The crisis over Berlin in 1948

Question 1

How was Germany divided at the end of WW2?

Answer 1

Into four zones. A French one, a British one, an American one and a Russian one.

Question 2

When was bizonia and trizonia (joining of the three capitalist zones) created with the western zones of Germany?

Answer 2

1947

Question 3

When did the western zones introduce a new currency and what was the importance of this? How did Stalin respond, in June 1948?

Answer 3

June 1947 – it made the West noticeably richer than the East.

He blocked off West Berlin in an attempt to force the West out of the city.

Question 4

How did the USA respond to the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 4

Airlifted supplies into the city on a constant flight rotation for many months.

Question 5

What was formed on the 23rd May, three days after the end of the Blockade?

Answer 5

NATO

Question 6

What was the importance of the Blockade for relations between the USSR and the USA?

Answer 6

I.It showed how low relations had got between the USA and the USSR.

II.It increased tension because it made the USSR look like the bad guys and the USA look like the good guys for trying to break the Blockade.