Berlin Blockade

Question 1

What did the West (UK and USA) want for Germany after the war?

Answer 1

• make Germany strong
• rebuild the German economy/industries
• a strong Germany will be useful to trade with
• offer protection from the domino theory

Question 2

What did the USSR want for Germany after the war?

Answer 2

• Keep Germany vulnerable and weak
• ensure it economy does not become strong again.
• Keep Germany industrially week to limit trading opportunities
• a weak Germany will be useful for future expansion

Question 3

Why did the USA and Britain want to help Germany?

Answer 3

So they didn’t have to keep supporting the German economy.

Question 4

In 1947 Britain and and the USA joined their zones to make Bizonia to further recovery. They also stopped taking reparation and France joined later to become trizonia. How did Stalin feel about this?

Answer 4

Stalin felt betrayed because at Yalta they had agreed that any decisions to be made about Germany would be taken jointly. Stalin became more suspicious.

Question 5

In 1948 what made Stalin more suspicious of the West’s motives?

Answer 5

In 1948 West Germany was recovering Marshall aid and was starting to recover and this made Stalin grow more suspicious.

Question 6

What was the final push to Stalin enforcing the Berlin blockade?

Answer 6

23rd June 1948, the USA and Britain introduced a new currency in Bizonia. It was called the Deutschmark. This was made to strengthen West Germany’s economy.

Question 7

What did Stalin do the day after the Deutschmark was released?

Answer 7

There was economic crisis in East Germany as people rushed to change their old marks in Deutschmarks.
On 24th June 1948 Stalin closed all roads, canals and railways that led from West Germany to West Berlin.

Question 8

What were Stalin’s main motives in enforcing the Berlin Blockade?

Answer 8

• trying to weaken the West by not trading with them.
• spreading communism and reducing capitalism.
• to force western allies to pull out of their sectors in Berlin and give their sectors to the soviets.
• force allies to give up their new currency the Deutschmark.
• force allies to abandon their plans for a separate West Germany.

Question 9

What were the three options that the allies could do in response to the blockade?

Answer 9

1 - ignore the Russians and drive through the blockade using force.
2- pull out of Berlin entirely
3- Keep Berlin supplied by some other means than roads, canals, or railways

Question 10

What are the pros and cons of driving through the blockade using force?

Answer 10

Pros:
Shows Stalin the West have power
If it works people would have supplied and wouldn’t starve.
They wouldn’t have to surrender to Stalin.

Cons:
Could cause a war
More deaths on western side it War was caused
Expensive
Increased tension could lead to play of nuclear/atomic weapons and civilian casualties.

Question 11

What are the pros and cons of pulling out of Berlin entirely?

Answer 11

Pros:
People wouldn’t starve as they would have food and resources.
No casualties or deaths on either side
More diplomatic so no increase in tension

Cons:
It would be like surrendering to Stalin/ look weak
Loose some of their power
Loss of money through loss of economy

Question 12

What are the pros and cons of finding another way to Keep Berlin supplied?

Answer 12

Pros:
People would have food and resources
Standing up to Stalin shows their power
Not a vicious retaliation so may avoid war.

Cons:
Difficult to find a new way to get resources into Berlin
Expensive to create a new way
Stalin may find another way to block other options