Berlin+Blockade

Maddy Narayan

=Berlin Blockade=

The USSR had already disagreed with Britain and the USA at Potsdam July, 1945 about what should be done with Germany. They came to a conclusion that Germany be divided into four zones, one for each of the Allied powers, (including the soviets). Berlin quickly became the focal point of both US and Soviet efforts to re-align Europe, but both sides had completely different ideas of how to run Berlin, causing major damage and crises. The Blockade began on June 24, 1948 and ended May 12, 1949. It was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the Allied occupation of Berlin, the Soviets blocked the railway, road and canal access to deliver supplies. Their aim was to force the Western powers to allow Soviets to supply Berlin with food and fuel, allowing them to take control of the whole city.

= = =The Causes=

The causes of the blockade begin with the Cold War. It was just getting started and everyone had just gotten out of WWII and were still feeling unsure about where they stood in the World. Stalin and the Allies had different aims. While Britain and the US wanted to rebuild Germany and it's economy, Stalin wanted to destroy it. American aid also contributed. Congress voted for Marshall Aid which stated that America should give $17 billion of aid to get Europe’s economy going and stop Communism. George Marshall (American General) said that it was up to the countries of Europe to decide what they needed. In July 1947, led by Britain and France, the countries of western Europe met in Paris, and asked for economic aid. That led to Soviets immediately searching all railways and other transportation going into Berlin. Lastly, the new currencies were a huge contributing factor to the blockade. When France introduced "Bizonia" (country of West Berlin), a new currency was created, the next day, Soviets were searching trains and redirecting supplies in attempt to strengthen the Soviet influence.

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=Beginning of the Blockade=

On June 19, 1948, Soviet guards halted all passenger trains and traffic on the autobahn to Berlin, delayed Western and German freight shipments and required that all water transport secure special Soviet permission. Soviets then halted a US military supply train to Berlin and sent it back to western Germany. June 20, a Soviet representative told the other three occupying powers, "We are warning both you and the population of Berlin that we shall apply economic and administrative sanctions that will lead to the circulation in Berlin exclusively of the currency of the Soviet occupation zone." The Soviets continued on this rampage and created propaganda to denounce the other powers by any way they could; radio, posters, newspapers, and loudspeakers. Rumors of a potential occupation by Soviet troops spread quickly. German communists demonstrated, rioted and attacked pro-West German leaders. At the time, West Berlin had thirty-six days' worth of food, and forty-five days' worth of fuel and the Americans and British were greatly outnumbered due to scaling back of their armies. The US, like other western countries, had disbanded most of its troops and was largely inferior in Europe.

=Outcomes=

The results of the blockade came in good and bad. The Berlin Airlift was what ended the Blockade. It also made a lasting impression into out modern world. In 1959, the Berlin Airlift Foundation was created to assist the families of the 78 British and American men killed during the operation. And during the 50th anniversary celebrations, Berlin citizens signed parachutes for airlifts to other parts of the world. Also created was, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), in 1949, as an alliance against Russia, and the WARSAW pact (1955) which was an alliance of communist states by Russia. Germany got split up into East (GDR) by Stalin, and West (FRG) by France, Britain and US combining their forces. This also lead to the Arms Race between Soviet Union and US when they realized they were competing for world domination. media type="youtube" key="tb9AMndjr2U" height="283" width="378" align="center"