Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 - 11 May 1949)

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Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 - 11 May 1949)

Causes

  • In 1945, the Allies decided to split Germany into four zones of occupation. The capital, Berlin, was also split into four zones. The USSR took huge reparations from its zone in eastern Germany, but Britain, France and America tried to improve conditions in their zones.
  • Stalin could not prevent changes in West Germany (e.g a new currency) but he was determined to establish authority in Berlin (located deep inside the Soviet zone)
  • The allies could access Berlin by road, rail, canal and air corridors
  • Stalin wanted to secure Berlin so that he could take over the entirety of Germany
  • The Berlin Blockade was an attempt to remove the allies from Berlin
  • Stalin blocked all supply lines, cutting off the two million strong population of West Berlin from western help
  • By starving the inhabitants of West Berlin (who only had enough food and fuel supplies to last 6 weeks), Stalin hoped to force the West to abandon their parts of Berlin

Effects

  • The direct consequence of the Berlin Blockade was the Berlin Airlift
  • The only way into Berlin was by air, so in June 1948 the allies decided to air lift supplies
  • West Berlin was supplied by a constant stream of planes bringing in supplies for the next 10 months
  • It is estimated that planes landed every 3 minutes throughout day and night during this period
  • 275 thousand flights in total
  • The West Berliners required 4,000 tons of fuel, food and other supplies daily
  • The airlift lasted for 318 days
  • On 12 May 1949 Stalin called off the blockade
  • As a result of the blockade, Germany was divided into two nations
  • 23 May 1949 - allied zones (France, USA, GB) became the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
  • October 1929 - Communist zone was formed into the German Democratic republic (East Germany)

Overall summary

The Berlin Blockade and airlift was the ultimate test of the policy of containment. "We are going to stay, period" -- Truman.

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