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 REPARATIONS: 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 REBUILD it.
3. BIZONIA – 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 CURRENCY:
◦ 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 VITTLES) started 26 June 1948.
• Blockade lasted 318 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 HALVORSEN dropped candy bars for children.
◦ Airlift continued until 30 Sep 1949 to stockpile supplies.
◦ USA stationed B-29 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: FEDERAL REPUBLIC of Germany (West Germany).
◦ Oct 1949: German DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (East Germany).
3. NATO & Warsaw Pact –
◦ 1949: NATO formed (Western defensive alliance).
◦ 1955: USSR formed Warsaw Pact (Communist alliance).
4. ARMS RACE – USA & USSR competed in military build-up.
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