Cold War - In 1948 the USSR and the West Disagreed over Berlin

In 1948 the USSR and the West Disagreed over Berlin

• There were four zones of occupied Berlin. The USA and Britain agreed to combine their zones into a zone called Bizonia in 1947.
• The French also agreed to combine their zone with them - the new Western zone had a single government and a new currency to help economic recovery. The currency was called Deutsche Mark.
• The Soviet Union oppsed these moves. Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak - so he decided to blockade Berlin.
• Berlin was in Eastern Germany which was controlled by the USSR - so Stalin ordered that all land communication between West Berlin and the outside world should be cut off.

Berlin Airlift

• West Berlin survived because of the Berlin Airlift. Between June 1948 and May 1949, the only way of obtaining supplies from the outside world was by air.
• By 1949, 8000 tons of supplies were being flown into West Berlin each day.
• Ended on the 30th of September 1949 (lasted 318 days).
• The Airlift was code named Operation Vittles.
• A plane landed every three minutes.