The Berlin Blockade

Before the Blockade Potsdam Conference 1945- political and economic policy for Germany. Germany was divided into 4 zones and was to be governed by the Allied Control Council (France, UK, USA and USSR). Germany was to be totally “occupied, denazified, demilitarised and deindustrialised”. Berlin, the capital of Germany, was located in the Soviet zone. 1947 Truman Doctrine: protect free people from the subjugation … 1947 Marshall Plan: US aid package 1947 Comecon: the Soviet reaction to the Marshall Plan

The Berlin Blockade

Divided Germany Each zone would act as a single unit administered by a joint committee (ACC) ACC- Allied Control Council ACC headquartered in Berlin: new authority in newly recognized Germany Germany a single economic unit, & all actions required unanimous agreement

Contributing factors Feb 1948- London Conference: single currency to be used in Germany Soviets disagreed, removed themselves from group June 1948: currency introduced. In protest, USSR blocks access to Berlin West previously had access to 1 road, 1 rail, 2 air corridors

Strategy: Berlin Airlift The airlift marked a rise in tensions between the West and the Soviets, but it also helped heal divisions left by World War II. Almost immediately, The United States, Great Britain, and France shifted from Germany's conquerors to its protectors. Allied cooperation paved way for formation of new military alliance, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO

Berlin Airlift Blockade of Berlin began on June 24, ’48 From June 1948 to May 1949, U.S. and British planes airlift supplies.

Operation Vittles -Airlift All of the necessities for the city's 2.5 million residents -- an estimated 4,500 tons of food, coal and other materials each day -- had to enter the city by air. On its biggest day, the "Easter parade" of April 16, 1949, the airlift sent 1,398 flights into Berlin -- one every minute. Before it was all over, more than 278,000 flights would carry 2.3 million tons of relief supplies. Airlift forces Stalin to accept that America will not relent so he ends blockade in 1949.

At the End Berlin still divided between West and East Each sector had it’s own administration New governments formed in both sections of Germany Federal Republic in West Democratic Republic in East Capital of West Germany: Bonn DIVISION OF GERMANY IN TWO

Significance First Cold War Conflict Differing views as to how to deal with Germany Truman’s popularity was at a low- this would boost it. Germany is officially divided NATO created shortly after as fear of communist build- up. Warsaw Pact