The Berlin Blockade

Background Information WW2 ended in August 1945, in Japan, with the bombing of Hiroshima WW2 ended in August 1945, in Japan, with the bombing of Hiroshima The fighting ended in Europe in May of 1945 The fighting ended in Europe in May of 1945 The 4 allied forces; Britain, USA, Russia and France had to decide what to do with Germany The 4 allied forces; Britain, USA, Russia and France had to decide what to do with Germany They all agreed that Germany had to be “denazified” by destroying Nazi propaganda and holding the Nuremburg Trials They all agreed that Germany had to be “denazified” by destroying Nazi propaganda and holding the Nuremburg Trials

Soviet Union- Russia Great Britain USA France

Their plan after this was to divide the country into four zones of occupation, each country controlling a zone Their plan after this was to divide the country into four zones of occupation, each country controlling a zone Each unit was to be administered through a joint committee called the Allied Control Council (ACC) Each unit was to be administered through a joint committee called the Allied Control Council (ACC) ACC formed by the commanders-in-chief of each of the occupying armies and their headquarters were in Berlin ACC formed by the commanders-in-chief of each of the occupying armies and their headquarters were in Berlin Germany was to be treated as a single unit so any decisions about it had to have unanimous support from the ACC Germany was to be treated as a single unit so any decisions about it had to have unanimous support from the ACC As soon as the 4 zones were established each Allie power began establishing their own rules going against this policy As soon as the 4 zones were established each Allie power began establishing their own rules going against this policy

Berlin, Germany’s capital, was situated in the Soviet Union zone Berlin, Germany’s capital, was situated in the Soviet Union zone It was granted separate status, and was divided into 4 zones again for each Allied power It was granted separate status, and was divided into 4 zones again for each Allied power Each Allied power had to appoint a commander for this section of Berlin Each Allied power had to appoint a commander for this section of Berlin The western part of Germany had no access to Berlin The western part of Germany had no access to Berlin In June 1945 the Allies agreed to have one main road, one main rail line and two air strips into the city In June 1945 the Allies agreed to have one main road, one main rail line and two air strips into the city

There began to be disagreements between the Allies as to what their mission was in Germany and how long they would stay there There began to be disagreements between the Allies as to what their mission was in Germany and how long they would stay there This caused a lot of tensions between the US and Soviet Union This caused a lot of tensions between the US and Soviet Union President Truman finally decided to take a stand and released the Truman Doctrine on March 12, 1947 President Truman finally decided to take a stand and released the Truman Doctrine on March 12, 1947 The second step came through the Marshall Plan The second step came through the Marshall Plan

Sept 22, Soviet Union fought back by rejecting the Marshall Plan’s European Recovery Program Sept 22, Soviet Union fought back by rejecting the Marshall Plan’s European Recovery Program Tensions after this point escalated between the Western powers (US, Britain and France) and the Soviet Union Tensions after this point escalated between the Western powers (US, Britain and France) and the Soviet Union Feb Western powers met in London to discuss uniting their zones into a single economic unit with the same currency Feb Western powers met in London to discuss uniting their zones into a single economic unit with the same currency The Soviet Union wrote letters to each government on February 13, 1948 stating that any decisions that were reached at this meeting would not be considered legitimate in their eyes The Soviet Union wrote letters to each government on February 13, 1948 stating that any decisions that were reached at this meeting would not be considered legitimate in their eyes

To protest the London conference the Soviet Union withdrew from the ACC and the 4 powers never met together again To protest the London conference the Soviet Union withdrew from the ACC and the 4 powers never met together again Soviet Union began putting restrictions on traffic to Berlin from Western Zones (March 30, 1948) Soviet Union began putting restrictions on traffic to Berlin from Western Zones (March 30, 1948) –US personnel traveling through the Soviet zone by rail and highway had to present evidence of identity –Shipments from Berlin to Western zones had to be cleared through Soviet check points –All baggage had to be inspected at Soviet check points with the exception of personal belongings of US personnel

The US protested, but the Soviets did not listen The US protested, but the Soviets did not listen In the spring of 1948 more restrictions were put into place In the spring of 1948 more restrictions were put into place Soviets explained them as “technical difficulties” such as repairs to railways Soviets explained them as “technical difficulties” such as repairs to railways Western zones restricted exports to Soviet zone that were crucial to their economy Western zones restricted exports to Soviet zone that were crucial to their economy June 18, Western zones proceeded with a common currency (Deutsche mark) June 18, Western zones proceeded with a common currency (Deutsche mark) This currency spread to Western zones of Berlin 4 days later This currency spread to Western zones of Berlin 4 days later All residents of Berlin had no choice but to exchange their Russian currency into Deutsche marks to buy all goods they needed All residents of Berlin had no choice but to exchange their Russian currency into Deutsche marks to buy all goods they needed

This was the last straw for Soviets This was the last straw for Soviets In June 22, 1948, they established their own separate currency that would be used in the entire Soviet zone, including all of Berlin In June 22, 1948, they established their own separate currency that would be used in the entire Soviet zone, including all of Berlin Two days, June 24, 1948, all land and water traffic to and from Berlin was stopped- this fully began the Berlin Blockade Two days, June 24, 1948, all land and water traffic to and from Berlin was stopped- this fully began the Berlin Blockade Tensions and a war of words continued between the US and the Soviets- a fully blow war was inevitable Tensions and a war of words continued between the US and the Soviets- a fully blow war was inevitable

The US had to figure out the intentions of the Soviets The US had to figure out the intentions of the Soviets Before they could do this, West Berlin was running out of food and supplies Before they could do this, West Berlin was running out of food and supplies The Western zones had no way of getting these supplies to their people, except by air The Western zones had no way of getting these supplies to their people, except by air

The airlift began on June 26, 1948, delivering food and fuel to West Berlin The airlift began on June 26, 1948, delivering food and fuel to West Berlin By the autumn these supplies had run out, and another airlift had to be done By the autumn these supplies had run out, and another airlift had to be done The airlifts continued until Sept The airlifts continued until Sept Coal being unloaded from a plane at Berlin airport, For ten months, planes landed every three minutes throughout the day and night

The Soviets soon saw that the blockade was not going to halt the Western powers The Soviets soon saw that the blockade was not going to halt the Western powers March they entered negotiations with USA, UK and France to lift the blockade. Results were a 3 point plan; March they entered negotiations with USA, UK and France to lift the blockade. Results were a 3 point plan; –Restriction on communications, transportation and trade between Berlin and Western zones would be removed May 9, 1949 –Restrictions the Western zones imposed would be removed May 9, 1949 –On May 23, 1949, the 4 powers would meet in Paris to discuss questions surrounding Germany and the currency

The final results were to keep Germany divided between East and West The final results were to keep Germany divided between East and West The Federal Republic in Western Germany was created on Sept. 21, New capital was Bonn. West Berlin a single unit with its own Mayor. The Federal Republic in Western Germany was created on Sept. 21, New capital was Bonn. West Berlin a single unit with its own Mayor. Democratic Republic in Eastern Germany on October 7, 1949, capital remained East Berlin Democratic Republic in Eastern Germany on October 7, 1949, capital remained East Berlin There was still fear about a military build up in Eastern Europe, therefore a Western alliance formed: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) There was still fear about a military build up in Eastern Europe, therefore a Western alliance formed: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

NATO treaty signed on April 4, 1949 in Washington DC by : Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, US (Greece, Turkey in 1952) (Western Germany 1955) NATO treaty signed on April 4, 1949 in Washington DC by : Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, US (Greece, Turkey in 1952) (Western Germany 1955) Treaty stated that an “armed attack against one or more” will be “considered an attack against all of them” Treaty stated that an “armed attack against one or more” will be “considered an attack against all of them” Collective Security Collective Security

A cartoon by David Low, 1949, entitled ‘Your play, Joe’. Western leaders wait to see how Stalin will react to the formation of NATO.

At the same time Eastern Europe was signing similar agreements At the same time Eastern Europe was signing similar agreements The Warsaw Treaty Organization was signed by Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Soviet Union The Warsaw Treaty Organization was signed by Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Soviet Union This began the Cold War- Western world armed lead by the US against the Eastern world lead by the Soviet Union This began the Cold War- Western world armed lead by the US against the Eastern world lead by the Soviet Union