First Berlin Crisis (1948-9)

Question 1

Where was Berlin located?

Answer 1

Deep in the Soviet-controlled part of Germany (East Germany from 1949)

Question 2

Why was Germany divided into four sectors after the war?

Answer 2

The USA and USSR could not agree on the long-term future of Germany

Question 3

What were the two main causes of the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 3

• Introduction of new currency (Deutschmark) by Britain, USA, and France in June 1948.
• Free and fair elections were set up

Stalin believed this this was the first step towards a permanently divided Germany.

Question 4

Why did Stalin not want a permanently divided Germany?

Answer 4

• He wanted American troops out of Germany
• He did not want America to have further influence in Germany
• Germany’s best economic resources were in the west. He feared they would be used to wage a war with the USSR

Question 5

What was Trizonia?

Answer 5

The western zones (USA, Britian, and France) which worked closely together. (In 1949 Trizonia would become West Germany.)

Question 6

What did Stalin do in response to the new currency and establishing of free elections in Trizonia?

Answer 6

He set up a military blockade, blocking of road, rail and canal access to West Berlin.

Question 7

What was Stalin’s plan with the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 7

• He aimed to starve West Berlin, force the Allies to withdraw and abandon their plans for a divided Germany

Question 8

When was the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 8

June 1948-May 1949

Question 9

How did Truman respond to the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 9

Truman responded with the Berlin Airlift, flying supplies into West Berlin by plane

Question 10

Roughly how many tonnes of food and supplies were being delivered daily during the Airlift?

Answer 10

4000 tonnes per day

Question 11

What did Truman do to warn Stalin from attempting to shoot down any planes?

Answer 11

Truman placed B-29 bombers - capable of carrying atomic bombs - in Britain. These bombers were capable of attacking the USSR directly if necessary.

Question 12

What did Stalin try and convince the people of West Berlin to do?

Answer 12

Stalin tried to convince West Berliners to move to East Berlin.

Question 13

How many people moved to East Berlin during this period?

Answer 13

Only 3% moved to East Berlin

Question 14

What did the Berlin Blockade and Airlift do for the reputations of Stalin and Truman?

Answer 14

• It made Stalin look aggressive. His failure was a humiliation.
• It made Truman look peaceful. It was a propaganda success for him and the West.

Question 15

When did Stalin call off the blockade?

Answer 15

12 May 1949

Question 16

What did the Berlin crisis lead to?

Answer 16

The establishment of NATO

Question 17

What does NATO stand for?

Answer 17

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

Question 18

What was the impact of the Berlin crisis on international relations?

Answer 18

It made them MUCH worse. During the crisis, war was a REAL possibility.

Also:

• It greatly increased rivalry.
• It confirmed the divisions of Germany and Berlin.

Question 19

What happened a few days after the end of the Berlin crisis?

Answer 19

The Allies announced it would merge its zones to become West Germany (Federal German Republic)

Question 20

How did Stalin respond to the creation of West Germany by the Allies?

Answer 20

He turned the Soviet zone of Germany into the German Democratic (easily memorable because of the irony) Republic

Question 21

What did East Germany (GDR) become?

Answer 21

East Germany became another Soviet satellite state