1 jun 1948 ano - Berlin Blockade

Descrição:

Background info:
- In 1946, Britain, France, and the US combined their German zones into 1 zone called "Trizonia"; in 1948, Trizonia made up its currency, which was completely against the original agreement of dividing Germany into 4 groups in the first place. Stalin was not happy about this.

After the Truman Doctrine and the new currency formed in Trizonia, Stalin had to show the Western leaders that he would fight if they affected the sphere of influence. Although Berlin was divided into 4 zones within Germany, the city itself was within the Soviet Zone and was connected to the Western zones by roads, railways, and canals. In 1948, Stalin blocked all access to Berlin from the western side. He also stated, that if the US tried to ram the roadblocks or railway blocks, it would be an act of war. Stalin assumed Truman would announce a humiliating defeat, and therefore the Soviets would have control of Berlin and win the propaganda war between the US and the USSR.

What did the West do in response to this?

Cutting the access to the west to 2 million people within Berlin was terrible, so what the US did, was use aircraft. Since all roads, railways, and canals were blocked, that was the last resort; and they couldn't simply give up because if they did, there would be a chance that the rest of Germany would fall into communist control as well. The act of flying in supplies to the people in Berlin via aircraft was called the Berlin Airlift. When the first planes left West Germany and entered Berlin, everyone thought this would be considered an act of war, but surprisingly no shots were fired. For the next 10 months, berlin received supplies via aircraft, such as food, clothing, building materials, and oil. Stalin eventually noticed his blockade failed, and lifted it in 1949.

Why did Stalin blockade Berlin?

1. He was provoked by the US: the joining of the 3 zones, the new currency (which led to West Berlin being more economically stable), retaliation for the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan due to the US openly trying to stop communism

2. To get victory over the US: to show the USSR is stronger, to show capitalism won't work in eastern Germany, hoping to force the West into submission by blocking Berlin, to spread communism more

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