Berlin Blockade and Airlift

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Berlin Blockade and Airlift
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Background to the crisis

• Read page 50
• Why was Berlin a potential source of tension for
  the USA and USSR ?
• Explain how this tension developed in to a full
  scale crisis in 1948 ?

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Question 1 response

• Berlin was a potential source of tension
  between the USA and USSR because of its location
  in the Soviet (Russian) zone of Germany. Stalin
  felt uneasy with giving the USA, Britain and
  France access across their zone to reach West
  Berlin. He would have preferred if the USSR
  controlled all of Berlin.

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Question 2 response

• The tension over Berlin developed into a
  full-scale crisis in 1948 when the USSR closed
  off all land routes to West Berlin. This blockade
  was in response to the USAs efforts in
  rebuilding western Germany (through the Marshall
  Plan) and the introduction of a new currency.
  Such decisions were supposed to be agreed by all
  four allies so Stalin felt threatened by the
  USAs action. He was determined to force the USA
  to withdraw from Berlin.

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Which of these two photos of the Berlin airlift
might have been used for American propaganda ?
Explain why.
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The Berlin Airlift

• Read the notes on page 51
• 1. On a scale of 1-10 explain how successful the
  airlift was.
• 2. How could the airlift have caused World War
  Three ?

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Question 3 response

• The airlift must be considered a great success.
  At its height the USA and the UK were able to
  transport by air twice the daily requirements of
  food and coal to the people of Berlin. Nothing on
  this scale had ever been achieved before. The
  airlift should score 10/10 for success.

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Question 4 response

• The airlift could have resulted in World War
  Three if Stalin had decided to close off the air
  routes as well and shoot down US and British
  transport planes. This would have forced the USA
  to retaliate. The USA had nuclear bombers
  stationed in England at this time ready to strike
  at the USSR.

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Label and explain the key points of this cartoon.
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Whose move ? A game of chess
Stalin
Stalin is blocking Trumans access to Berlin
Berlin chess game
Truman
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British and American cargo planes easy targets
Vital supplies for West Berlin.
Stalin
Ready to shoot