berlin blockade and airlift

background of berlin blockade

allies rebuilding germany:

1. mar 1948: allies joined their areas - west germany + berlin

2. introduced new currency

3. accepted marshall aid

where is west berlin

within east germany

what happened in response

apr 1948 soviets introduce ‘mini-blockade’

• bridges closed

• traffic restrictions

• block stuff getting to west berlin - drive out west berliners

effect of first blockade

didnt work - encouraged west berliners to stay

how do we see tensions in germany continue to increase

apr 1948 - british + soviet plane crash over berlin

• investigation uncoordinated = bad relations

increased violence in city

transport links blocked

what happened june 1948

full berlin blockade

• no food

• no fuel

• no electricity

2.5mill inhabitants of west berlin stranded

why was the berlin blockade so clever

no agreements at potsdam over supply lines to west berlin = no laws broken

west response to berlin blockade

• counter blockade (no trains from west —> east germany)

  • didnt make USSR back down

• only transport into city = air

  • berlin airlift

when did the berlin airlift begin

26 jun 1948

what happened in the berlin airlift

fly in goods daily

go from 3 tonnes to 4,000 tonnes daily (as the days go on)

effect of the berlin airlift

tensions highest they had ever been

US = only country w nuclear weapons - war seemed possible but unclear what type

how long did the berlin blockade/airlift last for

was lifted in may 1949

why was the blockade lifted

‘Easter Parade’ - apr 1949 12k tonnes of coal into west berlin

• clear the airlift wouldnt stop

• blockade lifted

what happens after blockade lifted

may 1949: Federal Republic of Germany (FDR) (west germany) formed

what happened after west germany formation

oct 1949: German Democratic Republic (GDR) (east germany) formed

• had secret police - stasi

short term impact on tension between the countries

v close to a hot war - tensions high as ever

shows both countries committed to aims

long term impact on countries’ tension

not willing to engage in war - set tone for cold war

set tone for how far they would go to obstruct one another