Berlin Crisis

The Berlin Crisis

After World War 2, Germany and Berlin was split into 4 different zones. These zones would harden over time into the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

Agreements at the Potsdam Conference

At Potsdam (July 1945), the Allies agreed that the country of Germany, as well as its capital city Berlin, would be divided into four zones of occupation.
- One would be run by each of the USA, Britain, France and the USSR.
The USA wanted a united, capitalist Germany.
The Soviet Union wanted a demilitarised Germany that would not threaten the USSR, which they could bring into their sphere of influence.
- This would make sure that Germany could not attack the Soviet Union again.

Joining the zones

On the 6th of September 1946 AD, The US Secretary of State James Byrnes said 'the US has formally announced its intention to unify the economy of its zone with any or all other zones'.
On the 1st of January 1947 AD, the USA and Britain joined their German zones. This created a new quasi-country called 'Bizonia'.
In April 1946 AD, the French part of Germany joined Bizonia to make 'Trizonia'.

Tensions around Trizonia

Trizonia began to get funding under the Marshall Plan (and West Germany would receive $1.45bn in funding from the Americans).
Stalin and the Soviets thought that the creation of Trizonia broke the agreements made about the end of the war at Yalta and Potsdam.
- This is because it ran counter to the idea of a unified German economy that the Soviets could extract reparations from.

Further tensions in Berlin - economy and food

After the creation of Trizonia, West Berlin was controlled by France, Britain and the USA.
Berlin was positioned in the Eastern part of Germany, which was controlled by the Soviet Union.
- Thus, Berlin was very reliant on Soviet-controlled Germany for food and other vital resources.

Further tensions in Berlin - economy and food (2)

On the 20th of June 1948, Bizonia introduced a new currency called the 'Deutschmark' in Operation 'Bird Dog'.
- Businesses could get Deutschmarks for Rentenmarks at a 1:1 exchange rate, but savers would get 1 Deutschmark for 15 Rentenmarks.
West Berlin was also becoming wealthier and more prosperous as it began to receive money from the Americans under the Marshall Plan.

The Berlin Crisis (The Berlin Blockade and Airlift)

The Berlin Blockade was the Soviet Union's blockade of all land access to West Berlin, cutting off millions from food and fuel. The Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift to supply the city.

The Berlin Blockade - June 1948

On the 24th of June 1948, 8 days after the introduction of the Deutschmark, the USSR shut down all transport links into West Berlin.
- West Berlin was now isolated from Trizonia → no food or supplies from Trizonia could reach West Berlin.

The Berlin Blockade - June 1948 (2)

The Western powers did not want to look weak and also wanted West Germany to be a strong economic force against communism.
However, attacking or breaking down the Soviet military blockades of roads and railway lines could cause a war between the Soviet Union & Trizonia allies.

The Berlin Airlift - June 1948 - May 1949

The Western allies, led by the USA, decided that an airlift would be the best solution.
- It was peaceful, did not cause a war with the Soviet Union, but kept control of West Berlin.

The Berlin Airlift - June 1948 - May 1949 (2)

On the 26th of June 1948 until the 12th of May 1949, the Americans flew supplies into West Berlin.
- The pilots flying in the supplies were often called “Rosinenbombers” (raisin bombers) because they dropped confectionery, sweets, and other food from the skies.
- A new airport, Tegel, was built in West Berlin to help the Airlift run more efficiently.

Consequences of the airlift

The airlift was a peaceful show of strength from America, as they mounted a huge operation to give West Berlin supplies.
The Soviets looked mean and self-interested, having shut down rail and road links into West Berlin for clearly political reasons.
- The operation was also a humiliating failure for the Soviet Union and Stalin, as they planned to cut off West Berlin until it was forced to surrender to Soviet control.

Consequences of the airlift (2)

The divisions between East and West hardened as a result of the Berlin Blockade and Airlift.
- On the 23rd of May 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany in West Germany was created, with Bonn as its capital.
- On the 7th October 1949, the Soviet Union would create the German Democratic Republic, a Soviet satellite state within Germany.

1Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?

1.1What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?

1.1.1The Treaty of Versailles

1.1.2Roles of Wilson, Clemenceau & George

1.2Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?

1.2.1The Terms: Territory

1.2.2The Terms: Reparations

1.2.3The Terms: Armaments

1.2.4The Terms: War Guilt

1.2.5The League of Nations

1.2.6French Reaction

1.2.7American Reaction

1.2.8British Reaction

1.2.9Countries Left Out of the Treaty of Versailles

1.3What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?

1.3.1German Reaction to the Treaty

1.3.2Germany’s Allies

1.3.3Economic Impacts: Ruhr & Hyperinflation

1.3.4Social Impacts of the Treaty in Germany

1.3.5Political Impacts of the Treaty on Germany

1.3.6Reducing Reparation: The Dawes Plan

1.4Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?

1.4.1Positives & Negatives

1.4.2Contemporary Opinions About the Treaty

2Was the League of Nations a Success?

2.1How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?

2.1.1The League of Nations

2.1.2Structure of the League: Assembly & Council

2.1.3Structure of the League: Special Commissions

2.1.4Structure of the League: Permanent Court

2.1.5Structure of the League: Secretariat

2.1.6Financial Crisis in the World

2.2The League’s Success in Peacekeeping

2.2.1Successes: International Borders

2.2.2Successes: International Agreements

2.2.3Failures: Vilna (1920)

2.2.4Åland Islands 1920-21

2.2.5Failures: Corfu 1923

2.2.6Failures: Bulgaria 1925

2.3How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?

2.3.1Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 1

2.3.2Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 2

2.4How did the Depression Impact the League?

2.4.1The Great Depression, 1929

2.4.2The Manchurian Crisis, 1931

2.4.3Invasion of Abyssinia, 1935

3How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?

3.1What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.1.1Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.2What were the Consequences of the League's Failure

3.2.1The Disarmament Conference

3.2.2Collapse of the League of Nations

3.2.3Tension in Europe in the 1930s

3.2.4WWII & Failure of the League of Nations

3.2.5Weak Nations

3.3Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?

3.3.1The Spanish Civil War, 1936-39

3.3.2The Sudetenland

3.3.3Arguments for Appeasement

3.3.4Arguments Against Appeasement

3.3.5Reasons & Acts of Appeasement

3.3.6Impact of Appeasement

3.4How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

3.4.1The Nazi-Soviet Pact

3.4.2The Polish Crisis & the Outbreak of War

3.5Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?

3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War

3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament

3.5.3Hitler's Plan

3.5.4The Saar

3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland

3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis

3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War

3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact

3.5.9Anschluss with Austria

3.5.10The Munich Agreement

3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia

4Who was to Blame for the Cold War?

4.1Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?

4.1.1Cold War - Definition

4.1.2The Grand Alliance

4.1.3The 1945 Summit Conferences

4.1.4Early US-Soviet Relations

4.1.5The Breakdown of the US-Soviet Alliance

4.1.6Attitudes of Truman & Stalin

4.1.7US & Soviet Attitudes to Peace

4.2How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?

4.2.1The USSR & Eastern Europe

4.3How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?

4.3.1The Beginning of the Cold War

4.3.2The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan

4.3.3East-West Boundaries

4.3.4Berlin Crisis

4.4What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

4.4.1Germany

4.4.2Bizonia

4.4.3Berlin Blockade

4.4.4FRG & GDR

4.4.5NATO

4.4.6Warsaw Pact

4.5Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?

4.5.1The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions

4.5.2Blame on the USRR

4.5.3Blame on the US

4.5.4Sharing the Blame

5Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?

5.1The US and Korea, 1950-53

5.1.1The US and Korea: Background to the Crisis

5.1.2The Korean War

5.1.3The Course of the Korean War

5.2The US and Cuba, 1959-62

5.2.1Build-Up to the Cuban Missile Crisis

5.2.2The Cuban Missile Crisis

5.2.3Consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis

5.3The US and Vietnam, 1955-75

5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam

5.3.2President Eisenhower

5.3.3President Kennedy

5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964

5.3.5US Tactics

5.3.6Vietcong Tactics

5.3.7The Vietcong

5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 1968

5.3.9Vietnamisation

5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 1968

5.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos

5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam

5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation

5.3.14The Growth of Opposition

5.3.15The Draft System

5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 1970

5.3.17Political Opposition

5.3.18Reasons for Support 1

5.3.19Reasons for Support 2

5.3.20Political Support

5.3.21Peace Negotiations

5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 1973

5.3.23Economic & Human Costs 1

5.3.24Economic & Human Costs 2

5.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 1

5.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 2

5.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 1

5.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 2

5.3.29Opposition in the US

5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost

6How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?

6.1Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.1.1Causes of Opposition

6.1.2The Hungarian Uprising

6.1.3Czechoslovakia, 1968

6.1.4Reaction to the Brezhnev Doctrine

6.2Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.2.1Hungary and Czechoslovakia 1

6.2.2Hungary & Czechoslovakia 2

6.3Why was the Berlin Wall Built?

6.3.1The Berlin Wall 1

6.3.2The Berlin Wall 2

6.3.3The U2 Crisis

6.4Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence

6.4.1Solidarity in Poland

6.5Gorbachev's Responsibility

6.5.1Reagan & Gorbachev

6.5.2Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’

6.5.3The Collapse of Soviet Control

6.5.4The Collapse of the USSR

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