Consequences of the Berlin Blockade · Revision Notes · History

Why did the USSR Begin the Berlin Blockade?

Why Did the USSR Begin the Berlin Blockade?

The Potsdam Conference agreed to split Berlin into two parts:
- The USA, Britain and France occupied the western zone
- The USSR occupied the eastern zone

Three maps showing the division of Germany after World War II:

1945: Germany is split into four occupation zones — British (green), Soviet (red), American (orange), and French (blue).

1947: British and American zones merge to form Bizonia (green), while the Soviet zone remains separate.

1948: French zone joins Bizonia to form Trizonia (blue), showing clear division between Western and Soviet-controlled areas, with the Soviet zone unchanged in red. — How was Berlin divided from 1945 to 1948?

Trizonia introduced the Deutschmark in June 1948
- This was the breaking point for Stalin

A chronological diagram showing key steps that increased East–West tension:

January 1947: ‘Bizonia’ formed – the USA and Britain merge their German zones.

March 1947: Truman Doctrine announced – formalises opposition to communism.

April 1947: Marshall Plan – $1.5 million in aid pledged to West Germany.

March 1948: ‘Trizonia’ – France joins Bizonia, uniting Western zones.

June 1948: Deutschmark introduced in Trizonia, deepening the East–West divide.

June 1948: Berlin Blockade – USSR shuts land routes into Berlin in protest. — Causes of the Berlin Blockade

The USSR believed that the Western powers had no right to Berlin
- Berlin fell within East Germany
- Trizonia threatened the power of the USSR in Germany
  - The Deutschmark split Berlin into two different economic zones
    - Capitalist Trizonia had a better economy
    - This would make the USSR look weak
By 1948, Stalin decided that blockading Berlin would force the West out of Berlin

A cause-and-consequence flowchart explaining why the USSR blockaded West Berlin:

Reliance on Food: West Berlin depended on East Germany for food.
→ A blockade would threaten Trizonia’s ability to supply food.

Transport Access: Western Allies had to cross Soviet-controlled Germany to reach West Berlin.
→ USSR could cut off Western access.

Red Army Presence: 1.5 million Soviet troops were stationed in Germany.
→ USSR was militarily positioned to resist Western pressure. — Why did the USSR decide to blockade Berlin?

How did the USSR Blockade Berlin

How Did the USSR Blockade Berlin?

The USSR could control access to Berlin
- It was deep inside the Soviet-occupied zone
- Trizonia only had two agreed land routes and two air routes to West Berlin
In June 1948, the USSR closed road, rail and canal links across Soviet-controlled Germany
Without the support of the USA, Britain and France, West Berlin
- Only had enough food for 36 days
- Lacked important resources like fuel and medicine
Stalin wanted to control the whole of Berlin
- It was the capital city of Germany
- The USSR could spread Communist ideas
- Stalin would gain a propaganda victory
  - He could present the capture of Berlin as a triumph of Communism over capitalism

How did the West React to the Blockade?

How Did the West React to the Blockade?

The USA, Britain and France were in a challenging position after the announcement of the blockade in June 1948
- The West risked war if they attempted to break the blockade
- Doing nothing would give Berlin to the USSR
- Without the support of the West, West Berlin would quickly run out of food, fuel and medical supplies
They had three options to respond to the blockade:

A decision matrix with three response options considered by the West:

Option One: Withdraw from Berlin

Prevents war with USSR
− Loses control of Germany’s capital
− Signals failure of containment

Option Two: Supply Berlin by Land

Could provide supplies
− Makes West the aggressors
− Likely to lead to war

Option Three: Supply Berlin by Air

Could provide supplies

Avoids entering by land

USSR would appear aggressive if they shot planes down
− Still risked war if USSR attacked planes

Key at bottom: green = positive outcomes, red = negative outcomes. — How could the West respond to the Berlin Blockade?

Worked example

Study Sources C and D

Does Source C make Source D surprising? Explain your answer using details of the sources and your knowledge

8 marks

Source C: From the diary of a US official, 28 June 1948

Meeting at White House about the Berlin Situation. When the question was discussed – do we stay in Berlin or not? – President Truman interrupted to say that there was no discussion on that point, we were going to stay. We were in Berlin by terms of an agreement and the Russians had no right to get us out by either direct or indirect pressure

Source D: From an American newspaper, 12 September 1948

After repeated meetings between the Western representatives and Stalin the hope was expressed that the Berlin blockade was about to be lifted. Yet the blockade continues and even air communications between the Western zones and Berlin are now under threat. The seizure of the Berlin City Hall by the Communists appears to be only a matter of time. When that happens the position of the Western powers will be far more difficult. Russia is holding the trump cards in Berlin and will only give in at a price too high for the Western powers. Besides, any bargain that one may strike with Moscow today will not be kept by Stalin.

The activities of Russia in Berlin will convince any sensible person that Moscow is trying to drive the Western Allies to a declaration of war, in which they will be branded the aggressors. The longer the Western Allies remain in Berlin as targets of constant humiliations by the Soviet power, the greater the danger of plunging Europe into another war. The Western Allies can pull out of Berlin with dignity and get back to their own zones on the excellent grounds that co-operation with Russia is no longer possible. They can then establish their military, economic and political front along their Russian border and meet the Soviets on even terms

Partial answer:

Source C does make Source D surprising as they disagree about whether the USA should pull out of Berlin to end the blockade (1). Source C states that “President Truman interrupted to say that there was no discussion on that point, we were going to stay”. However, Source D argues that ”The longer the Western Allies remain in Berlin, the greater the danger of plunging Europe into another war” (1). As Source D is an American newspaper, it may represent many Americans' opinions of the Berlin Blockade. As a result, it is surprising to see that keeping West Berlin may not have been as important to the US public as it was to President Truman (1).

What was the Berlin Airlift?

In June 1948, the West decided to fly supplies into Berlin. This was a clever tactic because
- It was not an aggressive action
- The USSR would start a war if they shot any planes down
From June 1948 to May 1949, the Berlin Airlift (codename Operation Vittles) flew vital supplies to West Berlin

Central label: The Berlin Airlift with four surrounding categories:

Supplies
– In January 1949, 170,000 tons of supplies were sent into Berlin
– USA and Britain flew in about 1,000 tons per day

Airports
– Berlin–Tempelhof: a plane landed every 45 seconds at the peak
– Berlin–Tegel: a new airport built by the French military

Casualties
– At least 78 people were killed in air accidents, but the Soviet military caused no casualties

Soviet Reaction
– Offer to West Berliners to move east for food was mostly refused
– Stalin offered to lift blockade if Deutschmark was withdrawn, but Allies refused — What happened during the Berlin Airlift?

The Impact of the Berlin Crisis

The Berlin Airlift had negative impacts on Stalin
- He could not stop the airlift
  - Shooting down planes carrying supplies would lead to war
- It humiliated the USSR
  - By doing nothing, the USSR looked weak
On 12th May 1949, the USSR lifted the Berlin Blockade
- The Western Allies continued to fly in supplies until 30th September 1949
The Berlin Airlift was a massive victory for the West over the East
- This worsened tension between the two ‘superpowers’
Several key events happened partly as a result of the Berlin Crisis:

The image shows a divided diagram with the USA on the left and the Soviet Union on the right, linked by a fraying rope to represent increasing Cold War tensions.

USA side:

April 1949: Created NATO (a military alliance)

May 1949: Formed the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)

Soviet Union side:

October 1949: Formed the German Democratic Republic (East Germany)

April 1955: Created the Warsaw Pact (a military alliance) — What was the impact of the Berlin Crisis?

Exam tip

A Paper One exam question could ask you if you agree that the Cold War started during the Berlin Crisis in 1948. A strong response for this Paper One question needs to examine both sides of the argument using a clear PEE structure.

Arguments for: The Berlin Blockade was the first event that could have caused a war. Both countries decided not to physically fight but wanted to win a propaganda victory. The crisis ended with the official division of East and West Germany.
Arguments against: The Potsdam Conference in 1945 broke the US-Soviet alliance. Events such as the ‘Iron Curtain’ speech and the creation of Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe could be seen as the start of the Cold War.

You would then need to write a conclusion explaining how far you agree that the Cold War began because of the Berlin Crisis. Remember to use phrases like ‘fully’ or ‘partially’ to explain the level which you agree or disagree with the statement.

Why did the USSR Begin the Berlin Blockade?

Why Did the USSR Begin the Berlin Blockade?

How did the USSR Blockade Berlin

How Did the USSR Blockade Berlin?

How did the West React to the Blockade?

How Did the West React to the Blockade?

What was the Berlin Airlift?

What was the Berlin Airlift?

The Impact of the Berlin Crisis

The Impact of the Berlin Crisis

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