitted they were defeated and blockade was lifted
Consequences of Berlin Blockade for Cold War
Showed Victory to Western Powers
Division of Berlin became permanent mark of Cold War
Determination of West To keep the doors of democracy open within communism.
Germany was split created West Germany with its capital Bonn and Easy Germany with its Capital East Berlin.
Millitarusation if West Berlin resulted in the start of Arms Race
Setting up of NATO AND WARSAWPACT
Why Berlin was a Focal Point
Highlighted Tensions Betwean East and West
Different working and living conditions
After death of Stalin workers started demonstrating demanding
1) Better Political
2) Union with West Berlin
3) End if communism
Demonstrations spread but were harshly suppressed by soviets leading to the death of many East Germans
Many Criticised Edwin Hovers involvement as irresponsible
Why Berlin was a Focus Point 2
New Leader Kruschev demanded West to hand over West Berlin
Kruschev and Hover meeting cancelled after spy plain was shot flying over USSR
HOVERS was criticised
Berlin Wall
10000 people a week were leaving East Germany to go the West
West had higher standards of living and more freedom
USSR wanted to stop the loss of people and skilled they took with them
Authorities built a wall to divide East and West
Wall was high fortified and manned 24hrs a day by machine gun post and searchlight to stop flaw of refugees
Berlin divided over night
West were powerless over building of the wall
Many East Germans died trying To cross over
The Wall became a famous symbol of the Cold War
Consequences of the Berlin Wall
Berlin was divided with no free access from East to West
Those who attempted to escape were killed
President Kennedy visited West Berlin and made a historic speech praising the people of Berlin in their persuit for freedom
His speech was a Moral Buster
There was difference in the management of Germany in different zones
Eastern Zone
Soviet Zone under communist dictatorship sere industries were nationalised
Slow Economic recovery
USSR forced Easy Germany to pay reperations
Reichmark used as currency
Western Zone
Different Political parties formed
Local elections held
Free enterprise was encouraged
Rapid economic recovery
Western Zones were United
Deutschmark currency
