IEB History.
Details the Berlin Blockade of , the Berlin Uprising of 1953, the Spy Plane Incident of 1960 and the construction of the Berlin Wall i.e. the four historical events that constitute the Berlin Crises. This note covers these four moments in time within the context of the Cold War.
Berlin Crisis #1: Blockade/Airli6
(Evidence of brinkmanship)
• From 1948 to 1949
• Following the division of Germany, the Eastern Zone was struggling as they had denied the aid offered
to them via the Marshall Plan
• In the Western Zone, with the help of Marshall Plan aid, the economy was recovering and prospering
• By 1948, the differences in living standards were obvious and easily observed
• In 1948, the German Reichsmark devalued and so, the BriKsh and the US wanted to introduce the
“Deutsche Mark” to ensure recovery
• However, Stalin objected and claimed that it was against the ACC agreement for a common economic
policy - in reality, he wanted German weak
• Western powers overlooked his objecKve and secretly introduced the new currency
• Stalin responded to this by blockading West Berlin — closed roads, canals, railways and claimed his
reason was “technical difficulKes”
• It was legally within their right to do so
• West Berlin had enough food for thirty five days
• Western powers refused to abandon Western Berlin as they were convinced that if they did, it would
enable Soviet expansion
• The Western powers created in an ‘air bridge’ from which the Western zones would be supplied with
food, fuel, building materials and medical supplies
• 1949: Stalin ended blockade and the land communicaKons were restored
• Truman viewed this as a victory as it apparently humiliated Stalin
Outcome of Berlin Blockade
• Indicated an end to hope of agreement between the superpowers
• Greatly increased the rivalry
• Confirmed divisions in Germany as it became two separate states: German DemocraKc Republic (East)
and German Federal Republic (West)
• Remained this way unKl a_er the Cold War had ended
• Led to the formaKon of NATO
• Future dialogue between the two naKons became almost impossible as there was so much tension and
suspicion
Berlin Crisis #2: 1953 Berlin Uprising
• DemonstraKons in East Berlin in which people demanded:
- poliKcal and economic freedom
- a union with Germany
- an end to communism
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