The Berlin Crisis Lesson Objective: Develop knowledge and understanding of the reasons for and the consequence of the Berlin Crisis.

What was the Berlin crisis? “The Soviet administration is compelled to halt all traffic to and from Berlin tomorrow at 0600hours because of technical difficulties”

Technical difficulties = Russians closed ALL roads, canals and railways between Berlin and Western Germany. This became known as the “Berlin Blockade”

What was the Russian’s aim? West Berlin only had enough food to last 6 weeks The Russian’s aim was to force the West to withdraw from Western Berlin by reducing its population to starvation Question: Why might the Russians want the Allies to withdraw from Berlin?

LONG TERM CAUSES: The Soviet Union wanted Communists to run Berlin City Council, but the western powers helped the Socialist group win control. The West wanted to speed up the economic recovery of Germany. The Soviet Union wanted the opposite and refused to allow its zone to trade with the other three. Stalin did not want the Allies inside Berlin, which was in the Soviet Zone. There were two main reasons for this… Questions: Why didn’t Stalin want economic recovery in Germany? Why wouldn’t Stalin want the Allies inside Berlin?

SHORT TERM CAUSES: January: US and British zones in Berlin and Germany merged. This new area was known as the “Bizone”. April: Marshall aid was given to Allied controlled zones of Germany. June: The Allies announced plans to unite their zones to create a West German State and introduce a new currency (the western Deutschmark). The Soviet Union retaliated by introducing a new currency in its zone (Ostmark) Questions: Why did Stalin fear a united Germany? What impact did the Marshall plan have on Berlin?

The response “When Berlin falls, Western Germany will be next. If we withdraw our position in Berlin, Europe is threatened…Communism will run rampant”

Truman was determined to stand up to the Soviet Union and show he was serious about containment. He saw Berlin as a ‘test case’. If the Allies gave in to Stalin here the Western zones of Germany might be next. Truman wanted Berlin to be a symbol of freedom behind the Iron Curtain Questions: What is meant by containment? Where did Truman state his purpose of intent regarding containment?

The Berlin Airlift The only way into Berlin was by air The Allies decided to airlift supplies from their bases in Western Germany Supplies included food, coal, fuel and building materials Planes landed day and night On average 4000tons of supplies were flown in to Berlin each day The airlifts lasted 10 months

The Soviet Union did not shoot down Allied planes Soviet Response The Soviet Union did not shoot down Allied planes In May 1949 Stalin called off the blockade. He had failed to starve the Allies out of Berlin Questions: 1) What is the message of Source A? 2) Why do you think Stalin decided not to shoot down the storks?

Effects of the crisis: Increase in Superpower rivalry. Truman saw the crisis as a great victory. For Stalin the crisis was a humiliating defeat. 2) Confirmation of divisions of Germany and Berlin. Within days of the end of the crisis the Allies announced that their zones would join together to form West Germany. Stalin responded by turning the Soviet zone into the German Democratic Republic 3) Formation of two rival alliance systems: NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Across 3. The Soviet dictator 6. Another conference at the end of WW2 Down 1. The Soviet system of government 2. The divided capital of Germany 4. The American President at the end of WW2 5. A conference at the end of WW2

Homework: What were the causes of the Berlin Crisis? [5] 2) Describe the key events of the Berlin Crisis [5] 3) What were the consequences of the Berlin Crisis? [5]

How did developments in the period 1949-1955 increase the rivalry? Lesson objectives: Identify the key developments in the period 1949-1955 Explain how these developments increased rivalry between the Superpowers

NATO Warsaw Pact Korean War Developments 1949-1955 Death of Stalin China Soviet nuclear bomb

Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact

NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Why would Stalin be concerned about West Germany joining the alliance?

NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organisation A defensive alliance to prevent Soviet expansion. Members agreed to assist each other in the event of an attack by the Soviet Union Set up a joint command structure Formed in 1949 12 original members: Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Portugal Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Canada and the USA Turkey and Greece joined in 1952. West Germany joined in 1955 Why would Stalin be concerned about West Germany joining the alliance?

The Warsaw Pact Why wasn’t Yugoslavia a member of the Warsaw Pact? Why was it set up so late?

The Warsaw Pact Stalin saw NATO as an aggressive alliance and in response formed a rival alliance to counter the threat of NATO. Formed 1955 Eight members: Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania The countries agreed to help each other in the event of an armed attack from the west They set up a joint command structure Why wasn’t Yugoslavia a member of the Warsaw Pact? Why was it set up so late?

Why would the USA be more concerned about these events than Britain? China: Korean War 1950-1955: Why would the USA be more concerned about these events than Britain?

Why would the USA be more concerned about these events than Britain? China: In 1949 the Communist Party, led by Chairman Mao took control of China There was concern about a domino effect-that other countries in Asia might follow China lead and turn communist Korean War 1950-1955: North Korea, a communist country, backed by the Soviet Union and China invaded South Korea, a US backed democracy Concerns that Asia might be taken over by communists Why would the USA be more concerned about these events than Britain?

How are McCathyism and the development of the Soviet bomb linked? McCarthyism: Soviet nuclear bomb: 1953 Stalin died: How are McCathyism and the development of the Soviet bomb linked?

How are McCarthyism and the development of the Soviet bomb linked? Americans were accused of being communists and possible spies Soviet nuclear bomb: In 1949, much earlier than expected the Soviet Union developed its own nuclear bomb. 1953 Stalin died: This did not have an immediate effect as no one figure immediately emerged as his successor How are McCarthyism and the development of the Soviet bomb linked?

Superpower Rivalry ‘Richter Scale’ 10 Superpower Rivalry ‘Richter Scale’ 1

Potsdam Conference Eastern Europe Truman Doctrine Marshall Aid Berlin Crisis

NATO China Soviet A-bomb Korean War Death of Stalin Warsaw Pact