These revision notes provide an in depth summary of this specific chapter of AQA History in the Study of The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991. They can be used directly as lecture notes or can be reduced further to more of a summary of the topic.
History revision - The Berlin Blockade 1948 – 49
Causes of the Blockade
- Following currency reforms in 1947, Soviets decide to take counter action against the
West by brining pressure to bear on its most vulnerable position – access to W Ber
- From Jan 1948, Soviet authorities began to interrupt transport into Berlin for civilians
remain
- However, when currency reform fully introduced on 20 th June there was a full scale
blockade that began on June 24th
- Soviet Union also stopped all water, fuel and food supplies from own sectors to the
three Western sectors
- Blockade is a retaliatory action by Soviets against the currency reforms
o Currency union regarded as provocation and a repudiation of Four Power
control in Gr
- Soviets interpreted currency reform as commitment to divide Gr and an attempt to
wreck the E Gr economy
- Blockade was intended to force W Allies into new negotiations over Gr
- Also attempt to force Allied withdrawal from Ber
o High risk strategy bringing the whole of Berlin into the Com orbit and presented
as a demonstration of Soviet resolve to preserve Gr unity
- Blockade also part of Stalin’s wider goal of maintaining a unified Gr under Com
leadership – goal was looking less likely now due to development in W
o He had initially felt Br didn’t have funding or resources to remain in Gr
o Also though US would withdraw from W Ru
Didn’t think US population would support costs of occupation or potential
for further conflict
o Neither outcome had come to fruition and seen by many as a ‘last throw of the
dice’ on Stalin’s behalf to regain political initiative
o
- Ber had become frontline in the ideological confrontation between E and W so the
blockade can be seen as a trial of strength and will
o Demonstration of Soviet resolve, just as the subsequent airlift was seen as
demonstration of US determination to contain Com
- Overall, the Blockade was significant turning point in power struggle which emerged
o Stalin needed to show ability to exert pressure
o Truman had to demonstrate his doctrine was backed by actions
The Berlin Airlift
- Only means of supplying Ber was by air
- W correctly concluded the Soviets wouldn’t risk all-out war by shooting down W
airplanes just as W didn’t feel they could risk war by breaking through land blockade
- > 277,000 flights
- 400,000 tonnes of foodstuffs, coal and supplies
- New airfield built at Tegel in Fr sector in 49 days
- Allied aircraft landed every minute
- Inevitable there would be casualties – 39 British, 31 US and 13 Gr civilians
- Weather conditions could be treacherous
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