Transcript Power Point Poster: Berlin during the Cold War

The Cold War: The division and blockade of Berlin
Francesca Weikert
IB History
February 24, 2012
BACKGROUND- What led to the Berlin
Blockade?
After Germany had lost the second World War, the Yalta
Conference was held February 4–11, 1945 as the wartime meeting
of the heads of government of the United States, the United
Kingdom, and the Soviet Union Soviet to discuss Europe's postwar reorganization.
The allies decided to disarm, demilitarize, de-nazify and divide
Germany.
It was also decided that post-war Germany would be divided into
four zones of occupation between USA,USSR,UK and France
At the Potsdam Conference from July 16 to August 2, 1945
representatives from the United Kingdom, the United States and
the Soviet Union decided that despite the temporary divide into
four allied zones of occupation, Germany should be treated as one
economic unit administered by the Allied Control Council(ACC)
The main cause of the Berlin Blockade was the Cold War. Stalin
was beginning to take over eastern Europe Czechoslovakia for
example had just turned communist (March 1948). On the other
hand, the United Sates had just adopted the Truman Doctrine to
‘contain’ the USSR.
Stalin wanted to destroy Germany whereas Britain and the USA
strived to rebuild Germany’s industry to create a wealthy trading
partner.
Immediate Cultural and Political Significance
The Soviet Union opposed a separate West German state and attempted to prevent this by
pressuring West Berlin. On June 24, the USSR cut off all road, rail and freight traffic to West
Berlin while also cutting the supply of electricity from East to West Berlin
Allies responded with a massive airlift, in which tones of food, fuel and other basic items
were flown from Trizonia into West Berlin to supply its two million citizens.
In May 1949 Stalin called off the Soviet blockade due to its obvious failure and therefore the
airlift ended as well.
Historical Significance
The Berlin Blockade did not turn into a ‘hot war’ yet is reflects the tensions
between capitalist states and the communist USSR. Because of these tension the
Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic were
formed. The division was most apparent with the construction of the Berlin
wall.
The Blockade was viewed as an attempt by the Soviet Union to drive the Allies out of Berlin
in preparation for taking over the western zones of Germany.
The prime minister of the West German Laender had first been reluctant to accept the creation
of a separate West German State yet he agreed as a way of ensuring US protection against
Soviet takeover.
The new Federal Republic of Germany (FDR) was set up in may 1949.
The USSR didn’t want to set up a separate East German State; they had hoped to avoid a
permanent division and desired the emergence of a neutral Germany independent of a USdominated Western Europe.
On October 7, the USSR finally accepted the division of Germany and announced the
transformation of its eastern zone into a new state: the German Democratic Republic
(GDR)
Division of Germany and mainly Berlin represented the division of Europe into two
suspicious and hostile camps.
West:
The occupying powers helped create a capitalist society. The economy grew rapidly and West
Germany was experiencing an “economic miracle”.
Individuals were able to buy gadgets and appliances and to travel as they wished. The citizens of
West Germany were very content with their living situation.
East:
The communist society majorly restricted individual freedom. Living standards were poor due to
lack of financial support from other nations.
Free elections were banned by 1946 and East Germany turned into a completely Stalinist
authoritarian state by 1950 which led to the major riots of 1953.
By the late 1950s, Germans in east Berlin could not stand living under Soviet control and over 2.6
million people began to pack their bags and move to the Western part. Many who fled were young,
trained professionals therefore East Germany was losing their best labor force.
From 1949-1961 over 3 million East Germans fled to West Germany because they were unsatified
with communism.
In 1961,Soviet soldiers built a wall of concrete and barbed wire that divided East and West Berlin.
People who tried to escape were shot.
Works Cited
"Berlin Sector Map." Map. Word History Pro. Web. Jan.-Feb. 2012.
<http://worldhistorypro.edu.glogster.com/>.
Bizone and the Berlin Blockade. Photograph. Listphile. 2007. Web. Jan.-Feb. 2012.
<http://www.listphile.com/ Cold_War__Key_World_Events/Bizone_and_the_Berlin_Blockade>.
Checkpoint Charlie. 1961. Photograph. 17 Jan. 2012. Web. Jan.-Feb. 2012.
<http://www.thebigfeedblog.com/ 2011/01/checkpoint-charlie.html>.
Flemming, T., J. Isaacs, and T. Downing. "Weshalb Die Mauer Errichtet Worden Ist."
Berliner Mauer Online.
Web. Jan.-Feb. 2012.
<http://www.berlinermaueronline.de/geschichte/berliner-mauerbau-gruende.htm>
"Images of the Berlin Wall." German Missions in the United States. Picture-alliance/akgimages. Web. Jan.-Feb.
2012.
<http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/02__GIC/GIC/05/03__Without__Walls/Featu
re__1/ Timeline__Gallery__B.html>.
"The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall." 20th Century History. Web. Jan.-Feb. 2012. <http://
history1900s.about.com/od/coldwa1/a/berlinwall.htm>.
Todd, Allan. The Cold War. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2011. Print.)