Significant Events In The Cold War Flashcards
Berlin blockade
Between June 1948 and May 1949 Stalin closed all land routes into Berlin to try to force the Allies out. Truman saw this as an aggressive act and once again tension increased. Truman responded with the Berlin Airlift showing that America would not give in to pressure from the USSR. The Airlift lasted for 318 days showing America’s determination. Stalin threatened to shoot down US planes which again increased the tension. However, on 12 May 1949, Stalin abandoned the blockade. He was furious with Truman and believed he had been trying to provoke a war
Tension between the USA and USSR was to continue over Berlin. One result of the crisis was that Germany was divided into the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the Democratic Republic of Germany (East Germany)
Berlin wall
In the 1950s tension remained high even after Stalin’s death. West Berlin became wealthier whilst the East became poorer. Many in East Berlin wanted to escape to the West.
Between 1948 -1961 many people from East Berlin escaped into West Berlin especially many young and skilled workers. Almost 2.5 million people had escaped by 1961. This also increased tension between the USA and USSR. The Soviet Union even threatened the USA with the use of nuclear weapons over this issue; Khrushchev also believed the West was using Berlin to spy on communism and this caused tension. In August 1961, Khrushchev shocked the world by ordering a concrete wall to be built to seal off East Berlin. This increased tension once again as many believed the USSR was more interested in confrontation than co-operation
Decisions about Berlin Yalta & Potsdam
At Yalta and Potsdam it was agreed that Germany and Berlin should be occupied by the four victorious powers. It did not take long for tension to emerge as the Allies wanted a strong Germany and wanted to aid German recovery. Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak to avoid another invasion of the USSR.
Tension also emerged as Berlin was in the communist zone. Stalin was keen to force the Allies out. In 1947 the Allies decided to merge their zones and introduce a new currency. Stalin was not invited to the Currency Conference in London, June 1948, nor was he given a report of the meeting. It looked like the West was trying to make their zone look better than the communist controlled East Berlin. Stalin was not happy. Relations between the USA and the USSR deteriorated.
