Did the Berlin Blockade Trigger the Cold War?
The Occupation of Germany
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Long Term Conflicts over Germany
Differing Aims of the Powers
Increasing Lack of Trust
Differing Aims of the Powers
- The USSR didn't want Germany to be threatening in the future and wanted $20 billion in reparation loans
- France had the same views as the USSR
- The US and UK saw the German economic recovery of Germany as a way to contain Communism
Increasing Lack of Trust
- Stalin feared a successful economic Germany that supported the West
- The West feared a pro-Communist Germany
- Neither of the sides wanted the other side to be successful
Specific Arguments Over Germany
Economic Disagreements
Political Disagreements
Economic Disagreements
- USSR failed to deliver food despite it being promised at the Potsdam Conference, so the USA and UK stopped supplying the USSR
- The USSR wanted coal from the Western zones and instead of giving coal to the Soviet they gave 25 million tons of coal to Western Europe
- 1947 Britain and America combined their zones into one and named it 'bizonia'
Political Disagreements
- 1945 Stalin began to try to add his zone of Germany to the sphere of influence
- April 1946 The Soviets forced all the political parties in their zone to merge and form the Socialist Unity Party (SED)
- SED was unable to win the support of the Western zones, Germans feared the USSR and SED leaders began to plan their own regime in the East
- 1948 London Conference France, the UK and the US began to form a new constitution for Western Germany - Stalin's spies told him of this
- There was also agreement to start a new currency - The Deutschmark
- Stalin saw this as a start to a new Germany - Formed a blockade to try to force the West out
What Happened?
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Results of the Blockade
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Conclusion
- Before the blockade there was already an economical and political divide in Europe, after the blockade a military divide formed
- Germany was officially and permanently divided into two states where each state wouldn't recognise the other
- August 1949 The USSR successfully tested its first atomic bomb
Rodgers and Thomas Textbook Work Pages 36 - 41
1. Why was the Berlin Blockade a test for US intelligence?
The blockade was a test because the US had to decide how they were going to solve the problem. They couldn't just sit around and allow Stalin to force them out of Germany. At the same time, it wasn't wise to start a war with them. Therefore, the US had to figure out how to give the West Germans in Berlin supplies without putting them is serious danger or by frustrating Stalin.
2. What were the conclusions drawn at the time?
Since the end of the Second World War, war was now a possibility between the US and the USSR. Germany was now officially and permanently split into two different states. Two different political systems were set up in each of the Germany's - The West set-up the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) whilst the Soviets set-up the German Democratic Republic (GDR.)
3. What was the impact of the crisis on US intelligence?
The US realised that Germany and the rest of Europe was economically and politically divided. Soon Europe would be militarily divided. This caused the US to set-up the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO.) The US realised they needed military forces in Europe
4. What are the value and limitations of using this as a source for finding out about the Berlin Crisis of 1948?
This source, is shown mainly from a point of view that makes the USSR immediately our enemy. The source is slightly biased towards the US as we always seem to see them in a higher note despite them sometimes being the ones who cause the USSR to retaliate drastically.
The blockade was a test because the US had to decide how they were going to solve the problem. They couldn't just sit around and allow Stalin to force them out of Germany. At the same time, it wasn't wise to start a war with them. Therefore, the US had to figure out how to give the West Germans in Berlin supplies without putting them is serious danger or by frustrating Stalin.
2. What were the conclusions drawn at the time?
Since the end of the Second World War, war was now a possibility between the US and the USSR. Germany was now officially and permanently split into two different states. Two different political systems were set up in each of the Germany's - The West set-up the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) whilst the Soviets set-up the German Democratic Republic (GDR.)
3. What was the impact of the crisis on US intelligence?
The US realised that Germany and the rest of Europe was economically and politically divided. Soon Europe would be militarily divided. This caused the US to set-up the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO.) The US realised they needed military forces in Europe
4. What are the value and limitations of using this as a source for finding out about the Berlin Crisis of 1948?
This source, is shown mainly from a point of view that makes the USSR immediately our enemy. The source is slightly biased towards the US as we always seem to see them in a higher note despite them sometimes being the ones who cause the USSR to retaliate drastically.
Causes / Impact / Significance of the Berlin Blockade
Causes
Impact
Significance
- Stalin wanted to force the US out of Germany so he could add it to his sphere of influence - Forced the political parties in his zone to merge together and form the Socialist Unity Party (SED) -
- USSR failed to deliver food to Western areas despite stating to do so at the Potsdam Conference so the UK and US didn't supply the USSR zone with coal
Impact
- Growing distrust between the US and USSR
- Stalin tried to form a blockade to force the US out of Germany - Cut off railways and waterways from the East to the West - US had to use aircraft to supply the West Berliners with food and coal
Significance
- Germany was permanently divided
- West set-up the Federal Republic of German
- East set-up the German Democratic Republic
- US set-up NATO as they realised they needed military forces in Europe - Isolation ended
- First major event of the Cold War where there is clear political, economical division within the US and USSR but also military-based division