The Berlin Blockade, June 1948 (Edexcel GCSE History)

The Berlin Blockade, June 1948 - Summary

Economic differences between the Capitalist West and the Communist East prompted the countries of the USA, Britain and France to join their zones together to create Trizonia. Stalin and the Soviet Union saw this as the West’s attempts to weaken the Soviet zone in Germany. This was made worse by the creation of a new currency called the Deutschmark, which all but split Germany in two.

In June 1948, the Soviet Union shut off the land routes in Soviet-controlled Germany, preventing Trizonia from accessing their zone in Berlin. Without supplies from Trizonia, people in West Berlin would run out of food and important resources.

If Trizonia attempted to access West Berlin by land, this would be seen as an act of war by the Soviet Union, which had the Red Army on standby. 

If Trizonia did nothing, West Berlin would be forced to accept help from the Soviet Union, placing them under communist control.

Why Did the Soviet Union Begin the Berlin Blockade?

• As with Germany, Berlin was split into two parts in March 1948:

  • The USA, Britain and France occupied the western zone

  • The Soviet Union occupied the eastern zone

How was Berlin divided from 1945 to 1948?

• After Trizonia introduced the Deutschmark in June 1948, Stalin wanted to demonstrate that Germany should not be divided

Causes of the Berlin Blockade

• The Soviet Union decided that preventing Western access to Berlin would be the most effective way of gaining control of Germany:

Why did the Soviet Union decide to blockade Berlin?

How did the Soviet Union Blockade Berlin?

• Berlin was deep inside the Soviet-occupied zone

• Members of Trizonia had to use the two agreed land routes and two air routes to access their western zone in Berlin

• In June 1948, the Soviet Union closed road, rail and canal links across Soviet-controlled Germany 

• Without access to West Berlin, the USA, Britain and France would not be able to send supplies:

  • West Berlin only had enough food for 36 days

  • West Berlin lacked important resources like fuel and medicine

• Stalin hoped that the Western powers would give up their control of West Berlin, which would allow the Soviet Union to control the whole capital

  • It would also allow him to spread propaganda about the triumph of communism over capitalism

How did the West React to the Blockade?

• The USA, Britain and France were in a very difficult position after the announcement of the blockade in June 1948

• Control of West Berlin was important, but they had to balance the risk of going to war

• They had three options to respond to the blockade:

How could the West respond to the Berlin Blockade?

• Truman was not prepared to abandon the policy of Containment, especially so soon after his announcement of the Truman Doctrine

• It was decided that supplies flown into West Berlin would be the most effective way to prevent West Berlin from falling into the hands of the Soviet Union and ensure that war between the two 'Superpowers' was prevented

• What followed was the Berlin Airlift