History Lessons . Mathey
The Berlin Blockade and airlift
How Germany was divided in 1945
In 1945, the Allies decided to split Germany
into four zones of occupation. The capital, Berlin, was also split into four zones.
planes transported 1.5 million tons of supplies
and a plane landed every three minutes at
Berlin's Tempelhof airport.
On 12 May 1949, Stalin gave up the blockade.
March 1948
The USA offers Marshall Aid. Stalin forbids
Cominform countries to take part.
April 1948
Russia starts a partial blockade of west Berlin.
All allied transport into the city has to apply for
a permit and is inspected.
1 June 1948
America, Britain and France say they want to
create a new country of West Germany.
23 June 1948
America, Britain and France introduce a new
currency - this causes economic chaos in the
Russian zone as everyone tries to get rid of
their old money and change to the new money.
Now think about this quote from the US
commander in Berlin, General Clay:
When Berlin falls, Western Germany
will be next. If we withdraw our
position in Berlin, Europe is threatened and
Communism will run rampant.
The USSR took huge reparations from its zone
in eastern Germany, but Britain, France and
America tried to improve conditions in their
zones.
In June 1948, Britain, France and America united their zones into a new country, West
Germany. On 23 June 1948, they introduced a
new currency, which they said would help
trade.
The next day, Stalin cut off all rail and road
links to west Berlin and started the Berlin
Blockade. The west saw this as an attempt to
starve Berlin into surrender, so they decided to
supply west Berlin by air. The Berlin Blockade
lasted 318 days. During this time, 275,000
Causes and results of the Berlin Crisis of
1948
January 1947
Britain and the USA join their two zones together into Bi-zonia (two zones).
December 1947
London Conference: America, Britain and
France meet to discuss Germany's future.
Russia is not present.
January 1948
Russia starts to stop western books, magazines
and newspapers being sold in the Soviet zone.
Results of the Berlin Crisis of 1948
1. Germany was divided into the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the
Democratic Republic of Germany (East Germany) until 1990.
2. The 'Iron Curtain' became permanent.
3. The Cold War broke out into open confrontation, and the two superpowers began an Arms
Race.
4. In 1949, the Allies set up the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation (NATO) as a military
alliance against Soviet Russia.
History Lessons . Mathey
The Berlin Blockade and airlift (revision)
Revision tip
To help you learn the facts from this topic,
imagine you are a Soviet writer trying to prove
that America was to blame for the Berlin crisis
of 1948. What would you say? Then think about
what an American writer would say.
As part of your revision, think about the
arguments and facts you would use to
explain:
How the Allies divided Germany in 1945.
Why there was a crisis in Berlin in 1948.
What happened in the Berlin Blockade and
airlift of 1948.
How the Berlin airlift is a good example of the
Cold War.
How the Berlin crisis of 1948 affected the Cold
War.
Facts test
1. Russia took huge reparations from the
eastern zone of occupied Germany. Britain,
France and America ...
stopped the Russians taking reparations
from the three western zones
stripped western Germany of industrial plant
and machinery
tried to improve conditions in their zones.
2. In January 1947, Britain and America united
their zones. What did they call the new zone?
Bizonia
Trizonia
Dizonia
3. Why did the London Conference of 1947
create tension about Germany?
The Russians threatened to blockade Berlin.
Russia was not invited.
The Russians demanded reparations from
the western zones.
4. What event prompted Stalin to impose the
Blockade?
The US Congress approved $17 billion of
Marshall Aid.
America, Britain and France introduced a
new currency into the western zones.
America, Britain and France announced that
they wanted to create a new country of
West Germany.
8. What was the name of Berlin's main airport?
Brandenburg Gate
Reichstag
Tempelhof
9. Which of the following was not a result of
the Berlin Blockade?
The western Allies set up NATO.
The Communists built a wall between east
and west Berlin.
Germany was divided into FDR and GDR.
10. What do the letters NATO stand for?
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Northern Alliance Treaty Organisation
North American Treaty organisation
5. How long did the Berlin Blockade last?
138 days
318 days
813 days
6. How many flights came into Berlin during the
Blockade?
275,000
2.75 million
27,500
7. What was the name of the US General who
thought that if West Berlin fell, West Germany
would be next?
General MacArthur
General Patton
General Clay
Photo of a typical situation during the Berlin
airlift: an American Douglas C-47 Skytrain,
called 'Candy bomber' (German: 'Rosinenbomber') by the people of Berlin, is about to land at
Tempelhof Airport.