The Berlin Crisis and The Berlin Airlift

Question 1

What the Allies agreed tod o with Germany at the peace conferences?

Answer 1

To divide Germany and Berlin into 4 sections. However, Germany was to be kept as one country with free elctions.

Question 2

What caused the Berlin Crisis?

Answer 2

• The Soviet Union ensured that there East section was under Communist control. They tried to seize control over all of Berlin but this was resisted by the Western powers.
• The West wanted to speed up the recovery and Germany whilst Stalin wanted the opposite. He refused to allow his section to trade woth the other 3 sections.
• Berlin was in the Soviet section and could be accessed by road, rail, canal and air. It was a gap in the iron curtain. Western powers were determined to reamin in Berlin so they could observe Soviet activites.

Question 3

Why did Stalin want the Allies out of Berlin?

Answer 3

He feared that the Capitalist system would spread to East Berlin and undermine the Communist system.

Question 4

What did the allies to do help West Berlin?

Answer 4

• Gave large amounts of Marshall Aid.
• Introduced a new currency.
• Set up free elections to establish democracy.

Question 5

What did Stalin do to try and get the Allies out of Berlin?

Answer 5

He blocked all entrances to Berlin in an attempt to starve the Allies out.

Question 6

What did the allies do when Stalin blockaded Berlin?

Answer 6

The USA and the UK organised an airlift of supplies to Berlin. This was the Berlin Airlift.

Question 7

How long did the Airlift go on for.

Answer 7

10 months, ending in the 12th May, 1949, when Stalin stopped the blockade.

Question 8

How many flights were made in the airlift?

Answer 8

275,000

Question 9

How did Stalin react to the Airlift?

Answer 9

He did not shoot down the planes, however the Soviet airforce flew across flightpaths and weather ballons were released.

Question 10

What were the results of the Berlin Airlift?

Answer 10

• increased the rivalry between the USA and Russia and confirmed the division of Berlin and the whole of Germany.
• The UK, French and USA zones of Germany merged to form the Federal German Republic or West Germany.
• In retaliation, the Soviet section became the German Democratic Republic or East Germany.
• The Western powers formed NATO in 1949.
  the Warsaw Pact was established in 1955.

Question 11

What was NATO and the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 11

NATO was formed by the Western powers as a military alliance against Communism in 1945.
The Warsaw Pact was an alliance of the Communist countries and was established in 1955.