The Berlin BlockadeThe Berlin Blockade

IB History of the AmericasIB History of the Americas

Before we start with the Berlin Before we start with the Berlin Blockade, here’s some background Blockade, here’s some background

we need to discuss…we need to discuss…

A Divided GermanyA Divided Germany– DenazificationDenazification– Democratization Democratization – Demilitarization Demilitarization

Germany after WWIIGermany after WWII The Allied FalloutThe Allied Fallout

Germany… Post WWIIGermany… Post WWII

Germany was Germany was divided into 4 zones:divided into 4 zones:– American ZoneAmerican Zone– British ZoneBritish Zone– French ZoneFrench Zone– Russian ZoneRussian Zone

Berlin, the capital, Berlin, the capital, which was in the which was in the Soviet Zone, was Soviet Zone, was also divided into 4 also divided into 4 zones.zones.

Iron CurtainIron Curtain – – A term used by A term used by Winston Winston

Churchill Churchill to describe the to describe the separating of separating of Those Those

communistcommunistlands of East lands of East Europe from Europe from

the the West. West.

Berlin After WWIIBerlin After WWII

Improve your knowledgeImprove your knowledge

The Russians took very high casualties to The Russians took very high casualties to capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent the early occupation trying to take over all the early occupation trying to take over all zones of the city but were stopped by zones of the city but were stopped by German democrats such as Willy Brandt German democrats such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the Russians had to admit the Americans, Russians had to admit the Americans, French and British to their respective French and British to their respective zones.zones.

Germany Divided Germany Divided The 4 Zones were very different from each The 4 Zones were very different from each

other. other. – American Zone: mixture of rural and industrial American Zone: mixture of rural and industrial

areas; removal of Nazis with great thoroughness areas; removal of Nazis with great thoroughness – Soviet Zone: agricultural, dependent on coal; Soviet Zone: agricultural, dependent on coal;

belief that it was the result of capitalism that belief that it was the result of capitalism that Nazism flourished, so they changed the economy Nazism flourished, so they changed the economy completelycompletely

– British Zone: had majority of the coal industry, but British Zone: had majority of the coal industry, but relied on other zones for food; tolerated Nazis in relied on other zones for food; tolerated Nazis in key economic positions key economic positions

– French Zone: fairly self-sufficient; had limber, French Zone: fairly self-sufficient; had limber, industry and food industry and food

Nuremburg TrialsNuremburg Trials

The trials of 22 former Nazi leaders The trials of 22 former Nazi leaders Somewhat controversial: some thought Somewhat controversial: some thought

they were for show or acts of revengethey were for show or acts of revenge They made public the actual atrocities They made public the actual atrocities

committed during the Holocaust and rid committed during the Holocaust and rid Germany of Nazi leadershipGermany of Nazi leadership

Of the 22 accused: Of the 22 accused: – 12 sentenced to death12 sentenced to death– 7 sentenced to various terms of imprisonment 7 sentenced to various terms of imprisonment – 3 were acquitted 3 were acquitted

The Allies fall out The Allies fall out

The four allied nations in control of The four allied nations in control of Germany disagreed on reparations Germany disagreed on reparations

These disagreements led to the western These disagreements led to the western sectors agreeing to unify (American, sectors agreeing to unify (American, British, and French) and the Eastern sector British, and French) and the Eastern sector remaining alienated (Soviets) remaining alienated (Soviets)

The unification of the western zones to The unification of the western zones to form Bizonia in 1947 began the process of form Bizonia in 1947 began the process of economic reconstruction and handing back economic reconstruction and handing back to the Germans the responsibilities of their to the Germans the responsibilities of their own affairs (in capitalist fashion)own affairs (in capitalist fashion)

Stalin during all this…Stalin during all this…

Stalin watched what was happening Stalin watched what was happening in Bizonia with mistrust and in Bizonia with mistrust and countered the moves with his own countered the moves with his own initiatives. initiatives.

The battle over money: The battle over money: – Stalin’s introduction of the East MarkStalin’s introduction of the East Mark– Western governments refused to allow it Western governments refused to allow it

to be circulated in West Berlinto be circulated in West Berlin– Stalin’s response to this was… THE Stalin’s response to this was… THE

BERLIN BLOCKADEBERLIN BLOCKADE

The Formation of NATOThe Formation of NATO

North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization– Permits countries to use force for the purpose of Permits countries to use force for the purpose of

self-defense against armed attack. (Military self-defense against armed attack. (Military Alliance) Alliance)

– Marked significant militarization of the Cold War Marked significant militarization of the Cold War conflict conflict

– West Germany became a member of NATOWest Germany became a member of NATO Warsaw Defense Treaty: when West Warsaw Defense Treaty: when West

Germany joined NATO in 1955, the Soviet Germany joined NATO in 1955, the Soviet Union countered by creating its own Union countered by creating its own alliance system in eastern Europealliance system in eastern Europe

The Berlin Blockade The Berlin Blockade On June 23, 1948, a message from a Soviet news On June 23, 1948, a message from a Soviet news

agency was sent to a newspaper in Berlin. It read: agency was sent to a newspaper in Berlin. It read: “The Soviet administration is compelled to halt all “The Soviet administration is compelled to halt all traffic to and from Berlin tomorrow at 0600 hours traffic to and from Berlin tomorrow at 0600 hours because of technical difficulties.”because of technical difficulties.”

These technical difficulties closed the roads and These technical difficulties closed the roads and canals. canals.

Berlin had only enough food and supplies to last Berlin had only enough food and supplies to last for 6 weeksfor 6 weeks

The aim was to force western forces out of Berlin The aim was to force western forces out of Berlin America believed that if West Berlin fell to America believed that if West Berlin fell to

Communism, the next to fall would be West Communism, the next to fall would be West GermanyGermany

What was the Berlin What was the Berlin Blockade?Blockade?

The Berlin Blockade was when the Soviet Union blocked off The Berlin Blockade was when the Soviet Union blocked off supplies from Western Germany to Western Berlin. supplies from Western Germany to Western Berlin.

Causes of Berlin BlockadeCauses of Berlin Blockade

Divisions over future of Berlin dating Divisions over future of Berlin dating back to Yalta & Potsdamback to Yalta & Potsdam

Tensions of economic differences – West Tensions of economic differences – West zones benefited from Marshall Aidzones benefited from Marshall Aid

Differences in living standardsDifferences in living standards Failure of Council of MinistersFailure of Council of Ministers Introduction of new currency – Deutche Introduction of new currency – Deutche

MarkMark Merger of Western zonesMerger of Western zones

Why did the Berlin Blockade Why did the Berlin Blockade occur? occur? The Original plan: split Berlin The Original plan: split Berlin

into quadrants and bring them into quadrants and bring them back together when Germany back together when Germany gets a new government. gets a new government.

Stalin wanted Germany to pay Stalin wanted Germany to pay the damages they have done the damages they have done in the Soviet Union. He took in the Soviet Union. He took reparations from East Berlin reparations from East Berlin and Germany. and Germany.

The United States didn’t want The United States didn’t want Germany to become a Germany to become a communist country. communist country.

USSR wanted to kick the allies USSR wanted to kick the allies out of the area so they could out of the area so they could control Germany.control Germany.

The Berlin Airlift The Berlin Airlift

British and American forces organized a British and American forces organized a 24 hour-a-day airlift into the city 24 hour-a-day airlift into the city providing food, supplies and other goods providing food, supplies and other goods

Britain also stationed B-29 planes with Britain also stationed B-29 planes with atomic bomb capability within short atomic bomb capability within short distance of Berlin to ward off ideas of distance of Berlin to ward off ideas of shooting down British and American shooting down British and American airlift planesairlift planes

On May 12, 1949, the blockade was On May 12, 1949, the blockade was lifted lifted

Berlin AirliftBerlin Airlift

The major problem of the The major problem of the other three countries was other three countries was during the winter, since during the winter, since they needed an enormous they needed an enormous amount of coal. amount of coal.

The Berlin Blockade was The Berlin Blockade was ineffective, and also it ineffective, and also it contributed to the conflict contributed to the conflict in between the US and the in between the US and the USSR.USSR.

The Berlin ProblemThe Berlin Problem

People passed from East to West People passed from East to West Berlin daily for work and pleasureBerlin daily for work and pleasure

Some left the east never to return Some left the east never to return 4 million citizens fled from East 4 million citizens fled from East

Germany Germany

Berlin Crisis of 1961Berlin Crisis of 1961

Meeting between Kennedy and Meeting between Kennedy and Khrushchev in ViennaKhrushchev in Vienna– Insisted that the US withdraw from Berlin Insisted that the US withdraw from Berlin

by the end of the yearby the end of the year– Kennedy declared that the national Kennedy declared that the national

security of the US was directly linked to security of the US was directly linked to that of Berlin that of Berlin

– Khrushchev lost his temper and said “I Khrushchev lost his temper and said “I want peace but if you want war that is want peace but if you want war that is your problem.” your problem.”

August 13 1961August 13 1961

Barriers were erected to prevent free Barriers were erected to prevent free movement between the Western movement between the Western sectors of Berlin and the Soviet sectors of Berlin and the Soviet sectors sectors

On the 17On the 17thth, Barbed wire began to be , Barbed wire began to be replaced with stone replaced with stone

And thus… the Berlin Wall had begun And thus… the Berlin Wall had begun Kennedy considered a nuclear attack, Kennedy considered a nuclear attack,

but decided against itbut decided against it

Checkpoint CharlieCheckpoint Charlie

General Clay’s debacle General Clay’s debacle American Tanks at CheckpointAmerican Tanks at Checkpoint Soviet Tanks on opposite side of Soviet Tanks on opposite side of

checkpoint checkpoint Tense atmosphere increased as hours Tense atmosphere increased as hours

ticked byticked by 16 hours later, the Soviet tanks moved 16 hours later, the Soviet tanks moved

back 5 yards, then the Americans, and back 5 yards, then the Americans, and again until all tanks withdrew. again until all tanks withdrew.

Doughnuts in BerlinDoughnuts in Berlin

The Wall remained, a visible sign of East-The Wall remained, a visible sign of East-West hostility and a symbol of the Cold WarWest hostility and a symbol of the Cold War

Kennedy: “A wall is a hell of a lot nicer than Kennedy: “A wall is a hell of a lot nicer than a war.”a war.”

Kennedy visits Berlin in June 1963 and made Kennedy visits Berlin in June 1963 and made a speech saying, “All free men, wherever a speech saying, “All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore as a free man, I can take pride in therefore as a free man, I can take pride in the words the words Ich bin ein BerlinerIch bin ein Berliner.”.”