Consequences of the Berlin Blockade | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Why Did the USSR Begin the Berlin Blockade?

The Potsdam Conference agreed to split Berlin into two parts:

• The USA, Britain, and France occupied the western zone
• The USSR occupied the eastern zone

• Trizonia introduced the Deutschmark in June 1948
  • This move served as a pivotal moment, leading to escalated tensions involving Stalin.

• The USSR contested the Western powers' claim over Berlin, which was situated within East Germany.
• Trizonia's adoption of the Deutschmark posed a threat to the USSR's dominance in Germany by dividing Berlin into distinct economic zones.
• The thriving economy of capitalist Trizonia undermined the Soviet Union's authority, portraying them in a weaker light.
• In response, Stalin orchestrated the blockade of Berlin in 1948, intending to coerce the Western powers out of the city.

How Did the USSR Blockade Berlin?

• The Soviet Union controlled access to Berlin as it was deep inside the Soviet-occupied zone. Trizonia had only two agreed land routes and two air routes to West Berlin.
• In June 1948, the USSR took the drastic step of closing road, rail, and canal links across Soviet-controlled Germany.
• Without the support of the USA, Britain, and France, West Berlin faced a severe crisis, having enough food for only 36 days and lacking crucial resources like fuel and medicine.
• Stalin's ambition was to dominate the entirety of Berlin, the capital city of Germany, to spread Communist ideology and achieve a propaganda victory by portraying the capture of Berlin as a victory of Communism over capitalism.

How Did the West Respond to the Blockade?

• The United States, Britain, and France faced a difficult situation following the initiation of the blockade in June 1948. The Western powers were at risk of provoking a war if they tried to break the blockade. Failure to act would result in Berlin falling under Soviet control, leaving West Berlin without essential supplies like food, fuel, and medicine.
• The Western nations had three main options in response to the blockade:

What was the Berlin Airlift?

• In June 1948, the Western powers initiated the Berlin Airlift as a strategic move to provide essential supplies to West Berlin.
• This decision was tactically sound as it avoided direct confrontation with the Soviet Union, which could have potentially led to a full-blown war if any planes were shot down.
• Over the course of almost a year, from June 1948 to May 1949, the Berlin Airlift, also known as Operation Vittles, successfully airlifted crucial provisions to the inhabitants of West Berlin.

The Impact of the Berlin Crisis

• The Berlin Airlift had negative impacts on Stalin:
  • Stalin could not stop the airlift. If he had shot down planes carrying supplies, it would have escalated into a war.
  • The crisis humiliated the USSR, making them appear weak for taking no action.
• Western Allies' response:
  • From 12th May 1949 to 30th September 1949, they continued the airlift, leading to a significant victory for the West over the East.
• Tensions between superpowers:
  • The Berlin Crisis exacerbated tensions between the two superpowers.
• Several key events resulted from the Berlin Crisis:
  • Stalin's inability to halt the airlift without risking war.
  • The humiliation and perceived weakness of the USSR for not taking action.