The origins of the Cold War

What were some common beliefs of capitalism?

-People are free to vote for the people who govern them. There are at least two political parties

-People can earn as much money as they can through there own effort

-Freedom of speech

-Freedom of press

What were some common beliefs of communism?

-Total equality

-Media is censored

-World must experience revolution to conform to the ideology

-State owns all businesses

-Only one political party

What were Stalins beliefs and aims?

-Soviet union should build up its strength, and that the USSR could become a successful communist state on its own

-Extreme capitalist enemies and internal opponents were constant threats. To protect against this, he felt the state must become more powerful and centralised

What were Roosevelt’s beliefs and aims?

-4 fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech, religion and freedom from want and fear

-US economy required extensive government intervention to create stability, jobs and a social safety net

What were Churchills beliefs and aims?

-Nazi Germany and other totalitarian forces threatened global democracy

-British empire and its allies, like the US must fight to preserve freedom

What was the political system in the Soviet Union (USSR)?

No democracy, county run by communist party, leader had total control

What was the political system in the USA and Britain?

Governments were chosen through free elections, where citizens could vote and political parties compete for power

What was the economy like in the USSR?

State owned all land, property and businesses. It controlled all economic activity and set wages and prices

What was the economy like in the USA and Britain?

Individuals and private businesses, own property and businesses to make a profit. Competition drives the market

What was the social structure in the USSR?

The official goal was to have a society where everyone was equal and wealth was shared. In reality, a powerful elite ran the country

What was the social structure in the USA and Britain?

Society is divided into different economic classes based on wealth and income. There is significant inequality

What were the American leaders during the cold war?

-Roosevelt (dies in 1945)

-Truman (45-52)

-Eisenhower (52-60)

-Kennedy (60-63)

-Johnson (63-68)

-Nixon (68-74)

-Ford (74-76)

-Carter (76-80)

-Reagan (80-88)

-Bush, G.H.W (88-92)

Who were the leaders of the Soviet Union during the cold war?

-Stalin 1922-53

-Khrushchev 53-64

-Brezhnev 64-82

-Andropov and Chernenko were in charge 83-84 but died months into their terms

-Gorbachev 85-91

Who was the Grand Alliance?

Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill

When was the Tehran Conference?

November 1943

What context of the Tehran conference?

-Success for Stalin because he got most of what he wanted because Roosevelt was ill so he sided with him more

-Churchill’s idea of an Allied invasion through the Balkans, thereby preventing the Red Army from taking over all of Eastern Europe, was rejected

What were the agreements of the Tehran conference?

-Britain and the USA agreed to open up a second front by invading France in May 1944

-USSR was to wage war against Japan once Germany was defeated

-A United Nations organisation was to be set up after the war

-An area of eastern Poland was added to the USSR. At the insistence of Stalin, the borders of post-war Poland were to be along the Oder and Neisse rivers

When was the Yalta conference?

February 1945

What was the context of the Yalta conference?

-By early 1945, Allied armies closing in on Berlin, and Germany close to defeat

-Met in Yalta in early 1945 to consider what to do with Germany and Europe once victory was achieved

-Still fearful of Hitler and mostly able to agree

-Last meeting of Grand Alliance, afterwards Roosevelt died and Churchill had lost general election

-Stalin wanted the Germans to pay huge reparations, Roosevelt and Churchill agreed that it was not sensible to punish Germany too harshly

-Good relations between Stalin and Roosevelt, as a result Churchill isolated

What were the agreements made at the Yalta conference?

-USSR would enter war against Japan once Germany had surrendered

-Divide Germany into four zones: US, British, French and Soviet

-Divide Berlin in the same way

-Hunt down Nazi war criminals in an international court of justice

-Allow countries that had been liberated from German occupation to have free elections to choose the government they wanted

-Join the new United Nations Organisation in order to maintain peace once the war ended

-Eastern Europe would be a Soviet sphere of influence

What did the leaders disagree on at the Yalta Conference?

-Could not agree on how much Germany should pay in reparations - Stalin wanted higher figure than Roosevelt and Churchill (decision delayed to next conference)

-Poland - Stalin wanted Polish/German border to be further to the west and wanted a ‘friendly’ Polish government so that his country would have some protection from Germany. Western powers feared this would be Soviet controlled government, they persuaded Stalin to allow free elections in Poland

When was the Potsdam conference?

July 1945

What was the context for the Potsdam Conference?

-Soviet troops liberated countries in eastern Europe but didn’t remove military presence. July, occupied Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania -Stalin set up communist government in Poland, ignoring the wishes of majority of Poles + agreements at Yalta. Ignored protests form Britain + USA, insisted his control of eastern Europe was defensive measure against possible future attacks -Red Army biggest in world but Stalin refused to cut it down after war. When demilitarisation in West, USSR expanded armed forces -Truman new president, distrusted Stalin was convinced that USSR intended to take over Europe -USA tested atomic bomb -Halfway through conference, Churchill defeated in general election, replaced by Clement Attlee

When did Roosevelt die?

April 1945

When did the USA test an atomic bomb?

16 July 1945 - successful test of atomic bomb at a desert site. At start of Potsdam conference Truman informed Stalin of this, Stalin was furious that he had not been consulted beforehand

What were the agreements made at the Potsdam conference?

-Germany+Berlin divided as previously agreed. Each of the 4 zones of Germany and Berlin occupied and administered by an Ally. USSR in East Germany and French, British and US in West

-Germany demilitarised

-Democracy, free elections, free press and freedom of speech re-established in Germany

-Germany pay reparations to Allies in equipment + materials. Most go to USSR who suffered most. USSR given ¼ of industrial goods made in west zones for food + coal in east zone

-Nazi Party banned. Nazis put on trial for war crimes in Nuremburg in 1946

-Full participation in United Nations Organization

-Poland’s frontier moved westwards to rivers Oder and Neisse

What were the disagreements at the Potsdam conference?

-Germany: 20 million Russians had died during war and Stalin wanted massive compensation which would have crippled Germany. Truman refused, saw a revived Germany as possible barrier to future Soviet expansion. Stalin wanted to disable Germany to protect USSR against future threats. Truman didn’t want Germany to be punished like it had by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919

-Views differed with free elections. Truman wanted free elections in the countries of eastern Europe occupied by Soviet troops. Stalin refused to submit to US pressure, believing it was unwelcome interference. Truman furious and began ‘get tough’ policy against USSR

How did the development of an atomic bomb in the USA increase tensions?

-USSR became more determined to spread its influence to create a buffer zone between itself and western Europe

-Soviet Union tested atomic bomb on 29th August 1949

-By 1964, Britain, France and China had atomic bomb

-Both sides had weapons capable of killing millions

How did the development of atomic bombs decrease tension?

Both sides much less willing to go to war, as risks became much higher and many more would be killed

What was the relationship between Soviet Union and eastern European countries?

Most eastern European countries had been hostile towards Soviet Union. Poland signed non-aggression agreement pact with France and, during WW2, Hungary and Romania fought on Germany’s side (against Soviet Union)

What was the percentages deal?

Agreement between Churchill and Stalin about the divisions in Europe - divided countries into percentages of influence e.g:

-Romania - USSR 90%, others 10%

-Greece - Great Britain 90%, USSR 10%

-Yugoslavia - 50% each

-Bulgaria - USSR 75%, others 10%

Stalin believed Churchill was accepting the influence of USSR in eastern Europe

What was the strategic importance of Poland?

-USSR’s future security was dependent on a friendly Polish government because in the past Poland was a ‘corridor for attack’ for USSR

-In 1945, Stalin wanted to move Polish frontier so that most of Poland became part of USSR

-Also wanted communist government in what would remain of Poland

How would ‘friendly’ states in eastern Europe improve USSR’s security?

USSR invaded from the west by Germany on two occasions (1914 and 1945) and suffered huge casualties during the world wars. Stalin wanted to create a zone of ‘friendly’ or Soviet controlled states in eastern Europe as a buffer against future invasions

What did Britain, France and USA think Stalin’s motives of Soviet expansion were?

Believed Stalin’s motives were political - the expansion of the Soviet empire and communism throughout Europe

Who wrote the Long telegram and what did it state?

-Written by George Kennan (USA’s Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Moscow in 1946) in Feb 1946, sent to Truman

-He saw USSR as aggressive and suspicious and recommended firm action by the USA against what he viewed as Soviet expansion in eastern Europe

What was the importance of the Long telegram?

It greatly influenced Truman’s policies in the cold war, especially his policy of containment

Who wrote the Novikov telegram and what did it state?

-Written by Nikolai Novikov (Soviet Ambassador to the USA) in Sept 1946, sent to Stalin

-Warned that the USA had emerged from WW2 economically strong and bent on world domination. Therefore, USSR needed to secure its buffer zone in eastern Europe

What did the Novikov telegram lead to?

-Hardened Stalin’s attitude towards USA

-Worsened relations between USA and USSR

How was Soviet control carried out in most of eastern Europe?

Having freed much of eastern Europe from the Nazis, the Red Army remained in occupation and USSR established communist governments in countries that were closely controlled from Moscow, these countries called satellite states. Pattern was:

-Coalition governments set up in which the communists shared power with other political parties

-Backed by Stalin, communists took over the civil service, media, security and defence

-Opposition leaders arrested or forced to flee

-Elections held but fixed to ensure support for communists

-’People’s democracies’ set up

What were the satellite states in eastern Europe?

-Poland

-Romania

-Hungary

-Bulgaria

-Czechoslovakia

-Yugoslavia

How was Soviet control established in Poland?

-In June 1945 a coalition government of several parties was set up in Poland

-In January 1947 elections were rigged to ensure the election of a totally communist government. The leader of the main opposition party, Stanislaw Milokajcyk, fled to London

How was Soviet control established in Romania?

-Coalition government set up in early 1945

-Jan 1945 the communists, encouraged by Stalin, took part in demonstrations to disrupt the government

-March 1945, Soviet army intervened. It disarmed the Romanian army and forced the King to appoint a government dominated by communists under Petru Groza

-Nov 1946 elections held and communists gained 80% of votes

-1947, communist government abolished monarchy

How was Soviet control established in Hungary?

-Largest party in 1945 was Smallholders’ Party which won over 50% of vote in Aug 1945 elections

-Country began to experience an economic crisis, and Communist Party able to seize control of Ministry of the Interior, which controlled police

-Used this control to arrest Bela Kovacs (leader of Smallholders’ Party) in 1947

-Prime Minister, Imre Nagy, forced to resign

-In general election Aug 1947, communists secured large share of vote and took over government and all other parties banned

How was Soviet control established in Bulgaria?

In late 1944 a communist-dominated government set up. Nov 1945 communists won rigged elections and in 1946, all other parties banned

How was Soviet control established in Czechoslovakia?

-Communists already had great support: by 1947, they were largest party in coalition government and controlled police and armed forces. 1948, supported by USSR, they used army to seize control of the country

-Many non communists arrested and foreign secretary (Jan Masaryk) a non communist murdered. Rigged elections brought a communist victory. Soon after all other political parties banned

How was Soviet control established in Yugoslavia?

-Communist resistance fought against Germans during war and its leader, Marshal Tito elected president

-However, Tito had no intension of taking orders from Stalin

-Therefore, Yugoslavia expelled from Communist International Bureau (Cominform) and other communist countries applied economic sanctions

-To challenge Stalin further, Tito accepted aid from the West

What was Churchill’s and Roosevelt’s reaction to the satellite states?

Alarmed, they had agreed that eastern Europe should be a ‘Soviet sphere of influence’ and Stalin would heavily influence the region. However, they had not expected such a Soviet domination. They were convinced that democratically elected governments which would have been friendly towards USSR could have been set up

How did the creation of satellite states cause differences between USA and USSR?

-Stalin believed that he could only ensure the support of the countries of eastern Europe by setting up Soviet controlled communist governments

-Truman saw this as a blatant attempt by Stalin to spread communism throughout Europe

Who made the ‘Iron Curtain’ speech and what did it state?

-March 1946, Churchill (no longer British Prime Minister) made a speech in town of Fulton in USA while visiting the country

-Speech stated that the Iron Curtain was a line that divided the communist East from the capitalist West in Europe. Churchill suggested an alliance between USA and Britain to prevent further Soviet expansion

What did the Iron Curtain speech lead to?

Further worsened relations between the two sides with Stalin seeing it as deliberately provocative

when was the Warsaw pact formed?

14 may 1955

what was the purpose of the Warsaw pact?

-based upon mutual non-intervention in the internal affairs of the member countries

-member states were also obligated to intervene if any of the Warsaw Pact countries were threatened

Who was part of the Warsaw Pact?

-communist states of Eastern Europe

-USSR, East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania

What were the consequences of the Warsaw pact?

-played an important role in the Czechoslovakian Crisis of 1968

-the existence of two rival alliance systems increased rivalry and intensified the arms race

what were the events of the arms race?

-After USA tested first atomic bomb in 1945, Soviet atomic research programme intensified

-1949 news of first Soviet atomic bomb

-led to Truman ordering new weapon H-bomb (hydrogen bomb) to be built + defence spending increased

-1953 USSR tested H-bomb few months after first American test

-1 March 1954 USA tested its biggest ever hydrogen bomb - its explosive power was the equivalent of 15 million tonnes of TNT

-Building more powerful bombs - by mid-1950s, American B52 bombers could have wiped out Moscow

-By 1961 USA had 63 Inter-continental ballistic missiles and USSR has over 50

what were the consequences of the arms race?

-further increased rivalry and tension

-each sides felt threatened and as a result made more alliances and built more weapons

What were the events of Sputnik (the space race)

-1957 Soviet launched rocket Sputnik, a satellite which could orbit the earth in 1.5 hours

-USA saw this launch as military threat

-Between 1957-59, USA increased spending on missiles by 20%

-Eisenhower founded NASA

what were the consequences of the space race?

-USA concerned that USSR overtaking them in arms development

-as a result USA expanded its training for engineers and scientists

-US Air Force increased number of B-52 bombers and US navy equipped some of its submarines with nuclear weapons

-USA placed missile bases in some European countries

What did Khrushchev state once he became president?

-1956 new president

-he denounced Stalin’s policies in a ‘secret speech’ and referred to as ‘de-Stalinisation’

-He believed in peaceful co-existence, which was the belief that the two superpowers could exist peacefully together

-for a time there seemed to be a thaw in the Cold War

What was Hungary like after WW2?

-Hungary occupied by USSR and suffered greatly under the regime

-Rakosi became the communist dictator of Hungary, calling himself a ‘follower of Stalin’

-He used terror and brutality to keep control and killed approx. 2000 people and imprisoning 200000 who opposed him

What did Khrushchev do to Rakosi?

Feb 1956 he forced Rakosi to resign due to de-Stalinisation policy

what marked the start of the uprising?

23rd Oct 1956:

-Student protests happened due to a lack of political freedom and problems such as a poor economy and fuel shortages - statue of Stalin pulled down

What were the events of the uprising?

-After the demonstrations Khrushchev sent troops and tanks to Budapest to try to restore peace

-25 Oct 1956, tanks opened fire killing 12 and wounding over 100

-26 Oct Nagy reinstated as prime minister

-Nagy held talks with USSR, agreed that tanks would be removed

-30 Oct Nagy released some political prisoners (including Cardinal Mindszenty)

-political parties allowed to reorganised

-Nagy wanted to withdraw from Warsaw Pact

-3rd Nov Nagy announced coalition gov

What was Khrushchev’s response to the uprising?

-4 Nov 200,000 Soviet troops and 6000 tanks returned to Hungary

-Khrushchev regained control

-Nagy hanged in 1958

What were the consequences of the uprising?

-7,000 Soviet troops killed

-Hungarian rebels lost at least 20,000

-Approx. 200,000 Hungarians fled many became political refugees

-USSR sent out warning to any satellite state thinking of breaking away

What was the international reaction to the Soviet invasion of Hungary?

-Very little West could do to help Hungary apart from condemn USSR’s actions

-Hungary too far away for military intervention and with the treat of nuclear war, it was too risky to intervene

-UN convened a special a special enquiry into the events, however USSR and Hungary refused to participate

-US TV presenter, Ed Sullivan, raised $6million for Hungarian refugees

Why did Truman introduce the US policy of containment?

-The USA, especially Truman, believed that the Soviet Union was trying to spread communism - first through eastern Europe and then to the West and beyond

-The USA had the atomic bomb and wanted to use this, together with its superior economic strength, to put pressure on the USSR and prevent further expansion

-Events were occurring in Greece

What events were occurring in Greece?

-Since 1944 there was civil war in Greece, with Britain helping royalist government to fight communists

-Britain had 40,000 troops stationed in the country and gave money to the Greek government and also to Turkey, which was also under the threat of communism

-By early 1947, Britain told USA they couldn’t afford to support the Greek and Turkish governments. The USA stepped in with the necessary financial aid, fearing that the two countries would come under Soviet influence

What was the Truman Doctrine?

-March 1947, Truman delivered a speech to the US congress in which he promised that the USA would provide aid to any country taking a stand against communism. This was developed into the Truman Doctrine. It signalled the beginning of the US policy of containment

What were the consequences of the Truman Doctrine?

-Greek government able to defeat the communists

-Rivalry between USA and USSR increased. Truman publicly stated that the world was divided between two ways of life: the free, non communist and the unfree, communist. Within a year the first serious crisis of the Cold War would begin over Berlin

-The USA became committed to the policy of containment and far more involved in European affairs

-USA decided to provide economic aid to Europe (Marshall Plan). Although it was a generous act, it was motivated by US self interest: Americans wanted to create new markets for US goods

-1947, Stalin set up the Communist Information Bureau, Cominform, to link communist parties in eastern Europe and worldwide, in common action

What was the importance of the Truman Doctrine in the development of the Cold War?

-Shifted US policy towards the USSR from a wartime alliance to containment of Soviet expansion, as advocated by George Kennan

-It became the basis of American Cold War policy throughout Europe and around the world

-Increased rivalry between USA and USSR

What was the Marshall Plan?

-A programme of aid offered to all war-torn European countries to help them re-equip their factories and revive agriculture and trade

-USA offered money, equipment and goods to states willing to work together towards their economic recovery

-Aid was in the form of cash, machinery, food and technological assistance

-In return they would agree to but US goods and allow US companies to invest capital in their industries

-Between 1948 and 1952, USA spent approx. $13 billion in aid to help European countries rebuild their economies and raise their standards of living. US machinery helped European factories to recover from the effects of WW2. US advisors helped rebuild transport systems

When was the Marshall Plan introduced and by who?

Officially called the European Recovery Plan but nicknamed the Marshall Plan was introduced by the US Secretary of State, General George Marshall, in June 1947

Why was the Marshall plan introduced?

-Truman didn’t want to commit the US military to the defence of western Europe against the spread of communism

-He believed that communism generally won support in countries where there were economic problems, unemployment and poverty

-Many European countries had suffered badly as a result of WW2 and were struggling to deal with the damage

-There were shortages of nearly everything, which led to rationing

-If USA could help them to recover economically and provide employment and reasonable prosperity, there would be no need to turn to communism

What were the consequences of the Marshall Plan?

-Marshall invited countries to meet together and decide how to use US aid. 16 of those set up the Organisation for European Economic Recovery (OEEC) to put plan into action

-Europe became more firmly divided between east and west. Stalin initially involved but withdrew the USSR from discussions because he didn’t want to show how weak the USSR really was economically. He prevented eastern European countries from becoming involved

-Stalin accused the USA of using the Plan for its own selfish interests - to dominate Europe and boost the US economy

-Increased tensions as both the USSR and USA were intent on being perceived and the more powerful in Europe

What was the purpose of Cominform and Comecon?

To extend Soviet political and economic control over eastern Europe and to retaliate against the US policy of containment

What are the details of Cominform?

-Communist Information Bureau set up in 1947 to enable the USSR to coordinate communist parties throughout Europe

-Soviet’s response to Truman Doctrine

-Introduces to ensure that the states in eastern Europe: followed Soviet aims in foreign policy and introduced Soviet-style economic policies, such as collectivisation of agriculture and state control of industry

-USSR used organisation to purge any members who disagreed with Moscow

What were the consequences of Cominform?

-Expelled Yugoslavia form Cominform due to Tito’s (President) refusal to follow Soviet line - he accepted Marshall aid money

-Tito was an independent communist who didn’t want Stalin’s influence

-Allowed Stalin to spread communist ideologies

-Increased political and ideological isolation from the West

What was the importance of Cominform in the development of the cold war?

-Showed that USSR wouldn’t allow independence or democracy increasing fear for west that Stalin was spreading communism

-Increased communist ideologies in Eastern Europe

What are the details of Comecon?

-The Council for Mutual Assistance (Comecon) was founded in 1949

-USSR’s response to the Marshall Plan

-Supposed to be a means by which the USSR could financially support countries in eastern Europe

-In reality it was used to:

• control the economies of these states

• give USSR access to their resources

• encourage economic specialisation within the Soviet bloc

-Didn’t allow satellite states to accept aid from Marshall Plan

What were the consequences of Comecon?

-Gave USSR resources e.g; Czechoslovakia and East Germany encouraged to concentrate on heavy industry and Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria specialised in the production of food and raw materials

-Limited economic growth for satellite states as they were not allowed to accept aid from the Marshall Plan

What was the importance of Comecon in the cold war?

-Showed USSR directly challenged USA

-Turned economic recovery into a competition of capitalism verses communism as both sides tried to prove that their side was stronger

-Created more separation with sides s Soviets had separate economic system

What different views did Stalin and the Western Allies have about the future of Germany?

The West wanted to speed up the economic recovery but the USSR wanted the opposite to secure itself from a future attack

What were the long term causes of the Berlin blockade and airlift?

-USSR ensured that minority communist group took control of eastern zone. They tried unsuccessfully to secure communist control of Berlin city council but socialist majority, supported by western powers, resisted -West wanted to speed up economic recovery of Germany, which devastated by war and facing serious shortages of food and fuel. USSR wanted opposite to secure itself from future attack. Wanted Germany weak and refused to allow own zone to trade with other zones -Berlin in heart of East Germany. West allowed access to their sectors by road, rail, canal and air. Stalin didn’t want west in Berlin because it would show people in East the affluent, capitalist way of life. West wanted to stay in Berlin to observe Soviet activities

What were the short-term causes of the Berlin blockade and airlift?

Contrast between the policies of the East and West: -West encouraged economic recovery in zones, in providing a currency (Deutschmark). Received large quantities of Marshall aid. Set up free elections to establish democracy -Stalin feared a strong, democratic and reunited Germany on border of USSR. Feared that western currency and democratic ideas would spread to eastern zone and undermine control of East Berlin -In Jan 1947, US and British zones merged into 1 economic unit - Bizonia. During 1947 and 1948, tensions began to rise over how the zones were being administered

What were the events that led up to the Berlin blockade and airlift (1948)?

-March: Soviet representatives walked out of Allied Control Commission, complaining that Western attitudes made it unworkable. Commission set up in 1945 to administer all zones

-April: Allied zones included in Marshall Plan. Soviet troops began to hold up and search road and rail traffic entering West Berlin

-June: West announced plans to create West German State, introduced currency (Deutschmark) in West. USSR retaliated by introducing own currency (Ostmark) in East

What was the Berlin Blockade?

24th June: Stalin accused West of interfering in the Soviet zone. He cut off road, rail and canal traffic (all ways to get to West Berlin by land) in an attempt to starve West Berlin. Stalin was trying to force the Allies to pull out of their sectors and abandon plans for separate development of their German zones

What was the Berlin airlift?

Western Allied operation to fly supplies to West Berlin after all land routes were blocked by Stalin. The operation was ran by General Albert Wedemeyer

When did the Berlin airlift begin?

28th June 1948

How long did the Berlin airlift last?

10 months

How did goods get to West Berlin?

Planes flew day and night along the air corridor. Each was given an exact time to land at 90 second intervals

Why were the pilots’ journey’s dangerous?

-Soviet planes flew across the air corridors and weather balloons were placed in awkward positions

-Soviets could shoot down the planes but they didn’t

How did Truman respond to the behaviour of the USSR during the airlift?

As a warning, he ordered B-29 bombers, capable of carrying atomic bombs, to be sent to Britain. USSR now within US bombing range

How many supplies were flown to West Berlin during the Berlin airlift?

-By September 1948, 4,600 tons of supplies per day

-16-17th April 1949, 1,398 flights landed nearly 13,000 tons of supplies in 24 hours

-During the airlift there was a total of 275,000 flights with an average of 4,000 tonnes of supplies each day

How did Stalin hope that the West would fail?

-USSR tried to persuade people to move from West to East Berlin - 3% took up the offer

-Hoped that severe winter conditions would paralyse the airlift. However, it was a relatively mild winter that didn’t disrupt the flights

What was West Berlin supplied with during the Berlin airlift?

Food, clothing, oil, building materials ect. However there were still great shortages and people decided to leave

When did the Berlin airlift end?

12 May 1949 - Stalin called off the blockade as he had failed to starve the Allies out of Berlin

Why was the USA not prepared to give up after the Berlin blockade?

-Felt that if the Western Allies gave in to Stalin, the western zones of Germany might be lost

-Wanted Berlin to be a symbol of freedom behind the Iron Curtain

-Wanted to show he was serious about containment

-Determined to stand up to the USSR

What were the consequences of the Berlin airlift?

-Division of Germany: shortly after end of blockade, Allies announced West Berlin would join Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) - West Germany in May 1949. Stalin responded in Oct 1949 that East Germany would become German Democratic Republic (GDR)

-East-West rivalry: Truman triumphant but Stalin defeated so more determined to resist West + spread communism

-Establishment of NATO

When was NATO established?

April 1949 - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation signed