The Berlin Blockade
The USSR had already disagreed with Britain and the USA at Potsdam (July 1945) about what should be done with Germany. Germany had been split into four zones.

There had been particular disagreement about reparations: Britain and America had wanted Germany to recover economically, but the Russians had gained the right to take 10% of the industrial equipment of western Germany, and as whatever they wanted from their own zone in eastern Germany.

Berlin, in Russia's zone, was also split into 4 zones. But Berlin was entirely within - and surrounded by - the Russian zone.

What Caused The Berlin Blockade, 1948–49?

1. The Cold War
was just getting started (e.g. Czechoslovakia, March 1948)

2. East / West divide.
Stalin wanted to destroy Germany – Britain and the USA wanted to rebuild Germany.

3. Bizonia:
The Russians were taking German machinery back to the USSR. In January 1947, Britain and the USA joined their two zones together to try to get German industry going. They called the new zone Bi-zonia (‘two zones’).

4. American Aid
Congress voted for Marshall Aid on 31 March 1948. Immediately, the Russians started searching all road and rail traffic into Berlin.

5. New Currency
On 1 June, America and France announced that they wanted to create the new country of West Germany; and on 23 June they introduced a new currency into ‘Bizonia’ and western Berlin. The next day the Russians stopped all road and rail traffic into Berlin.

Stalin said he was defending the east German economy against the new currency, which was ruining it. The western powers said he was trying to force them out of Berlin.

Source A Britain and America tried to restore German prosperity in their sectors, but the Russians systematically looted their zone. This cartoon of 1946 shows Britain and America trying to get the 'lorry' (representing the German economy) going, while the Russian sits smugly on his motorbike, having stolen the wheels.

What happened?

The American Army wanted to fight its way into Berlin but that would have caused a war. Instead, Truman decided to supply Berlin by air.

The situation was bad at first, but things got better as the blockade went on.

Airlift Facts
* The blockade lasted 318 days (11 months).
* In the winter of 1948–49 Berliners lived on dried potatoes, powdered eggs and cans of meat. They had 4 hours of electricity a day.
* 275,000 flights carried in 1½ million tons of supplies. A plane landed every 3 mins.
* On 16 April 1949, 1400 flights brought in 13,000 tons of supplies in one day – Berlin only needed 6,000 tons a day to survive.
* Some pilots dropped chocolate and sweets.
* The USA stationed B-29 bombers (which could carry an atomic bomb) in Britain.
* The American airmen were regarded as heroes.

Source B. In this British cartoon from 1948, Stalin watches as the storks fly coal and food into Berlin, but he dares not shoot them down

On 12 May 1949, Stalin re-opened the borders.

What were the Results?

1. The Cold War got worse
It almost started an all-out war.

2. East and West Germany split up.
In May 1949, America, Britain and France united their zones into the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). In October 1949, Stalin set up the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) .

3. NATO and the Warsaw Pact
In 1949, the western Allies set up NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) as a defensive alliance against Russia. NATO countries surrounded Russia; in 1955, the Soviet Union set up the Warsaw Pact – an alliance of Communist states.

4. Arms Race
After Berlin, the USA and the USSR realised that they were in a competition for world domination. They began to build up their armies and weapons.

Source C. This 1961 cartoon shows Russia and America in an 'arms race'. The caption read: 'If we go on with this race, there won't be a winner!'