The Berlin blockade + airlift Learning objectives- To identify the key causes, events and consequences of the Berlin blockade and airlift. To answer and peer assess an exam question based on the above.

Berlin blockade - Key facts/Context Between June 1948 and May 1949 Stalin blockaded Berlin. This meant that for nearly a year all road and rail links to West Berlin were cut-off. Stalin aimed to starve the 2 million inhabitants of West Berlin into submission. This led to a test of strength between the two sides, the first major crisis of the Cold War.

Task Sort the statements around the room into three sections: – Causes – These are likely to be things which annoyed Stalin, therefore pushing him towards his decision. – Events – These are things that happened between 24 th June 1948 and 12 th May – Consequences – These are things which happened after 12 th May 1949 as a result of the blockade and airlift.

Causes When the Americans introduced the Marshall Plan west Germany and west Berlin benefitted greatly. Meanwhile in the Eastern zone Stalin was extracting reparations and as a result it was not as developed as the Western zones. Stalin viewed a prosperous Germany in the west as a threat to the USSR. Britain and America combined their zones into Bizonia which angered Stalin. Britain and America introduced a new currency in their zones to help re-build the economy in 1948.

Events As Berlin was in the Soviet zone the allies depended on the USSR to keep open the routes in and out of the city. On the 24 th June 1948 Stalin closed all road and rail links into Berlin. The Americans and British took the decision to fly in supplies to the two million inhabitants living in West Berlin by using the three air corridors established in Over two million tons of supplies were delivered by the allies into West Berlin and approximately 275,000 trips were made. Stalin called the blockade off on 12 may Stalin had been unsuccessful in trying to force the allies to give up their zones and leave the whole of Berlin in his hands. The first flight was on the 26 th June and by September 1948, aircraft were landing in Berlin every 3 minutes day and night. The Soviets tried to put pressure on the Berliners by cutting off electricity supplies and offering them extra rations if they moved to East Berlin. Only 2% of the population did this, showing that the people of west Berlin were prepared to undergo hardship to remain part of the west. Soviet planes tracked supply planes in case they moved out of the permitted air corridor, but dared not shoot them down as this would be an act of war.

Consequences The USSR turned its zones (including east Berlin) into the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). It had a communist government. The blockade strengthened allied resolve to stand up to Stalin whatever the cost. West Germany (including west Berlin) was formally united as the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and free elections were held in August Konrad Adanauer’s Christian Democrats won; he was a committed opponent to communism. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was formed in April 1949 this was a military alliance that promised to help if any of the members were attacked. This was significant because it was the first time America had signed up to a peacetime military alliance; it showed the determination of its member to stand up to communism. Stalin’s response was to form the Warsaw pact, a similar military alliance comprising of Eastern European countries under soviet influence. The blockade was costly to the allies and 79 British and American pilots were killed in accidents.

Activity Use the information to create an A3 sheet of “infographics” about the Berlin Airlift. Make it as clear as possible so that it helps you remember the facts and figures when you come to revise.

Look at the source. What is the message of this cartoon? Use details of the cartoon and you own knowledge to explain your answer. (7 marks)

The message of this cartoon is that Stalin is attempting to stop supplies from getting to the people of the West berlin. He looks unhappy and is attempting to shoot the storks which are carrying supplies. It shows Stalin sticking out of a chimney and he is shooting down some birds which are carrying coal and food. It also shows a sign saying Berlin. The cartoon is about the Berlin blockade. Stalin blockaded Berlin so that the allies couldn’t get supplies in to feed the inhabitants of west Berlin. The allies had to use air corridors from WW2 to fly resources in. The blockade lasted for nearly a year and in the end the West won. The main message of the cartoon is that Stalin is unhappy about the allies flying resources in to East Berlin (which he has blockaded). The cartoon shows him emerging from a chimney like Santa and shooting down the storks which are carrying important resources to the people of east Berlin. He wanted to force the allies to give up their part of Berlin but was unsuccessful in the end as they allies managed to fly in resources for nearly a year. At it’s peak the allied airlift had planes landing every 3 minutes. The allies managed to keep East Berlin and Stalin was forced to end the blockade. Although Stalin is shown shooting down the allied supply storks in the cartoon, he never actually shot the B-29 bombers down as it would have been seen as a direct act of aggression.