1. Crisis in Berlin ( )
Today: TWO stories of where/when/why/how the
USSR challenged the USA’s containment
policy.
1.) The Berlin Blockade and Airlift ( )
2.) The Berlin Wall ( )

2. Crisis in Berlin ( )
Feb 1945 – Yalta Conference Divided Germany into 4 occupied zones.
July 1945 – Potsdam, USA & USSR fight about whether Germany should pay reparations.
June July 1948: USSR blockades West Berlin…USA begins airlifting supplies to starving West Berliners. Eventually the blockade comes down.
August The East Germany (communist) Government builds the Berlin Wall to stop East Germans from leaving.
Germany would remain a divided nation until 1989.

3. In beginning years of the Cold War …who was in charge?
Truman
( )
Eisenhower
( )
Kennedy
( )
Stalin
( )
Khrushchev
( )

4. Story #1: The Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948-1949)

5. Berlin Blockade and Airlift (June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949)
A: Because the
USA, GB, and France had reunited their portions of Germany/Berlin and we allowing the nation to be free and to rebuild their economy.
Stalin did not like this!
Q: Why did the USSR blockade all the roads/railroads into West Berlin?

6. WEST
Germany
EAST
Germany
WEST
Berlin
EAST
Berlin

7. Berlin Blockade and Airlift (June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949)
AIRLIFT in supplies!
Load planes in
West Germany…fly into West Berlin. This way we never cross into the USSR’s section.
Q: People in West Berlin are starving and winter is coming…what can the USA do?

8. Containment  Berlin Airlift (June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949)
The Berlin Airlift
USA planes were landing in
West Berlin every 4 minutes for 15 months!

11. USSR takes down the blockade…
The Berlin Airlift
May 1949
USSR takes down the blockade…
CONTAINMENT wins!

12. Story #2: The Berlin Wall (1961-1989)