Key features

Re-cap - What are the key features of conflict post-1945?
• Superpowers not in direct conflict
• Words and Ideologies
• Local wars
• Testing grounds for new weapons
• Spheres of influences
• Collapse of the old Imperial powers
• Arms Race
• Fear of being defeated

Germany divided
Why were Germany and Berlin divided after the end of World War 2?
• To de-Nazify Germany
• To prevent another war caused by Germany
• Acknowledge Soviet conquests at the end of WW2
• To recognise spheres of control / influence
• To control the re-development of Germany
What were the implications / impacts of the division of Germany and Berlin?
• Slow rebuilding process
• Economic collapse
• Homelessness as a result of Allied bombing
• Shortages of almost all everyday items
• Disparity between West and East
• Population migration, East to West

Post war issues
• Distrust between USA and USSR
• Unrest, Civil disturbance, Civil War ~ Greece
• Superpower rivalry – Marshall Plan vs Molotov Plan
• Strength of the Red Army in Europe
• Perception of Soviet ‘underhand tactics ~ Salami tactics, State Police, Security/Spy networks
• Czechoslovakian coup, 1948 – USA viewed the removal of Jan Masaryk (assassinated?) as unacceptable Soviet interference
• US did not directly react, though Marshall Plan was pushed through US Congress

Germany and Berlin
• Germany and Berlin - Divided into 4 zones
• Allied Control Council responsible for the government of the State and Berlin
• USSR wanted Reparations (≥ $20 billion!)
• Western Allies wanted to rebuild Germany economically
• Breakdown of trust between East and West
• Political extremism, as viewed by both East and West ~ fear of opposition
• Merging of zones – Bizonia, British & US (early 1947)
• Introduction of a new currency, in western zones (1948)
• Creation of a constitution for the western zones of Germany, and by implication for western Berlin
• Soviet interpretation of Bizonia and new currency – a plan to rebuild Germany as a counter to the USSR

Immediate Cause of the Berlin crisis
On 24 June 1948 the Soviet Union closed all road, rail and water access to West Berlin, Why?
The Stated reasons were …
• Urgent and Vital repairs
• Technical difficulties
• Diplomatic Issues – Allies had never got a written agreement that they would have ‘overland access’ to West Berlin!
Reasons for conflict
On 24 June 1948 the Soviet Union closed all road, rail and water access to West Berlin, Why?
Allied view …
• USSR wanted to re-unite Berlin and use Berlin as the new centre for East Germany
Soviet view …
• To remove an escape route from Eastern Europe
Soviet
Want control over all of Berlin
• Options:
 Negotiate
 Military action
 Starvation
• Risks:
 Open conflict
 Isolation

Western
Retain control over West Berlin
• Options:
 Military action
 Negotiate
 Do nothing
 ‘Plan B’
• Risks:
 Open conflict
 Look weak

Berlin 1948
Allied options –
• Either ~ Allow West Berlin to be absorbed into the East
• or ~ Challenge the Soviets (options?)
It was decided to arrange an Air-Lift to supply West Berlin with all it needed for day-to day survival
Soviet options:
• Shoot down transport planes
• Let the Air-Lift continue, pray for bad weather
The Soviets decided on the latter, the Air-Lift was to last until May 1949

Chronology
1948
• SMAD – Soviet Military Administration in Germany in dispute with western forces
• 24 June - Blockade started
• 26 June – airlift began
• 6 July – Allies demanded end of the blockade
• 21 August – ‘Little Vittles’ operation starts
• 9 September – West Berlin Mayor addresses a rally, calls for international support
• 18 November – Tegel airport opens
• 5 December – Elections, boycotted by communist parties
1949
• 19 March – DDR created
• 16-17 April – 13,000 tons of supplies delivered to West Berlin (record)
• 9 May – FDR created
• 12 May – Blockade ended
• 30 September – Airlift ended

Results
• 78 fatalities ~ 32 Americans, 39 British, 7 Germans
• Western zones merged into one
• Germany divided into 2 zones (until 1989)
• West Berlin became a route away from Soviet control
• Berlin became an espionage ‘hotspot’
• West Berlin was rebuilt and used to show the strength of Western ideology
• Soviet authorities concerned about the ‘brain drain’ out of Soviet sector through West Berlin
• Creation of NATO