The occupation of Germany and the Berlin Blockade Flashcards
1
Q
Why was Berlin so important at the end of World War II?
A
- Heart of Nazi power – Berlin was the symbolic capital of Germany and Nazism.
- Geographical location – the USA and USSR were keen to have central European military bases.
- There had been a race between the USA and USSR to reach Berlin at the end of war.
- Power and prestige – both the USA and USSR wanted exclusive influence in Berlin.
- Berlin was a city where the Cold War had the potential to become extremely hot: neither the USA nor the USSR were prepared to allow the other to gain control of Berlin.
2
Q
How was Berlin divided at the end of World War II?
A
- After World War II, Germany was divided into four sectors under control of each of the Allies – Britain, France, the USA and the USSR. Berlin was deep inside the Soviet sector, yet it was divided between the four Allied powers.
- Initially, Germany was run by a joint Allied Control Commission, and Berlin was run by a joint Allied Kommandatura.
- The countries differed as to how they felt Germany should be governed. The USSR wanted to keep Germany weak, but the USA and Britain wanted to rebuild the German economy.
- Berlin was deep inside the Soviet sector, yet it was divided between the four Allied powers (USA, USSR, Britain and France).
3
Q
What were the Problems with Berlin?
A
- Berlin was deep inside the Soviet sector, yet it was divided between the four Allied powers (USA, USSR, Britain and France).
- Germany was run by a joint Allied Control Commission, and Berlin was run by a joint Allied Kommandatura.
- The countries differed as to how they felt Germany should be governed. The USSR wanted to keep Germany weak, but the USA and Great Britain wanted to rebuild the German economy.
4
Q
Why was there a crisis in Berlin?
A
- The introduction of a new currency was a step too far for Stalin. It was seen as a real threat.
- West Berlin was a ‘window into the West’ for those living in the Soviet sector. The Western Allies had invested heavily to help West Berlin recover. This showed those in East Germany (living behind the Iron Curtain) the standard of living in the West.
- West Berlin was thus a potential embarrassment to Stalin – with Marshall Aid it was being used as a showpiece of capitalism. This, together with his determination to prevent a West German state, meant Stalin had to do something…
5
Q
What were the causes of the 1948 Berlin Crisis?
A
- New currency: the introduction of a new currency was a step too far for Stalin. It was seen as a real threat. Introduced on 23 June 1948.
- Creation of Bizonia & Trizonia:
In 1947, GB & US sectors of Germany (& Berlin) merged = Bizonia, then Fr sector merged as well = Trizonia. - Resented by Stalin - because it creates division - makes the west stronger - between the east and west - seems to be opposing Stalin - West Berlin was a ‘window into the West’ for those living in the Soviet sector. The Western Allies had invested heavily to help West Berlin recover. This showed those in East Germany (living behind the Iron Curtain) the standard of living in the West. - Stalin is embarassed - Wants west Berlin showcase of capitalism to end
- Creation of West Germany: Br & US announced they would create a separate country of West Germany in June 1948. They created a West German assembly & constitution. - Stalin resented this as he wanted a weaker Germany to act as a buffer zone between the USSR and the west
- West Berlin was thus a potential embarrassment to Stalin – with Marshall Aid it was being used as a showpiece of capitalism. This, together with his determination to prevent a West German state, meant Stalin had to do something…
6
Q
How did the Berlin crisis begin?
A
- Stalin thus wanted to force the Western Allies (USA, Britain and France) out of West Berlin.
- In June 1948, Stalin blocked all routes in and out of Berlin. Road, rail and canal routes were all cut – all surface transport links.
7
Q
What was the response to Stalin’s demand?
A
- Fly food, fuel and all other supplies into West Berlin. A massive undertaking, requiring much organisation and immense cost
8
Q
How were the Berliners kept alive during the Berlin Airlift?
A
- For eleven months food and other supplies were flown into Berlin by British, French and US planes.
- Inhabitants of West Berlin depended on these flights for everything. In the winter of 1948 they lived on dried potatoes, powdered eggs and cans of meat, with just four hours of electricity per day.
- 275,000 flights carried in 1½ million tons of supplies. At its peak, one plane landed every 3 minutes.
- The airlift cost over $100 million, together with the lives of 79 servicemen who died in accidents.
9
Q
The Berlin Blockade of 1948
A
- Stalin thus wanted to force the Western Allies (USA, Britain and France) out of West Berlin.
- In June 1948, Stalin blocked all routes in and out of Berlin. Road, rail and canal routes were all cut – all surface transport links.
- The Western allies (GB, US, Fr) chose to fly supplies in to Berlin. This meant the Western Allies wouldn’t give in to Stalin, but also wouldn’t provoke war. - It placed pressure back on Stalin – he couldn’t just shoot planes down! “THE BERLIN AIRLIFT”.
- For eleven months food and other supplies were flown into Berlin by British, French and US planes.
- West Berliners depended on these flights for everything. In the winter of 1948 they lived on dried potatoes, powdered eggs and cans of meat, with just four hours of electricity per day.
- 275,000 flights carried in 1½ million tons of supplies. At its peak, one plane landed every 3 minutes.
- The airlift cost over $100 million, together with the lives of 79 servicemen who died in accidents.
- NOTE: The other options available to the West were (a) to invade E Germany to protect their interests in Berlin & take a stand OR (b) give way to Stalin. Neither were attractive options.
10
Q
Additional points on the Berlin airlift
A
- Location: Berlin was deep inside the Soviet sector, yet it was divided between the four Allied powers (USA, USSR, Britain and France).
- “Window on the West”: West Berlin was a ‘window into the West’ for those living in the Soviet sector. The Western Allies had invested heavily to help West Berlin recover. This showed those in East Germany (living behind the Iron Curtain) the standard of living in the West.
- Showpiece of capitalism: As well as the other steps that had been taken (e.g. new currency), West Berlin was thus a potential embarrassment to Stalin – with Marshall Aid it was being used as a showpiece of capitalism. This, together with his determination to prevent a West German state, meant Stalin had to do something.
- Blockade: To cut-off West Berlin, in June 1948, Stalin blocked all routes in and out of Berlin. Road, rail and canal routes were all cut – all surface transport links.
11
Q
What was the impact of the Berlin Blockade and Airlift?
A
- In May 1949 Stalin called off the blockade. The impact of the blockade should not be underestimated. It highlighted the divisions between East and West – and made these divisions more permanent. They lasted until the early 1990s.
- Germany would now be split up into West and East.
GDR = East;
FDR = West - Cold War intensified: war had almost broken out.
- Arms race – both sides now focused on building more conventional and nuclear weapons.
- NATO and the Warsaw Pact: the airlift meant that defensive alliances were set up.
- BUT POSITIVE IN THAT ARMED CONFLICT HAD NOT OCCURRED!
12
Q
What happened after the blockade?
A
- Using the Berlin blockade as ‘proof’ of Stalin’s intentions to take over Europe, the Western Allies set up NATO in 1949. This ‘North Atlantic Treaty Organization’ was a military alliance that offered mutual support in case of attack.
- The Warsaw Pact (the USSR equivalent) was set up in 1955.
- In May 1949 the Western Allies set up the new Federal Republic of Germany (FDR) – West Germany.
- In October 1949, the USSR responded by creating the German Democratic Republic (GDR) – East Germany.
13
Q
Did problems continue in Berlin after the airlift?
A
- Berlin was a massive problem for East Germany. It was an escape route through to the West. Between 1945 and 1961 nearly one-sixth of the East German population had fled to the West.
- These were young, well qualified people – exactly those that East Germany didn’t want to lose!
- The new leader of the USSR, Khrushchev, like Stalin, wanted the West out of Berlin.
- Both sides accused the other of spying (which was entirely accurate!) and the Soviets continued to see Western influence in Berlin as dangerous and troublesome.
- Khrushchev hoped that the issue would be resolved at the Paris Summit of 1960, but this collapsed due to the U-2 spy plane incident. Tensions thus again rapidly grew between East and West …
