1. The Berlin Blockade and Airlift
Germany is divided into four zones after WWII. Each Allie occupied a different part of Germany. The United States had one region, Great Britain had a region, France had a region, and the Soviet Union had a region.
To occupy an area after a war means, pretty much, to “babysit” that region. The winning country would watch over the losing country to make sure they recovered from the war and did what the winner thought they should (like in setting up their new government and keeping their military in line).

2. The Berlin Blockade and Airlift
In 1947, the U.S., Great Britain, and France merged their three parts of Germany to form West Germany. The Soviet part remained separate.
The capital city, Berlin, was located far inside the Soviet part of Germany. But, since it was the capital of Germany, every ally wanted to occupy part of the capital too. So, Berlin was split into two parts as well.

3. Division of Germany

5. The City of Berlin and how it was divided.

6. The Allies Split. They Can’t Agree.
The Western Allies (The U.S., France, and Great Britain) could not agree with the Soviet Union about what to do with Germany after WW2.
Stalin wanted to take all the resources from Germany so he could rebuild the Soviet Union. He wanted to make Germany pay for the war and he didn’t care what happened to the country.
The Western Allies thought it would be better to focus on preventing the terrible things the Nazis did from happening again. To do that, the Western Allies believed Germany needed a strong economy and a strong democracy. If they let Stalin take all the resources to pay for the war damages, it would ruin the country. So, they didn’t let him.

7. The Western Allies decided to move forward with their plan in their parts of Germany. In 1947, they merged their parts of Germany into one country. Then, they started putting plans into action to help restart the economy and make West Germany strong. They decided all of this in secret meetings that did not include the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union was angry. To protest and get the West to stop moving forward without them, the Soviet Union blocked off West Berlin.

8. What does it mean that Stalin blockaded off West Berlin?
He put tanks across the only road and the only railroad line that allowed the Western Allies to travel to their side of Berlin. He cut them off from their side of the city completely.
If the Western Allies did anything to try to force the tanks to move, it could be considered an act of war and it could start an actual war! Maybe another world war!

9. What did the Berlin Blockade (which is what this event was called) mean for the citizens in West Berlin?
The Western Allies brought used to ship food and daily living supplies to West Berliners. When Stalin blocked the road, the people no longer had supplies of food! They didn’t have fuel for travel or electricity either!
Stalin shut off their electricity for most of the day too!
The citizens couldn’t leave East Germany (the Soviets zone of Berlin). They might have to live under the Soviet Union’s government in Germany!

10. What did the Berlin Blockade (which is what this event was called) mean for the citizens in West Berlin?
Remember the type of government the Soviet Union had? It was the type of government they put in their part of Germany (East Germany). People had no voice. They had to be communist. Secret police kept the people in line. There were shortages of important items. People were killed for disobeying the government.
The Western Allies hated the way the government was run, but they could not get to their citizens. It was horrible for the West – and for people in West Berlin.

11. Why do you think Stalin wanted to close off Berlin so badly?
Imagine. Answer:
Why do you think Stalin wanted to close off Berlin so badly?
What kinds of problems do you think the people in West Berlin had?
Imagine you lived in West Berlin at this time. Write about 5 different difficult things you would experience every day because of the Blockade

12. The West made a decision to respond.
With an airlift to save the West Berliners. They couldn’t use the roads to get to West Berlin. They couldn’t use the train. But the Soviets did not block the air!
And, they agreed with Stalin that they could use certain airfields to fly planes with supplies into West Berlin.

13. How the Berlin Airlift Worked
The U.S. and Great Britain teamed up for this airlift.
They carried supplies around the clock – with planes taking off every 90 seconds!
The greatest help delivered to West Berlin were coal, stuff for heat, & food.

14. How the Berlin Airlift Worked
The Airlift lasted for 10 months and was a HUGE success. Deliveries around the clock saved the day!
Stalin eventually gave up and reopened the roads and railways to West Berlin. The Berlin Blockade was over in 1949.

15. Questions to Answer What is the Berlin Blockade?
How did the Western Allies end the Berlin Blockade?
Who were the Western Allies?
Why did Stalin block off West Berlin? (What made him want to do this?)
What types of difficulties did people experience in West Berlin because of the blockade?