24 juin 1948 - Berlin Blockade

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What were the Western Allies doing in Berlin that made Stalin so upset?
Using money from the Marshall Aid programme, the Allies were helping the Germans to rebuild their economy – they had learnt their lesson from the Treaty of Versailles and did not want to make Germany financially crippled again. This meant introducing a new, stable currency and more jobs for workers in the Western sectors. Stalin was angered by this.
Under the Marshall Plan, the USA supplied goods to German shops for workers to buy. This was a nice way of showing the communists that America’s capitalist economy was flourishing.
At a meeting in London in January 1948, Britain and the USA joined their zones together to create ‘Bizonia’ and make it easier to administer them. (France would later join and they’d change the name to West Germany).
On 24th June 1948, Stalin cut all land access to Berlin for the Allies. This became known as the Berlin Blockade.
What did the Berlin Blockade mean for West Berlin?
Berlin could now only be accessed by air, resulting in a restriction on the freedom to travel outside Berlin for all Germans.
A shortage of food - West Berlin only had enough food for 36 days.
A lack of basic goods like fuel and medicines.

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