Berlin Crisis 1948-9

• 1.In March 1948, talks between the Soviets and the West about reunifying Germany broke down.
• 2.In March 1948, the British, Americans and French decided to unify just their zones instead, calling it ‘Trizonia’.
• 3.In June 1948, the three Allies decided to introduce a single currency, the Deutschmark.
• 4.In response, Stalin shut off land routes across Soviet-controlled Germany into Berlin. This was the ‘Berlin blockade’.
• 5.The West wanted to avoid a direct confrontation by trying to force supplies through the closed land routes, so instead they decided to fly in key supplies like food, coal and medical supplies.
• 6.This was called Operation Vittles, the ‘Berlin Airlift’.
• 7.In January 1949, 170,000 tonnes of supplies were sent into Berlin by air.
• 8.On 9 May 1949, the Soviets lifted the blockade; Stalin’s efforts had failed.
• Consequences

  1.Germany was now permanently divided, into the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

  2.The West realised they needed a formal military alliance and created NATO.

  3.The USA had shown they were prepared to stick to the Truman Doctrine.

  4.It was an embarrassing defeat for the USSR, while Western propaganda portrayed it as a huge success.
• When did talks between the Soviets and the West about reunifying Germany break down?

  March 1948
• What did the British, Americans, and French decide to do in March 1948?

  They decided to unify their zones into 'Trizonia'
• What currency did the Allies introduce in June 1948?

  Deutschmark
• What action did Stalin take in response to the introduction of the Deutschmark?

  He shut off land routes into Berlin
• What was the name of the blockade initiated by Stalin?

  Berlin blockade
• How did the West respond to the Berlin blockade?

  They decided to fly in key supplies
• What was the operation called that involved flying in supplies to Berlin?

  Operation Vittles
• How many tonnes of supplies were sent into Berlin by air in January 1949?

  170,000 tonnes
• When did the Soviets lift the blockade?

  9 May 1949
• What was the outcome for Germany after the blockade?

  Germany was permanently divided
• What were the two new states formed in Germany after the blockade?

  Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic Republic
• What military alliance did the West create after realizing their need for one?

  NATO
• What did the USA demonstrate through their actions during the blockade?

  They were committed to the Truman Doctrine
• How was the Berlin blockade portrayed by Western propaganda?

  As a huge success for the West
• What was the perception of the blockade for the USSR?

  It was an embarrassing defeat