Berlin Blockade and Airlift

Question 1

Where was Berlin located?

Answer 1

Deep inside the Soviet zone

Question 2

By 1948, what were relations like between the West and the USSR?

Answer 2

Not good - high levels of distrust had developed between the two sides.

Question 3

What had both sides started to do by 1948?

Answer 3

Increase their stockpiles of weapons

Question 4

What type of war had developed by 1948?

Answer 4

A propaganda war - with each side denouncing (criticising) the other

Question 5

What did Stalin fear about Germany?

Answer 5

That if it recovered it could once again threaten the USSR

Question 6

Why did the West want Germany to recover - at least partly?

Answer 6

So it could feed its own people

Question 7

What did Stalin want to do to Germany?

Answer 7

Keep it crippled

Question 8

What did Britain, France and the USA do in March 1948?

Answer 8

Joined their zones together to form Trizonia

Question 9

What did the West introduce into Trizonia in June 1948?

Answer 9

A single currency, which would help Germany recover economically

Question 10

How did Stalin view Trizonia and the new currency?

Answer 10

With suspicion. He felt the West was ganging up on him and saw their actions as procacative

Question 11

What was the new currency called?

Answer 11

The Deutsche Mark

Question 12

What did Stalin to in response to the introduction of the new currency (the Deutsche Mark)?

Answer 12

Blocked western access to Berlin by blocking all the roads, railways and canals

Question 13

What was Stalin’s aim?

Answer 13

To try and force the West out of Berlin for good

Question 14

Why did Stalin not like the Allies being in Berlin?

Answer 14

The Allied sectors of Berlin were more prosperous, making capitalism look more attractive than communism

Question 15

How many people lived in West Berlin?

Answer 15

About 2 million

Question 16

Why was the Blockade a clever plan?

Answer 16

If the Americans tried to break the blockade with force, Stalin could accuse them of starting a war

Question 17

How did the USA see West Berlin once it was blockaded?

Answer 17

As a test case. If they did not stand up to Stalin now, then he might gain in confidence (as Hitler had done in the 1930s)

Question 18

What did Truman want to prove with Berlin?

Answer 18

That he was serious about his new policy of containment

Question 19

How did the Allies respond to the Blockade?

Answer 19

With the Berlin Airlift

Question 20

What were people in Berlin initially worried about with the Airlift?

Answer 20

That the Soviets would shoot down the planes - thus starting a war

Question 21

At its peak, how often were planes landing?

Answer 21

Three every minute

Question 22

What did the planes bring to West Berlin?

Answer 22

Vital supplies: food, clothing, oil, coal

Question 23

Was life good for Berliners during the Airlift?

Answer 23

No - many left - but it was just about survivable

Question 24

When did Stalin lift the Blockade?

Answer 24

In May 1949

Question 25

What did the Airlift show?

Answer 25

That the Allies would not abandon Berlin

Question 26

Why was the Berlin Blockade such a point of high tension?

Answer 26

It was the first point when the two superpowers came close to war

Question 27

How many tonnes of supplies were delivered in total?

Answer 27

1 and a half million tonnes

Question 28

Why was the Airlift a huge propaganda victory for the West?

Answer 28

The Americans were heroes who had brought food, clothing and hope to West Berliners

The USSR looked cruel and callous, trying to starve the Berliners.