Berlin Blockade

Episode 1: Berlin Blockade, 1948–49

Background:

The Allied leaders held conferences at Yalta and Potsdam towards the end of World War Two. They agreed to divide Germany into four zones of occupation. Britain, France, the US and the USSR each had their own zone. • Despite being in the middle of the Soviet occupied zone, Berlin was similarly divided between the big four Allies. • The Western Allies agreed to join their three zones and form West Germany. Their sectors in Berlin also unified to form West Berlin. • In contrast, the USSR wanted to keep Germany weak and divided. East Germany and East Berlin remained separate.

Progress of the crisis:

On 21 June, 1948, a new currency called the Deutschmark was introduced in West Germany. The Soviets refused to accept the currency in their occupied zones. • Three days later, Stalin tried to force the Western Allies out of West Berlin by ordering a blockade. He closed-off all road, rail and canal access, and cut off the power supply. • More than 2 million people were isolated inside the city. • The Western Allies decided to supply Berlin by air. They knew Stalin would not risk war by shooting down one of their planes. • British and American cargo planes delivered supplies, including food, medicine, clothes and coal. • The American codename for the airlift was Operation Vittles. The operation continued for 11 months. • Berliners had to ration food and use candles in their homes at night. Many lost their jobs because businesses closed down.

End of the crisis:
By May of 1949, Stalin realised that the blockade of West Berlin was a failure. All access routes to the city were reopened.

Why was the Berlin Blockade important?

The division of Germany was now permanent. The three Western zones became known as the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). The Soviet zone became known as the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). • In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was set up. This was a military alliance against Soviet aggression. Its members included the United States, France and Britain. • In response, communist countries in Eastern Europe formed the Warsaw Pact in 1955. Members included the USSR, East Germany, and Poland.