32.3.3: The Berlin Blockade
In June 1948, Stalin instituted the Berlin Blockade, one of the rst major
crises of the Cold War, preventing food, materials, and supplies from ar-
riving in West Berlin. The United States and several other countries re-
sponded with the massive “Berlin airlift,” supplying West Berlin with food
and other provisions.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Review the reasons for the Berlin Blockade
KEY POINTS
As part of the economic rebuilding of Germany, in early
1948 representatives of a number of Western European
governments and the United States announced an
agreement for a merger of western German areas into a
federal governmental system.
In addition, in accordance with the Marshall Plan, they
began to reindustrialize and rebuild the German
economy, including the introduction of a new Deutsche
Mark currency to replace the old Reichsmark currency
the Soviets had debased.
Shortly thereafter, Stalin instituted the Berlin Blockade
(June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949), one of the rst major
crises of the Cold War, preventing food, materials and
supplies from arriving in West Berlin.
The United States, Britain, France, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, and several other countries began the
massive “Berlin airlift”, supplying West Berlin with food
and other provisions.
, By the end of August, after two months the Airlift was
succeeding; daily operations ew more than 1,500
ights a day and delivered more than 4,500 tons of
cargo, enough to keep West Berlin supplied.
In May 1949, Stalin backed down and lifted the
blockade.
KEY TERMS
Berlin airlift
In response to the Berlin Blockade, the Western Allies
organized this project to carry supplies to the people of
West Berlin by air.
Potsdam Agreement
The 1945 agreement between three of the Allies of
World War II, United Kingdom, United States, and
USSR, for the military occupation and reconstruction of
Germany. It included Germany’s demilitarization,
reparations, and the prosecution of war criminals.
Overview
The Berlin Blockade (June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949) was one of the rst
major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occu-
pation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the
Western Allies’ railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin
under Western control. The Soviets o ered to drop the blockade if the
Western Allies withdrew the newly introduced Deutsche mark from West
Berlin.
In response, the Western Allies organized the Berlin airlift to carry sup-
plies to the people of West Berlin, a di cult feat given the city’s
population. Aircrews from the United States Air Force, the British Royal
Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force,
In June 1948, Stalin instituted the Berlin Blockade, one of the rst major
crises of the Cold War, preventing food, materials, and supplies from ar-
riving in West Berlin. The United States and several other countries re-
sponded with the massive “Berlin airlift,” supplying West Berlin with food
and other provisions.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Review the reasons for the Berlin Blockade
KEY POINTS
As part of the economic rebuilding of Germany, in early
1948 representatives of a number of Western European
governments and the United States announced an
agreement for a merger of western German areas into a
federal governmental system.
In addition, in accordance with the Marshall Plan, they
began to reindustrialize and rebuild the German
economy, including the introduction of a new Deutsche
Mark currency to replace the old Reichsmark currency
the Soviets had debased.
Shortly thereafter, Stalin instituted the Berlin Blockade
(June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949), one of the rst major
crises of the Cold War, preventing food, materials and
supplies from arriving in West Berlin.
The United States, Britain, France, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, and several other countries began the
massive “Berlin airlift”, supplying West Berlin with food
and other provisions.
, By the end of August, after two months the Airlift was
succeeding; daily operations ew more than 1,500
ights a day and delivered more than 4,500 tons of
cargo, enough to keep West Berlin supplied.
In May 1949, Stalin backed down and lifted the
blockade.
KEY TERMS
Berlin airlift
In response to the Berlin Blockade, the Western Allies
organized this project to carry supplies to the people of
West Berlin by air.
Potsdam Agreement
The 1945 agreement between three of the Allies of
World War II, United Kingdom, United States, and
USSR, for the military occupation and reconstruction of
Germany. It included Germany’s demilitarization,
reparations, and the prosecution of war criminals.
Overview
The Berlin Blockade (June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949) was one of the rst
major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occu-
pation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the
Western Allies’ railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin
under Western control. The Soviets o ered to drop the blockade if the
Western Allies withdrew the newly introduced Deutsche mark from West
Berlin.
In response, the Western Allies organized the Berlin airlift to carry sup-
plies to the people of West Berlin, a di cult feat given the city’s
population. Aircrews from the United States Air Force, the British Royal
Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force,
