The Berlin Blockade

Created by: MaeveMcHugh
Created on: 24-01-19 18:22


	The Berlin Blockade
	Causes The USSR wanted Germany to remain weak, since Germany had invaded them twice since 1914. The Western powers wanted Germany to recover so it could be a barrier against the spread of communism and an important part of European recovery. Significant resources were invested into Germany, including $1,300 million of Marshall aid. Western Germany was recovering to due Mashall aid, where as the Soviet zone wasn't, due to the USSR taking resources as compensation for war damage. The west had a new currency (Deutschmark) which Stalin saw as the first stage of reconstructing a Germany to threaten the USSR. This recovery was visible to the poor people in the east, which caused resent to communism	Effects Tensions increased between the superpowers. Containment had worked as communism failed to spread to West Berlin. NATO was set up, so the west could co-operate to prevent Soviet aggression. If the USSR attcked one country, they attacked them all. All hopes of an united Germany were lost as the Federal Republic of Germany (west) and the German Democratic Republic was established. The Warsaw Pact was established as a response to NATO with the same agreement, only including all eastern sphere countries.
	Overall summary On the 24th of June 1948, Stalin ordered the closer of all road, rail and canal links with west Berlin, due to "technical difficulties". He hoped he could force the west out of Berlin, so it could become communist. The US couldn't allow this as west Berlin showed the prosperity of capitalism. Truman airlifted supplies as Stalin couldn't shoot them down as it would be an act of war. For nearly a year over 13,000 tonnes of supplies were flown in each day, with planes landing every 2 minutes. On the 12th of May 1949 the blockade was lifted with only 101 men dying (mostly due to plane crashes) and war was avoided.

The Berlin Blockade

Causes

The USSR wanted Germany to remain weak, since Germany had invaded them twice since 1914.
The Western powers wanted Germany to recover so it could be a barrier against the spread of communism and an important part of European recovery. Significant resources were invested into Germany, including $1,300 million of Marshall aid.
Western Germany was recovering to due Mashall aid, where as the Soviet zone wasn't, due to the USSR taking resources as compensation for war damage.
The west had a new currency (Deutschmark) which Stalin saw as the first stage of reconstructing a Germany to threaten the USSR.
This recovery was visible to the poor people in the east, which caused resent to communism

Effects

Tensions increased between the superpowers.
Containment had worked as communism failed to spread to West Berlin.
NATO was set up, so the west could co-operate to prevent Soviet aggression. If the USSR attcked one country, they attacked them all.
All hopes of an united Germany were lost as the Federal Republic of Germany (west) and the German Democratic Republic was established.
The Warsaw Pact was established as a response to NATO with the same agreement, only including all eastern sphere countries.

Overall summary

On the 24th of June 1948, Stalin ordered the closer of all road, rail and canal links with west Berlin, due to "technical difficulties". He hoped he could force the west out of Berlin, so it could become communist. The US couldn't allow this as west Berlin showed the prosperity of capitalism. Truman airlifted supplies as Stalin couldn't shoot them down as it would be an act of war. For nearly a year over 13,000 tonnes of supplies were flown in each day, with planes landing every 2 minutes. On the 12th of May 1949 the blockade was lifted with only 101 men dying (mostly due to plane crashes) and war was avoided.

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The Berlin Blockade