The Berlin BlockadeThe Berlin Blockade

1948- 19491948- 1949

Background InformationBackground Information

WW2 ended in August 1945, in Japan, with WW2 ended in August 1945, in Japan, with the bombing of Hiroshima the bombing of Hiroshima

The fighting ended in Europe in May of 1945The fighting ended in Europe in May of 1945 The 4 allied forces; Britain, USA, Russia and The 4 allied forces; Britain, USA, Russia and

France had to decide what to do with France had to decide what to do with GermanyGermany

They all agreed that Germany had to be They all agreed that Germany had to be “denazified” by destroying Nazi propaganda “denazified” by destroying Nazi propaganda and holding the Nuremburg Trialsand holding the Nuremburg Trials

Soviet Union- Russia

Great Britain

USA

France

Their plan after this was to divide the Their plan after this was to divide the country into four zones of occupation, country into four zones of occupation, each country controlling a zoneeach country controlling a zone

Each unit was to be administered through Each unit was to be administered through a joint committee called the Allied Control a joint committee called the Allied Control Council (ACC)Council (ACC)

ACC formed by the commanders-in-chief ACC formed by the commanders-in-chief of each of the occupying armies and their of each of the occupying armies and their headquarters were in Berlinheadquarters were in Berlin

Germany was to be treated as a single unit Germany was to be treated as a single unit so any decisions about it had to have so any decisions about it had to have unanimous support from the ACCunanimous support from the ACC

As soon as the 4 zones were established As soon as the 4 zones were established each Allie power began establishing their each Allie power began establishing their own rules going against this policyown rules going against this policy

Berlin, Germany’s Berlin, Germany’s capital, was situated in capital, was situated in the Soviet Union zonethe Soviet Union zone

It was granted It was granted separate status, and separate status, and was divided into 4 was divided into 4 zones again for each zones again for each Allied powerAllied power

Each Allied power had Each Allied power had to appoint a to appoint a commander for this commander for this section of Berlinsection of Berlin

The western part of The western part of Germany had no Germany had no access to Berlinaccess to Berlin

In June 1945 the Allies In June 1945 the Allies agreed to have one agreed to have one main road, one main main road, one main rail line and two air rail line and two air strips into the citystrips into the city

There began to be disagreements There began to be disagreements between the Allies as to what their between the Allies as to what their mission was in Germany and how mission was in Germany and how long they would stay therelong they would stay there

This caused a lot of tensions between This caused a lot of tensions between the US and Soviet Unionthe US and Soviet Union

President Truman finally decided to President Truman finally decided to take a stand and released the take a stand and released the Truman Doctrine on March 12, 1947Truman Doctrine on March 12, 1947

The second step came through the The second step came through the Marshall Plan Marshall Plan

Sept 22, 1947- Soviet Union fought back Sept 22, 1947- Soviet Union fought back by rejecting the Marshall Plan’s European by rejecting the Marshall Plan’s European Recovery ProgramRecovery Program

Tensions after this point escalated Tensions after this point escalated between the Western powers (US, Britain between the Western powers (US, Britain and France) and the Soviet Unionand France) and the Soviet Union

Feb. 1948- Western powers met in London Feb. 1948- Western powers met in London to discuss uniting their zones into a single to discuss uniting their zones into a single economic unit with the same currencyeconomic unit with the same currency

The Soviet Union wrote letters to each The Soviet Union wrote letters to each government on February 13, 1948 stating government on February 13, 1948 stating that any decisions that were reached at that any decisions that were reached at this meeting would not be considered this meeting would not be considered legitimate in their eyeslegitimate in their eyes

To protest the London conference the To protest the London conference the Soviet Union withdrew from the ACC and Soviet Union withdrew from the ACC and the 4 powers never met together againthe 4 powers never met together again

Soviet Union began putting restrictions Soviet Union began putting restrictions on traffic to Berlin from Western Zones on traffic to Berlin from Western Zones (March 30, 1948)(March 30, 1948)– US personnel traveling through the Soviet US personnel traveling through the Soviet

zone by rail and highway had to present zone by rail and highway had to present evidence of identityevidence of identity

– Shipments from Berlin to Western zones had Shipments from Berlin to Western zones had to be cleared through Soviet check pointsto be cleared through Soviet check points

– All baggage had to be inspected at Soviet All baggage had to be inspected at Soviet check points with the exception of personal check points with the exception of personal belongings of US personnelbelongings of US personnel

The US protested, but the Soviets did not The US protested, but the Soviets did not listenlisten

In the spring of 1948 more restrictions were In the spring of 1948 more restrictions were put into placeput into place

Soviets explained them as “technical Soviets explained them as “technical difficulties” such as repairs to railwaysdifficulties” such as repairs to railways

Western zones restricted exports to Soviet Western zones restricted exports to Soviet zone that were crucial to their economyzone that were crucial to their economy

June 18, 1948- Western zones proceeded with June 18, 1948- Western zones proceeded with a common currency (Deutsche mark) a common currency (Deutsche mark)

This currency spread to Western zones of This currency spread to Western zones of Berlin 4 days laterBerlin 4 days later

All residents of Berlin had no choice but to All residents of Berlin had no choice but to exchange their Russian currency into exchange their Russian currency into Deutsche marks to buy all goods they neededDeutsche marks to buy all goods they needed

This was the last straw for SovietsThis was the last straw for Soviets In June 22, 1948, they established In June 22, 1948, they established

their own separate currency that their own separate currency that would be used in the entire Soviet would be used in the entire Soviet zone, including all of Berlinzone, including all of Berlin

Two days, June 24, 1948, all land and Two days, June 24, 1948, all land and water traffic to and from Berlin was water traffic to and from Berlin was stopped- this fully began the Berlin stopped- this fully began the Berlin BlockadeBlockade

Tensions and a war of words Tensions and a war of words continued between the US and the continued between the US and the Soviets- a fully blow war was Soviets- a fully blow war was inevitableinevitable

The US had to figure The US had to figure out the intentions of out the intentions of the Sovietsthe Soviets

Before they could do Before they could do this, West Berlin was this, West Berlin was running out of food running out of food and suppliesand supplies

The Western zones The Western zones had no way of had no way of getting these getting these supplies to their supplies to their people, except by airpeople, except by air

The airlift began The airlift began on June 26, 1948, on June 26, 1948, delivering food and delivering food and fuel to West Berlinfuel to West Berlin

By the autumn By the autumn these supplies had these supplies had run out, and run out, and another airlift had another airlift had to be doneto be done

The airlifts The airlifts continued until continued until Sept. 1949Sept. 1949

Coal being unloaded from a plane at Berlin airport, 1948. For ten months, planes landedevery three minutes throughout the day and night

The Soviets soon saw that the The Soviets soon saw that the blockade was not going to blockade was not going to halt the Western powershalt the Western powers

March 1949- they entered March 1949- they entered negotiations with USA, UK and negotiations with USA, UK and France to lift the blockade. France to lift the blockade. Results were a 3 point plan;Results were a 3 point plan;– Restriction on Restriction on

communications, communications, transportation and trade transportation and trade between Berlin and Western between Berlin and Western zones would be removed May zones would be removed May 9, 19499, 1949

– Restrictions the Western Restrictions the Western zones imposed would be zones imposed would be removed May 9, 1949removed May 9, 1949

– On May 23, 1949, the 4 On May 23, 1949, the 4 powers would meet in Paris to powers would meet in Paris to discuss questions surrounding discuss questions surrounding Germany and the currencyGermany and the currency

The final results were to keep Germany The final results were to keep Germany divided between East and Westdivided between East and West

The Federal Republic in Western The Federal Republic in Western Germany was created on Sept. 21, Germany was created on Sept. 21, 1949. New capital was Bonn. West 1949. New capital was Bonn. West Berlin a single unit with its own Mayor.Berlin a single unit with its own Mayor.

Democratic Republic in Eastern Democratic Republic in Eastern Germany on October 7, 1949, capital Germany on October 7, 1949, capital remained East Berlinremained East Berlin

There was still fear about a military There was still fear about a military build up in Eastern Europe, therefore a build up in Eastern Europe, therefore a Western alliance formed: North Atlantic Western alliance formed: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)Treaty Organization (NATO)

NATO treaty signed on April 4, 1949 in NATO treaty signed on April 4, 1949 in Washington DC by : Belgium, Canada, Washington DC by : Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, US (Greece, Turkey in 1952) Portugal, US (Greece, Turkey in 1952) (Western Germany 1955)(Western Germany 1955)

Treaty stated that an “armed attack Treaty stated that an “armed attack against one or more” will be “considered against one or more” will be “considered an attack against all of them”an attack against all of them”

Collective SecurityCollective Security

A cartoon by David Low, 1949, entitled ‘Your play, Joe’. Western leaders wait to see how Stalin will react to the formation of NATO.

At the same time Eastern Europe was At the same time Eastern Europe was signing similar agreementssigning similar agreements

The Warsaw Treaty Organization was The Warsaw Treaty Organization was signed by Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, signed by Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Soviet UnionRomania and Soviet Union

This began the Cold War- Western This began the Cold War- Western world armed lead by the US against world armed lead by the US against the Eastern world lead by the Soviet the Eastern world lead by the Soviet UnionUnion