The Berlin crisis, Berlin blockade and Berlin airlift 1948-49 Flashcards
Historical background of the Berlin crisis 1948
Europe was now split into two political and economic ways of living
The Berlin crisis and following Berlin airlift would result in Europe having an military divide with the creation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
Democracy
Capitalism
NATO
Western European
Dictatorship
Communism
The Warsaw Pact
Eastern European
Background information of the Berlin crisis 1948
When the grand Alliance met in Potsdam, it was agreed that Germany and it’s capital city Berlin would be divided into four separate zones
Why was Berlin significant to the west and the soviet union
Berlin was located in the middle of the Soviet section of Germany
Military checkpoint support in place to control the movement between the Soviet zones and the western zones
This meant the capital of Germany was trapped in Soviet zone there were constant disagreement about what to do with Berlin
What did Britain France and America do in March 1938
USA Britain and France united are three zones into Trizonia resulting in an even more obvious divide between western Germany and the eastern Germany
Deutschmark = the currency created by Britain France and the USA for Trizonia. This made the division between West and east Germany more obvious
The consequences of the creation of Trizonia created the
Berlin blockade of June 1948
How do the creation of Trizonia cause the Berlin blockade
Russia was so angry that they protested by blocking off that only Land route in out of Berlin
They stopped food and essential materials such as fuel getting to the western controlled parts the Berlin
Why did Russia do this
Stalin hoped that the people in West Berlin would be that’s starving they would be willing to handover the whole of Berlin to the soviet union
It was also a way to show his power
What did America do about the Berlin blockade
Decided to fly in food and resources instead
This was a risk as they don’t know with the Soviet union would shoot down the planes
It was successful and over 1000 tonnes of food and supplies were taken into Berlin by the Americans and British
During the Berlin airlift how long did it take before the Soviet union gave in
A year
June 1948 to May 1949
Consequences of the Berlin blockade
The Berlin airlift was successful after a year on the Berlin airlift Stalin stop the blockade
Stalin looked a weak when he finally gave in
The west had proven they could win using peaceful measures
The west then formed an official West Germany
The formation and West Germany 23rd of May 1949
Created three days after the end of the blockade
Capital city would be bonn
Elections were held there for a leader of West Germany
How did Stalin respond to the creation of West Germany and West Berlin
In October 1949 the Soviet union officially changed there zone into East Germany and East Berlin
