Case StudyCase Study

The Berlin BlockadeThe Berlin Blockade

Before the Before the BlockadeBlockade

• Potsdam Conference 1945- political and Potsdam Conference 1945- political and economic policy for Germany. Germany was economic policy for Germany. Germany was divided into 4 zones and was to be governed by divided into 4 zones and was to be governed by the Allied Control Council (France, UK, USA and the Allied Control Council (France, UK, USA and USSR). Germany was to be totally “occupied, USSR). Germany was to be totally “occupied, denazified, demilitarised and deindustrialised”.denazified, demilitarised and deindustrialised”.

• Berlin, the capital of Germany, was located in the Berlin, the capital of Germany, was located in the Soviet zone.Soviet zone.

• 1947 Truman Doctrine: protect free people from 1947 Truman Doctrine: protect free people from the subjugation …the subjugation …

• 1947 Marshall Plan: US aid package1947 Marshall Plan: US aid package• 1947 Comecon: the Soviet reaction to the 1947 Comecon: the Soviet reaction to the

Marshall PlanMarshall Plan

The Berlin BlockadeThe Berlin Blockade

Divided Germany*Divided Germany*

• Each zone would act as a single unit Each zone would act as a single unit administered by a joint committee administered by a joint committee (ACC)(ACC)– ACC- Allied Control CouncilACC- Allied Control Council

• ACC headquartered in Berlin: new ACC headquartered in Berlin: new authority in newly recognized Germanyauthority in newly recognized Germany

• Germany a single economic unit, & all Germany a single economic unit, & all actions required unanimous agreementactions required unanimous agreement

Contributing factorsContributing factors

• Feb 1948- London Conference: Feb 1948- London Conference: single currency to be used in Europe single currency to be used in Europe

• Soviets disagreed, removed Soviets disagreed, removed themselves from groupthemselves from group

• June 1948: currency introduced. In June 1948: currency introduced. In protest, USSR blocks access to protest, USSR blocks access to BerlinBerlin– West previously had access to 1 road, 1 West previously had access to 1 road, 1

rail, 2 air corridorsrail, 2 air corridors

Strategy: Strategy: Berlin Berlin AirliftAirlift

• The airlift marked a rise in tensions between the West and the The airlift marked a rise in tensions between the West and the Soviets, but it also helped heal divisions left by World War II. Soviets, but it also helped heal divisions left by World War II.

• Almost immediately, The United States, Great Britain, and Almost immediately, The United States, Great Britain, and France shifted from Germany's conquerors to its protectors. France shifted from Germany's conquerors to its protectors.

• "The airlift was the starting point for Germany's inclusion in "The airlift was the starting point for Germany's inclusion in the West and for the reconciliation with the Western powers," the West and for the reconciliation with the Western powers," Berlin Mayor Eberhard Diepgen says. Berlin Mayor Eberhard Diepgen says.

• Allied cooperation paved way for formation of new military Allied cooperation paved way for formation of new military alliance, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATOalliance, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO

Berlin Airlift*Berlin Airlift*

• Blockade of Blockade of Berlin began on Berlin began on June 24, ’48June 24, ’48

• From June 1948 From June 1948 to May 1949, U.S. to May 1949, U.S. and British planes and British planes airlift supplies. airlift supplies.

Operation VittlesOperation Vittles-Airlift-Airlift

• All of the necessities for the city's 2.5 All of the necessities for the city's 2.5 million residents -- an estimated 4,500 million residents -- an estimated 4,500 tons of food, coal and other materials tons of food, coal and other materials each day -- had to enter the city by air. each day -- had to enter the city by air.

• On its biggest day, the "Easter parade" of On its biggest day, the "Easter parade" of April 16, 1949, the airlift sent 1,398 April 16, 1949, the airlift sent 1,398 flights into Berlin -- one every minute. flights into Berlin -- one every minute.

• Before it was all over, more than 278,000 Before it was all over, more than 278,000 flights would carry 2.3 million tons of flights would carry 2.3 million tons of relief supplies. relief supplies.

**

The Blockade ends in The Blockade ends in 1949 with the Soviets 1949 with the Soviets lifting the blockade as lifting the blockade as they see the US not they see the US not giving up..giving up..

At the End*At the End*

• Berlin still divided between West and Berlin still divided between West and EastEast– Each sector had it’s own administrationEach sector had it’s own administration

• New governments formed in both New governments formed in both sections of Germanysections of Germany– Federal Republic in WestFederal Republic in West– Democratic Republic in EastDemocratic Republic in East

• Capital of West Germany: BonnCapital of West Germany: Bonn• DIVISION OF GERMANY IN TWODIVISION OF GERMANY IN TWO

Significance*Significance*

• First Cold War ConflictFirst Cold War Conflict• Differing views as to how to deal Differing views as to how to deal

with Germanywith Germany• Truman’s popularity was at a low- Truman’s popularity was at a low-

this would boost it.this would boost it.• Germany is officially dividedGermany is officially divided• NATO created shortly after as NATO created shortly after as

fear of communist build-up.fear of communist build-up.• Warsaw PactWarsaw Pact