Berlin Blockade

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Divided Berlin

  • After WW2, Germany and Berlin were divided into four zones.
  • All the zones were in economic chaos.
  • Stalin feared a recovering Germany, so wanted to cripple it.
  • In 1946, France, Britain and the USA combined their zones, and in 1948 they reformed the currency.

The Blockade

  • Stalin felt that the USA's handling of Germany was provocative.
  • In June 1948, Stalin blocked off all supply lines, cutting off 2 million people in West Berlin.
  • If US tanks did try to ram the blocks imposed, it would be seen as an act of war.
  • Truman wanted to show that he was serious about his policy of containment.

The Berlin Airlift

  • The only way into Berlin was air.
  • In June 1948, the Allies decided to airlift supplies to West Berlin.
  • For the next ten months, planes were bringing in everything West Berliners needed with the planes coming in 3 times a minute.
  • By May 1949, it was clear that the Allies weren't going to give up so Stalin reopened the communications.

Consequences of the Blockade

Two Germanys
  • In May 1949, the British, French and American zones became the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).
  • In October 1949, the Soviet zone became the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
A Symbol 
  • Germany stayed divided for 41 years.
  • For Americans, West Berlin and Germany was "an oasis of democratic freedom".
  • For the Soviets, it was "an invasive cancer".
Cold War
  • The tension between the Americans ans Soviets increased.
  • They would be publicly suspicious of each other, obstruct each other and make masses of  propaganda against each other.
  • However, they wouldn't actually fight because after two world wars no one wanted or was able to have another war.
NATO and the Warsaw Pact
  • During the Berlin Blockade, war seemed like a real possibility.
  • Western Powers met in Washington DC and signed NATO in April 1942 (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation).
  • In 1955 NATO powers allowed Germany into it.
  • In response, the USSR and countries under its sphere of influence formed the Warsaw Pact alliance.
  • In the Warsaw Pact, they agreed to defend each other and not to interfere in other countries affairs and 'independence' was given to each state.

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