Timeline

Dates

Events

Impacts

Jan 1947

US + UK combine their German zones into Bizonia

Break terms of Potsdam

Raises tensions between East and West

March 1947

Truman Doctrine

Raises tensions + makes very clear US is anti USSR

December 1947

London Conference:

  • F, UK, USA meet to discuss Germany

Clear exclusion of USSR

March 1948

France joins Bizonia

  • Trizonia formed

West vs East- increased tensions

June 1948

West Germany receives $1.3M as Marshall Aid


23 June 1948

Trizonia introduce Deutschmark

Humiliating for East Germany- which was not doing as well economically

June 1948

Berlin Blockade begins

Stalin wants the West out of Berlin, control of the capital + propaganda victory

June 1948

Berlin Airlift started by West

  • avoids looking like aggressors

  • delivers supplies to West Germany

April 1949

US forms NATO

  • worried by Stalin’s actions

  • collective protection

  • USA committed to military presence in Europe

  • USSR contained in Europe

12 May 1949

USSR lifts Berlin Blockade

  • Stalin has failed.

May 1949

West form Federal Republic of Germany


October 1949

USSR forms German Democratic Republic


May 1955

USSR forms Warsaw Pact

  • Europe is now divided

    • politically

    • economically

    • militarily

  • threatened by NATO

  • collective security

  • increase USSR’s control over Eastern Europe

  • intensified arms race