4.4.3

Berlin Blockade

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Currency Reform

The reform of currency in Trizonia triggered the Berlin Blockade. This led to the permanent division of Germany until 1990.

The Military mark

The Military mark

  • In 1945, the Military mark had been introduced as German currency.
  • However, the Soviet zone had printed lots of notes and was devaluing the currency.
  • Furthermore, the shortages of resources after 1946/1947 meant inflation was a risk.
The Deutschmark

The Deutschmark

  • The Deutschmark was introduced to replace the Military mark.
  • The Soviet Zone, however, rejected the currency change.
  • Britain, France and the United States continued to reform their currency.
  • The currency reform was very successful.
    • It led to renewed confidence in the German economy.
Introduction of the Deutschmark

Introduction of the Deutschmark

  • On the 20th of June 1948, Trizonia introduced a new currency called the 'Deutschmark' in Operation 'Bird Dog'.
  • Businesses could get Deutschmarks for Reichsmark at a 1:1 exchange rate.
    • But savers would get 1 Deutschmark for 15 Reichsmark.
  • West Berlin was also becoming wealthier and more prosperous.
    • As it began to receive money from the Americans under the Marshall Plan.
The East German mark

The East German mark

  • In response to the Allied currency reform, the Soviets introduced their own currency.
    • This was Stalin’s attempt to stamp down USSR authority on his zone of Berlin.

The Berlin Blockade

Following the currency reform, the Soviet Union imposed a blockade on Berlin. This was an international crisis.

Causes of the Blockade

Causes of the Blockade

  • The immediate trigger to the blockade was the currency reform driven by the Western Allies.
  • However, broadening the context, it can be argued that the blockade was a Soviet response to US provocation (the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan).
Course of the Blockade

Course of the Blockade

  • Under the pretext (false excuse) of ‘technical difficulties’, the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin.
  • The Soviets blocked transport to West Berlin.
    • The aim was to cut West Berlin off from the west and force it into the Soviet zone.
  • Stalin knew any act of force by other allied powers (GB, France, or USA) to end the blockade would be an act of war.
    • He knew none of the allies were willing to risk this.
Western response

Western response

  • The Western powers refused to let West Berlin go to the Soviets.
  • They responded to the blockade with an airlift.
    • From 26 June 1948 to 12 May 1949, supplies were flown each day into Berlin.
  • The allied powers were determined not to give up because they saw this as a test → if Berlin fell, West Germany might be next.
Flights

Flights

  • 279,000 flights went to Berlin, bringing 2.3 million tonnes of supplies.
    • The pilots became known as the “Rosinenbomber” (raisin bombers) because of the confectionary (sweets) they dropped from the sky.
  • A new airport, Tegel, was built to serve the operation.
  • This was the policy of containment in action.
  • The West refused to let communism spread to West Berlin.
End of the blockade

End of the blockade

  • The Soviet Union recognised that the West would not give up West Berlin.
  • They ended the blockade on 12 May 1949.
Significance of the Berlin Blockade

Significance of the Berlin Blockade

  • The Berlin Blockade was a turning point for Germany and its division.
  • The Berlin Blockade was the first direct conflict between the East and the West.
Jump to other topics
1

Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?

1.1

What were the Motives and Aims at Versailles?

1.1.1The Treaty of Versailles1.1.2Roles of Wilson, Clemenceau & George
1.2

Did the Victors Get Everything They Wanted?

1.2.1The Terms: Territory1.2.2The Terms: Reparations1.2.3The Terms: Armaments1.2.4The Terms: War Guilt1.2.5The League of Nations1.2.6French Reaction1.2.7American Reaction1.2.8British Reaction1.2.9Countries Left Out of the Treaty of Versailles
1.3

What was the Impact on Germany up to 1923?

1.3.1German Reaction to the Treaty1.3.2Germany’s Allies1.3.3Economic Impacts: Ruhr & Hyperinflation1.3.4Social Impacts of the Treaty in Germany1.3.5Political Impacts of the Treaty on Germany1.3.6Reducing Reparation: The Dawes Plan
1.4

Could the Treaty be Justified at the Time?

1.4.1Positives & Negatives1.4.2Contemporary Opinions About the Treaty
2

Was the League of Nations a Success?

2.1

How did Weaknesses in the League Lead to Failure?

2.1.1The League of Nations2.1.2Structure of the League: Assembly & Council2.1.3Structure of the League: Special Commissions2.1.4Structure of the League: Permanent Court2.1.5Structure of the League: Secretariat2.1.6Financial Crisis in the World
2.2

The League’s Success in Peacekeeping

2.2.1Successes: International Borders2.2.2Successes: International Agreements2.2.3Failures: Vilna (1920)2.2.4Åland Islands 1920-212.2.5Failures: Corfu 19232.2.6Failures: Bulgaria 1925
2.3

How Important was the League's Humanitarian Work?

2.3.1Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 12.3.2Refugees, Health, Slavery, Working Conditions 2
2.4

How did the Depression Impact the League?

2.4.1The Great Depression, 19292.4.2The Manchurian Crisis, 19312.4.3Invasion of Abyssinia, 1935
3

How did Hitler's Foreign Policy Impact the War?

3.1

What were the Long-Term Consequences of Versailles

3.1.1Long-Term Consequences of Versailles
3.2

What were the Consequences of the League's Failure

3.2.1The Disarmament Conference3.2.2Collapse of the League of Nations3.2.3Tension in Europe in the 1930s3.2.4WWII & Failure of the League of Nations3.2.5Weak Nations
3.3

Was the Policy of Appeasement Justified?

3.3.1The Spanish Civil War, 1936-393.3.2The Sudetenland3.3.3Arguments for Appeasement3.3.4Arguments Against Appeasement3.3.5Reasons & Acts of Appeasement3.3.6Impact of Appeasement
3.4

How Important was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

3.4.1The Nazi-Soviet Pact3.4.2The Polish Crisis & the Outbreak of War
3.5

Why did Britain & France Declare War on Germany?

3.5.1The Guarantee for Poland and the War3.5.2Hitler’s Foreign Policy & Rearmament3.5.3Hitler's Plan3.5.4The Saar3.5.5Remilitarisation of the Rhineland3.5.6The Rome-Berlin Axis3.5.7Germany & Italy in the Spanish War3.5.8The Anti-Comintern Pact3.5.9Anschluss with Austria3.5.10The Munich Agreement3.5.11The Crisis over Czechoslovakia
4

Who was to Blame for the Cold War?

4.1

Why did the US-Soviet Alliance Break Down?

4.1.1Cold War - Definition4.1.2The Grand Alliance4.1.3The 1945 Summit Conferences4.1.4Early US-Soviet Relations4.1.5The Breakdown of the US-Soviet Alliance4.1.6Attitudes of Truman & Stalin4.1.7US & Soviet Attitudes to Peace
4.2

How did the USSR Gain Control of Eastern Europe?

4.2.1The USSR & Eastern Europe
4.3

How did the US React to Soviet Expansionism?

4.3.1The Beginning of the Cold War4.3.2The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan4.3.3East-West Boundaries4.3.4Berlin Crisis
4.4

What were the Consequences of the Berlin Blockade?

4.4.1Germany4.4.2Bizonia4.4.3Berlin Blockade4.4.4FRG & GDR4.4.5NATO4.4.6Warsaw Pact
4.5

Who was More to Blame for Starting the Cold War?

4.5.1The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions4.5.2Blame on the USRR4.5.3Blame on the US4.5.4Sharing the Blame
5

Did the US Contain the Spread of Communism?

5.1

The US and Korea, 1950-53

5.1.1The US and Korea: Background to the Crisis5.1.2The Korean War5.1.3The Course of the Korean War
5.2

The US and Cuba, 1959-62

5.2.1Build-Up to the Cuban Missile Crisis5.2.2The Cuban Missile Crisis5.2.3Consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis
5.3

The US and Vietnam, 1955-75

5.3.1French Rule in Vietnam5.3.2President Eisenhower5.3.3President Kennedy5.3.4The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 19645.3.5US Tactics5.3.6Vietcong Tactics5.3.7The Vietcong5.3.8The My Lai Massacre, 19685.3.9Vietnamisation5.3.10The Tet Offensive, 19685.3.11Attacks on Cambodia & Laos5.3.12The Bombing of North Vietnam5.3.13The Failure of Vietnamisation5.3.14The Growth of Opposition5.3.15The Draft System5.3.16The Kent State University Shootings, 19705.3.17Political Opposition5.3.18Reasons for Support 15.3.19Reasons for Support 25.3.20Political Support5.3.21Peace Negotiations5.3.22The Paris Peace Accords, 19735.3.23Economic & Human Costs 15.3.24Economic & Human Costs 25.3.25The Strengths of North Vietnam 15.3.26The Strengths of North Vietnam 25.3.27The Weaknesses of the US 15.3.28The Weaknesses of the US 25.3.29Opposition in the US5.3.30Reasons Why USA Lost
6

How was USSR's Control Over Eastern Europe?

6.1

Opposition to Control in Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.1.1Causes of Opposition6.1.2The Hungarian Uprising6.1.3Czechoslovakia, 19686.1.4Reaction to the Brezhnev Doctrine
6.2

Similarities Between Hungary & Czechoslovakia

6.2.1Hungary and Czechoslovakia 16.2.2Hungary & Czechoslovakia 2
6.3

Why was the Berlin Wall Built?

6.3.1The Berlin Wall 16.3.2The Berlin Wall 26.3.3The U2 Crisis
6.4

Solidarity in Poland & Soviet Influence

6.4.1Solidarity in Poland
6.5

Gorbachev's Responsibility

6.5.1Reagan & Gorbachev6.5.2Reagan and the ‘Second Cold War’6.5.3The Collapse of Soviet Control6.5.4The Collapse of the USSR

Practice questions on Berlin Blockade

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What currency was introduced in 1945?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which zone rejected the Deutschmark?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Course of the Berlin Blocakde:True / false
  4. 4
    When did the Berlin Blockade end?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    After World War Two&comma; the Military mark had been introduced in Germany&period; <br><br>The Soviet zone printed many notes&comma; causing what effect on the currency value and economic stability in that area?Multiple choice
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Bizonia

FRG & GDR