Flashpoints in Europe and the Imapct on International Relations Flashcards
Why was having different aims a cause of the Berlin Blockade and Airlift?
Both sides had completely different opinions about Germany’s future:
-The USSR wanted Germany to remain weak, since Germany had invaded them twice since 1914.
-The western powers wanted Germany to recover so it could be both a barrier against the further spread of communism and an important part of European economic recovery. Therefore, significant resources were invested in Germany, including over $1,300 million from the Marshall Plan.
Why was having different economies a cause of the Berlin Blockade and Airlift?
By 1948, the Western zones of Germany were on the road to economic, mainly because of the Marshall Plan. Therefore same could not be said of the Soviet zone; during the same period the USSR had removed a significant amount of resources from the eastern zones to compensate for war zone. As a result, living conditions were much poorer there than those in the Western zones.
What happened in March 1948?
Hoping to strengthen the economy of the Western zones, of Germany, the USA, Britain and France united their zones in Germany into a single economic unit called Trizonia.
What happened in June 1948? Why?
The Allies decided to introduce a new currency the Deutschmark, into the region. They believed that this was essential for economic recovery.
How did Stalin react to the new currency?
He was not consulted about it and was unhappy as he saw it as the first stage in the reconstruction of a Germany that would again threaten the USSR. Even worse, the recovery would be obvious to the poor people of East Berlin who were living so close to their western neighbours. This could cause problems as people may come to resent the lower living standards in the communist zone.
What happened on the 24th June,1948?
Ignoring what had been agreed at Potsdam, Stalin ordered the closure of all road, rail and canal links with West Berlin. The official reason for the closures was ‘technical difficulties; in fact, the Soviets believed that the whole affair was an attempt by the West to destroy the East German economy.
Why did Stalin take that risk on the 24th June, 1948?
It is unlikely that he expected his actions to lead to war; instead he probably hoped that he could force the West to abandon Berlin and thus leave it under Soviet control. Berlin only had enough supplies to last it for a maximum of six weeks.
Why would the USA not allow the West to abandon Berlin and thus leave it under Soviet control?
Berlin had become a powerful symbol of the struggle for power in Europe between capitalism and communism. Any sign of weakness might result in the collapse of American influence over the rest of Europe. Actions ha to be taken.
Who pushed for breaking the blockade by force? Who rejected this idea? What was then decided?
-General Lucius Clay
-Truman
-It was decided that airlifting supplies to West Berlin would be the best way of breaking the blockade: Stalin was unlikely to shoot planes down as that would be seen as an act of war.
How long did the airlifting op supplies go on for? How much was flown in a day?
For almost a year, up to 13,000 tonnes of supplies were flown in each day with planes landing, on occasion, at two-minute intervals.
When did Stalin accept defeat?
In mid-1949.
What happened on the 12th May, 1949?
The blockade was lifted.
What were the final statistics of the Berlin Airlift?
Over two million tonnes of supplies had been airlifted in; 101 men had died, mostly as a result of plane crashes, but war had been avoided and Berlin, for now, had been saved from communism.
How did the breaking of the Berlin Blockade have significant consequences and impacts on relations?
-Tensions increased between the superpowers.
-The policy of containment could b sen to have worked, as communism had failed to spread to West Berlin.
-All hopes for the reunification of Germany were now gone. In May 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany was established. In October, the USSR renames its zone the German Democratic Republic.
-Although NATO was established as a defensive organisation, the Soviets refused to accept that it was anything other than an aggressive alliance. This opinion seemed to be confirmed when West Germany was allowed to join NATO in 1955. Again, the Soviets refused fear of a strong Germany was revived.
What happened in April 1949?
12 Western nations set up NATO which was the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation which was to ensure that the West could co-operate to prevent future Soviet aggression. They believed in the principle that an attack on one of them was seen as an attack on all.
