The Berlin crisis 1948-49

Question 1

When was the Berlin Crisis?

Answer 1

1948-49

Question 2

Long term causes of the Berlin Crisis

Answer 2

• USA wanted reunification and USSR wanted divided, weak and communist Germany
• Stalin felt threatened by USAs rebuilding of Western Germany (feared Eastern Berliners would see affluent way of capitalist life)

Question 3

Short term causes of Berlin Crisis

Answer 3

• Lots of Marshall aid given and established own currency (Deutschmark) in west Germany for more economic stability.
• Set up free elections
• Stalin feared democratic ideas would spread to the Soviet zone and undermine control of East Berlin
• Bizonia ( Jan 1947, GB and US zones joined)
• different management over zones created tensions

Question 4

What happened during the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 4

• 24 June 1948
• Stalin accused West of interfering in Soviet zone
• Cut off road, rail and canal traffic to starve West Berlin into submission (kick them out of Berlin)

Question 5

What happened during the Berlin airlift?

Answer 5

• Truman determined to stand up to USSR and show his commitment to Truman Doctrine
• Didn’t want US to look weak so responded with an airlift (28 June 1948- 30 September 1949)
• Dangerous as planes could be shot down
• Stalin hoped cold weather would paralyse airlift ( it didn’t)
• 12 May 1949 Stalin called off blockade- he had failed

Question 6

Consequences of the Berlin Crisis

Answer 6

• USA appeared heroic and peaceful and USSR as aggressive and threatening
• May 1949- western allies joined to form FRG
• October 1949- Soviet zone became GDR
• confirmed division of Germany and Berlin
• increased tensions
• led to creation of NATO

Question 7

What was NATO and when was it set up?

Answer 7

• April 1949
• Western European states needed formal support of USA
• North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was a military alliance based on principle of collective security (if one country was attacked others had to assist it)
• Main purpose was to prevent Soviet expansion
• Stalin saw NATO as a direct threat aimed at USSR and the decision to include west Germany in NATO (to remilitarise) reinforced his beliefs

Question 8

Consequences of setting up NATO

Answer 8

• USA committed to defence of Western Europe
• Stalin believed it was aimed at USSR
• Intensified arms race , led to development of more powerful weapons
• Led to Warsaw Pact
• led to USA setting up its own missile bases in Western Europe