How Berlin was Divided After WW2

Historical Context of Berlin Division

  • Year: 1948

  • Location: Berlin, Germany

  • Background: Post World War II

    • The nation and its capital were divided into separate zones of occupation.

    • Control: Each zone managed by an Allied power:

    • American, British, and French Forces in the West

    • Soviet Forces in the East

Establishment of the Iron Curtain

  • Communist System in Eastern Sectors:

    • The Soviets implemented a communist regime within their sectors.

    • Barriers were erected between them and their Western allies.

  • Iron Curtain:

    • The Iron Curtain symbolized the division of Europe and became a reality from the Baltic Sea to the Balkans.

Refugee Crisis

  • Migration from East to West:

    • A steady flow of refugees moved from East Berlin to West Berlin, seeking better conditions.

The Berlin Blockade

  • Date of Blockade Initiation: 24th June 1948

  • Action:

    • The Soviets closed all land routes: roads, canals, and railways leading to West Berlin.

  • Impact:

    • 2 million residents of West Berlin were isolated from vital resources.

    • Resulting challenges included hunger, unemployment, and exposure to the cold weather.

The Berlin Airlift

  • Response by the United States and Allies:

    • Instead of abandoning the city, the allies supplied their sectors through an airlift.

    • This initiative lasted for over a year.

  • Significance of the Airlift:

    • More than 2.3 million tons of goods (food, fuel, and supplies) were transported to West Berlin.

  • Outcome:

    • The Berlin Airlift was successful, defeating Soviet expectations that the allies would abandon Berlin.

  • End of Blockade:

    • The Soviet Union lifted the blockade on May 12th, 1949.

    • The last mission of the Berlin Airlift occurred on September 30th, 1949.

Rising Tensions Post-Airlift

  • Changing Relations:

    • After a period of relative calm, tensions escalated again between the allies and the Soviet Union due to several factors, including:

    • The Space Race

    • Continuous flow of refugees—nearly 3 million migrating from East to West Berlin.

Construction of the Berlin Wall

  • Date of Construction Initiation: August 13th, 1961

  • Key Figure: Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev

  • Purpose:

    • The borders of East Germany were closed to curtail mass defections to the West.

    • A barbed wire and concrete wall was built to divide East and West Berlin.

  • Function of the Berlin Wall:

    • Served for 28 years as a tool to stabilize Soviet authority over East Germany and showcase its sovereignty globally.

Fall of the Berlin Wall

  • Shifts in Power:

    • Late 1980s saw reformist policies emerging within the Soviet Union, influenced by the Cold War context.

  • Significant Event:

    • On November 9th, 1989, the Communist Party of East Berlin opened the German borders.

    • East and West Berliners celebrated at the wall, marking a historic change.

  • Reunification of Germany:

    • On October 3rd, 1990, 11 months after the fall of the wall, East and West Germany were officially reunified.