The Berlin Blockade and airlift 1948-49

1. The Berlin Blockade and airlift 1948-49

5. 1948 The Berlin Blockade and Airlift Evaluate the consequences of the Berlin Blockade and Airlift. The BIG picture Evaluate the consequences of the blockade/airlift. Identify the key features of the blockade and airlift. Identify the differences Between East and West Germany and Berlin. To place 1948 into context

6. Germany 1945

8. Input June 23rd 1948 The American Zone The British Zone The French Zone These zones are all united together and introduced a brand new currency into ‘Bizonia’ and Western Berlin to help stimulate trade. This was called the Deutschmark. A new country to be created known as West Germany. This would be a democratic country which held free elections. The Soviet Zone The following day Stalin cuts off all access to Berlin via road and rail. This would cut off the Western Zones of Berlin from Western Germany. The people in the West of Berlin would starve and be forced into becoming Communist like the rest of East Germany.

9. What links the images?

10. The Berlin Blockade The Berlin Airlift 1948-1949

11. Context Content Causes Consequences

12. Stalin had blockaded Berlin from the West. This was known as the Berlin Blockade. The response from the United States was that they would make sure that Stalin would not succeed in starving Berlin into becoming Communist. They would get supplies into Berlin by air. This was known as the Berlin Airlift.

14. 1.5 million tons of aid were supplied to help the people of Western Berlin. The supplies of food, clothing, coal oil and raw materials for building were dropped off at Tempelhof airport.

15. A plane carrying supplies landed at Tempelhof airport every 3 minutes!!!!

16. American B29 Bomber Planes that were capable of dropping the Atomic Bomb were stationed in Britain.

17. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOsqxp1ZDts

19. Source 1 We demonstrated to the people of Europe that we would act resolutely, when their freedom was threatened. Politically it brought the people of Western Europe closer to us. President Truman, speaking in 1949.

20. Source 2 Neither side gained anything.  The USSR had not gained control of Berlin.  The West had no guarantees that land communications would not be cut again.  Above all confrontation made both sides even more stubborn. Historian Jack Watson writing in 1984.

21. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT It widened the gulf between the USA and the USSR. It marked the complete breakdown of agreements made by the Allies at the end of the war at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences. 1 Truman Stalin Capitalist Communist West East

22. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT It led to two military alliances: NATO in 1949 and the Warsaw Pact in 1955 NATO – the North Atlantic Treaty. This was a defensive alliance system signed in April 1949 by 12 countries including Britain and the USA. Its main purpose was to prevent Soviet expansion. Stalin did not believe it was a defensive alliance. He believed it was aimed against the USSR. In 1955 West Germany became a member of NATO. In the same year the USSR set up its own rival organisation to NATO known as the Warsaw Pact. The Warsaw Pact- this was a military alliance of 8 nations headed by the USSR and designed to counter the threat of NATO. Members were to support each other if attacked. A joint command structure was set up under the Soviet Supreme Commander. The Pact increased the influence of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe and led to more Soviet troops being stationed there. 2

23. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT 3 It confirmed the divisions of Germany and Berlin. In May 1949 the allies created West Germany. A Parliament was set up and a Chancellor was elected. In response to the creation of West Germany Stalin formed the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in October 1949. He also ordered the creation of its own currency the East Mark.

27. Berliners

29. (b) (i) Briefly explain the key features of the Berlin Blockade, 1948–49. (6)

30. (b) (i) Briefly explain the key features of the Berlin Blockade, 1948–49. (6)