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Berlin Blockade Essay (Grade 12 IEB)
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Essay on the Berlin Blockade. Gives insight to reader of how to structure an essay, paragraphing, what pointers to include. Potential final exam essay.
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The Berlin Blockade EssayTHE BERLIN BLOCKADE & AIRLIFT
Whilst examining the events before and after the Berlin Airlift, assess to what extent the
USA was successful in preventing the spread of communism in Europe after WWII?
Essay:
As shown by events before and after the Berlin Airlift, the US was to a lesser extent successful
in preventing the spread of communism in Eastern Europe after WWII. Whilst, the containment
of communism in East Berlin can be credited to the USA's participation in the Berlin Airlift, the
involvement of mass demonstrations carried out by Eastern European inhabitants are to a
greater extent responsible for preventing the spread of communism.
Underlying tensions of the cold war were very close to Berlin, which lay deep inside of the soviet
zone of europe. Berlin was viewed as a symbol of freedom from the iron curtain and caused a
lot of contention between the superpowers. This was because Berlin was separated into four
zones, three occupied by the west and one by the USSR. The Western zone was characterised
by free democratic elections, economic growth and a free society whilst the Eastern Zone was
run by communism, poverty and extensive reparations. This created a deep desire within
Easten populations to escape to the west and flee from communism.
Furthermore, the Western currency became the dominant currency in Berlin and the soviet
zones currency lost its value. Stalin saw this as the west waging economic warfare on the East
and who had no intention of leaving Berlin. In 1948, the USSR closed all surface routes linking
Berlin to the west. In the hopes of accepting communist control, the USSR sent generous
rations into West Berlin. The west did not want to risk war by forcing the USSR to lift the
blockade, but by doing nothing it was seen as a sign of weakness and would result in
communist takeover. This resulted in the Berlin Airlift which consisted of the West supplying the
Western Sectors of Berlin with food and fuel via three airlines. The Airlift highlighted the way in
which Western sectors were taken care of by the US regardless of the lengths that America had
to go through. If the west had done nothing, the conditions under which communist appeal grew
would become a reality. In May 1949 it became clear to Stalin that the West would not give up
Berlin and called off the blockade. This was seen as a success for the US as now democracy
would have a place to grow without barriers.
However, in 1953 a mass protest in East Berlin was carried out when workers got together to
demand greater political and economic freedom as well as an end to communism, and the
withdrawal of soviet forces. Although over 600 Eastern Germans were executed, the Eastern
German Government introduced reforms and the USSR allowed Eastern Germany Greater
Independence. This was seen as a victory for America from the perspective that more
democratic elements were adopted, however the persistence and demand from the inhabitants
of East Berlin led to the overall altereting of the original strictly communist policy.
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