The Berlin Blockade Flashcards
1
Q
What caused the Berlin Blockade
CABAN
A
- Cold war (eg Czechoslovakia- March 1948)
- Aims that differed- destroy or rebuild Germany, Communist or capitalist
- Bizonia 1947 (then trizonia in 1949)
- American aid
- New Western currency
2
Q
What were the results???
Cena
A
- Cold war got worse and tension increased
3
Q
What were the results???
cEna
A
- East and West
4
Q
Soviet View on Germany
A
- A revived Germany and the later unification of western zones posed a threat to security and interests
- Argued for a fully united and neutral Germany
5
Q
US views on Germany
A
- Revived Germany was important for European trade and US financial interests
- A harsh punishment given to Germany after WWI created the conditions where extremism flourished
- Opposed a fully united and neutral Germany fearing it would be absorbed into the Soviet Sphere of influence
6
Q
The blockade
A
- USSR stripped resources from it’s zone as reparation payments
- After introduction of new currency all road, rail, canal and power-supply links with West Berlin were severed in a bid to halt the western reforms
7
Q
Western response to blockade
A
- organised highly successful airlifts- operation Vittles (US) and operation Plainfare (Br) which brought supplies like fuel and food to Berlin. By May 1949, 2.3 million tons of supplies had been flown to the city
8
Q
Significance of Berlin Crisis
May 1949 Stalin conceded that the blockade had failed and reopened communication routes
A
- Embarrassing to USSR
- Failed to prevent the unification of western zones and in response 23 May 1949 East Germany was created
- USA agreed to guarantee the security of western Europe with the formation of NATO in April 1949
- Demonstrated that the West was willing to stand up to pressure from USSR peacefully
- Neither side was willing to escalate conflict and risk a nuclear war
