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Berlin Blockade & Airlift

Background

    •  At Potsdam (July 1945), USSR disagreed w. Britain & USA re Germany.

    •  Germany split into 4 zones; Berlin also split into 4 but was inside Soviet zone.

    •  Disagreement over : USSR could take 10% of industrial equipment from western zones + whatever from their own zone.

Causes

    1. Cold War: tensions rising (e.g. Czechoslovakia, March 1948).

    2. Aims: Stalin wanted to weaken Germany; USA & Britain wanted to it.

    3. – Jan 1947: USA & Britain merged zones to restart German industry → USSR angered as they were taking German machinery to USSR.

    4. American Aid: Marshall Aid approved (31 Mar 1948) → USSR started searching road & rail traffic into Berlin.

    5. New :

          ◦  1 June: USA & France announced plan for West Germany.

          ◦  23 June: New currency in western zones + Berlin.

          ◦  24 June: USSR stopped all road and rail traffic to Berlin.

          ◦  USSR: Claimed currency was ruining E. German economy.

          ◦  West: Claimed USSR was trying to force them out of Berlin.

Events

    •  US army favoured war but Truman chose to supply Berlin by air.

    •  Berlin Airlift (Operation ) started 26 June 1948.

    •  Blockade lasted days (11 months).

    •  12 May 1949 – Stalin lifted blockade.

    •  Airlift Facts

          ◦  Berliners survived on dried potatoes, powdered eggs & canned meat; 4 hrs electricity/day.

          ◦  USSR offered supplies – West refused.

          ◦  275k flights delivered 1.5m tons of supplies.

          ◦  Planes landed every 3 mins.

          ◦  16 Apr 1949 – 1400 flights brought 13k tons in 1 day (Berlin needed 6k/day).

          ◦  Lt Gail dropped candy bars for children.

          ◦  Airlift continued until 30 Sep 1949 to stockpile supplies.

          ◦  USA stationed bombers (could carry atomic bombs) in Britain.

          ◦  American pilots hailed as heroes.

Results

    1. Cold War worsened – nearly caused war.

    2. Germany permanently divided –

          ◦  May 1949: of Germany (West Germany).

          ◦  Oct 1949: German (East Germany).

    3. NATO & Warsaw Pact –

          ◦  1949: formed (Western defensive alliance).

          ◦  1955: USSR formed Warsaw Pact (Communist alliance).

    4. – USA & USSR competed in military build-up.