The Berlin Blockade Flashcards
What caused the Berlin Blockade?
New currency of Deutschemark introduced by the allies to the West of Berlin to combat Stalin
- 1948, currency was reformed to this
- Stalin was worried about the West’s influence over the east.
When was the Berlin Blockade?
24th of June 1948
What did Stalin do and want during the Berlin Blockade?
All canals, railroads and roads from east and west Germany were blocked, in the hopes that the West would give up control of Berlin.
Stalin cut off all electricity access in Berlin as it was located in east Berlin, all food and all heating to the west.
All legal claims for the west to use the supply routes were rejected, leaving the people of the west with 36 days of food and 45 days of heating
What did the West do in response to Stalin?
Began airlifts using the 3, 20-mile-wide air columns to airlift supplies into West Berlin. Doing so cost the US $350 million, but was a representation of the West’s will to not give up despite a challenge, and gained the support of the Western-German people. Each day, planes lifted off every minute, and there were constant flights to and from W. Berlin.
It lasted for 321 days, and 272,000 plane flights occurred. 5k tonnes each day were flown.
What was the effect of the Berlin Blockade in the US?
The Pentagon and CIA were created to influence European security, and berlin was key as it was ‘behind’ the iron curtain.
On the 4th of April, 1949, NATO was formed
When was NATO formed and why?
4th of April, 1949. NATO was established to deter soviet expansionism and to prevent the revival of national militarism. It was also created so the alliance could have the doctrine of collective defence, where if one member-state was attacked, all would join in war (article 5).
This was a direct threat to the Soviet Union, resulting in the creation of the Warsaw Pact.
What was the Warsaw Pact, and when was it established/signed?
14th of May, 1955
The Warsaw pact was a soviet version of NATO, with the principle of mutual defence. This had the aim of securing ideological beliefs and strategic positions of ideological countries. the USSR tried to join NATO, but was rejected.
