Berlin Blockade

Question 1

What was the background?

Answer 1

• Cold war begun e.g. in CZ, March 1948 popular foreign minister Jan Masaryk was murdered and communist party took control
• Allies disagreed with Soviets over what should happen to Germany
• Formation of Bizonia and Trizonia to get German industry going
• Voted for MA in Germany in 1948 - after all road traffic searched by Russians
• June 1st 1948 West Germany created, June 23rd new currency announced. Road and rail traffic stopped, seen as attempt to go against Soviet influence in East Germany, Stalin claimed he was protecting economy

Question 2

Name 5 key facts of the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 2

Any from:

• First flight on 26th June 1948
• Lasted 318 days (11 months)
• Airlift codenamed “Operation Vittles”
• Soviets offer to provide for West Berlin declined
• 275,000 flights carried 1.5 million tons
• Average plane carried 7 tons
• Plain landed every 3 minutes
• 16th April 1949, 1400 flights brought in 13,000 tons of supplies in one day (Berlin only needed 6,000)
• Continued until 30th September 1949 to build reserve
• US B-29 bombers (capable of carrying atomic bombs) stationed Britain
• US Airmen regarded as heros

Question 3

What were the outcomes?

Answer 3

• Cold war became worse (nearly all out war)
• Germany split up (May 1949 - West Germany, October 1949 - East Germany)
• Allies set up NATO in 1949 (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
• Soviets set up Warsaw pact in 1955 in response to NATO