The Berlin Crisis, 1948-49

Question 1

In short what was the Berlin blockade ? What did it cause

Answer 1

• Stalin blockaded all routes by land and rail into west Berlin
• worsened relations and led to the setting up of NATO
• it was brought up by a series of disagreements and long term causes

Question 2

What was intended to happen to Berlin ?

Answer 2

-At the Yalta conference it was agreed Berlin would be split in four
- Germany was intended to remain as one country and hold free elections however it became clear there where differences between the soviet and western zones

Question 3

What where the three differences ( long term causes) ?

Answer 3

1. the Soviet Union ensured communist control in their eastern zone, they tried this with Berlin but a socialist majority prevailed with assistance from western powers
2. the west wanted a fast recovery for their zones as they faced serious food shortages and fuel shortages. Soviet Union wanted the opposite and wanted to keep Germany weak to prevent any future attack, they also refused trade with the other zones
3. Berlin was in the centre of the soviet zone. Allie’s were allowed in via road, rail, canal and air. Stalin didn’t want them in Berlin as the affluent capitalist way of life would be on show to the people of the east however western forces wanted to remain

Question 4

What were some short term causes that led to the Berlin blockade of 1948?

Answer 4

• western zones forged ahead by encouraging the introduction of a new currency and lots of help from the Marshal Aid
• in sharp contrast to soviet zones. Stalin feared a strong, democratic and reunited Germany on his border. He feared the western currency and democratic ideas could spread to the eastern zones

Question 5

What happened in January 1947 ? Another short term cause for the blockade

Answer 5

• US and British zones merged into on economical unit know as Bizonia
• 1948 tensions began to rise over how different zones were being administered
• causing a series of events that led to the crisis that yea

Question 6

What where the four series of events that led to the crisis?

Answer 6

• March 1948: soviet representatives walked out of the allied control commission complaining of western attitudes making it unworkable
• April 1948: allied zones included in Marshall plan which led to soviet troops holding up and searching road and traffic entering western Berlin
• June 1948: western powers announced plans to create a west German state and new currency with the soviet retaliating by introducing its own currency
• 24 June 1948: Stalin accused the west of interfering in the soviet zone. He cut of road, rail and canals into wester Berlin hoping to starve it

Question 7

What was the western currency called and when was it introduced ? How did the Soviets retaliate ?

Answer 7

June 1948
- the Deutschmark, a new currency is introduced for their zones in West Berlin
- Soviets retaliate with the Ostmark

Question 8

What is the day that is the begging of the blow made ?

Answer 8

24 June 1948
- soviet blockade of Road, Rail and canal traffic, it was an attempt to starve West Berlin
- Stalin tried to force the Allie’s to pull out of their sectors