Revision Diary

Berlin Blockade and Airlift

       

Berlin 1945-48; Berlin blockade and airlift.   NATO and Warsaw Pact.

 

 

Make sure that you know the situation of Germany after WWII

You will need to know the story of the Berlin Blockade and Airlift and its results.

    

  

  

Germany after WWII

  1. At Potsdam (July 1945) Germany had been divided into four zones.  

  2. Berlin (in the Russian zone) was also divided into four zones.

  3. BOTH sides had huge military forces stationed in Germany.

  4. Stalin wanted to ruin Germany:

  5. Britain and the USA wanted to create the new country of West Germany as a trading partner - they joined their two zones together into Bizonia.

    6.         

      

      

*** COCK-UP ALERT ***

I have never marked a set of exams when some FOOL did not

muddle up the Berlin Blockade with the Berlin Wall.

If you do this - ZERO MARKS!!! - get it sorted.

  

  

Berlin Blockade and Airlift

Overview

Britain and the USA wanted to make the new country of West Germany a strong trading partner, so they joined their two zones together into Bizonia.   They also gave it new money.   Next day Stalin stopped all road and rail traffic into Berlin.

Some Americans wanted to go to war but instead, Truman decided to supply Berlin by air.   Stalin did not dare to shoot down the supply planes.   The situation was bad at first, but got better as time went on.

After almost a year it became clear that the Blockade was not going to work and Stalin called it off.

 

Facts

1.   The Americana called the airlift ('Operation Vittles').

2.   A plane landed in Berlin airport every 3 minutes.

3.   One American pilot dropped chocolate and sweets on little parachutes.

     

  

Results of Berlin Blockade

  1. Cold War got worse - America got ready to drop atomic bombs

  2. Germany split into East and West Germany.

  3. NATO v Warsaw Pact:

    •     America set up NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) against Russia.  

    •     Russia set up the Warsaw Pact (an alliance of Communist states)  

  4. Arms Race - after Berlin, America and Russia began to build up their armies and weapons.  

 

Revision Focus

This is a Paper 1 topic, so concentrate on learning:

1.   WHAT happened

2.   EFFECTS/ Importance

  

Links

Mini book on Berlin Blockade,

  

  

Online revision sheet  

  

  

Spidergram:

•    Berlin Blockade

  

  

Essay on the events of the Berlin Blockade and Airlift