The first heightening of Cold War tensions occurred in 1948 when the Soviets imposed a partial blockade of Berlin in April, and then a full blockade in June. Understanding the events that led to the imposition of the blockades is the key to understanding the later division of Berlin in 1961 by the Berlin Wall, and the division of the German state that had occurred earlier in 1949 when separate west German (Federal Republic of Germany) and east German (German Democratic Republic) states were established.
There are three key events that led to the Soviet blockades of Berlin: the institution of the Marshall Plan for European Recovery; the London Conferences of winter and spring of 1948; and the resultant London Program which called for a separate West Germany and currency reform as a means to reach this end.
In light of the communist rebellions in Greece and Turkey in March of 1947, President Harry Truman announced the Truman Doctrine, which stated that America promised to “support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures (with U.S. military aid).” Three months after this policy announcement, the Marshall Plan was introduced to serve as an economic and financial extension of the Doctrine.
In light of this increasing tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, the U.S. decided that quadripartite occupational control of the defeated Germany with the Soviet Union was no longer feasible. Accordingly the U.S. and the other western nations occupying Germany (Great Britain and France), as well as the BENELUX nations, embarked on a series of discussions held in London from February to June of 1948 known collectively as the London Conferences. This came at a strategic time because the other occupying powers of Germany were also realizing that cooperation with the Soviets was increasingly difficult, and all three nations were beginning to reexamine their policies as such.
The result of these discussions was the London Program. The main goal of the London Program was to establish a West German government, with the means to achieving this goal being the combination of the three western zones of occupation and a reform of the currency. The western Allies wanted to combine their zones so that they could be administered as a single economic unit, and so that the currency exchange would be uniform throughout the western sectors of Germany.
While it was a combination of the three events that led the Soviets to blockade Berlin, the London. On March 6th the communique regarding the London Program was issued, and in April the Soviets responded by constraining the military supplies entering Berlin via the Soviet zone from the west. This left the western nations with the choice of either being politically pressured out of West Berlin (which would diminish their prestige in the rest of Europe), or staying to institute the currency reform and ultimately establish a separate West German nation.
The western allies decided to stay. In mid-June the west issued a new currency in their zone (but not in western Berlin), and the Soviet Union issued a new currency in their zone. On June 23, the west introduced the new currency into Berlin. The next day the Soviets imposed a complete blockade on Berlin. Railways and highways were restricted so that no surface traffic between the western zones and Berlin could occur. The Soviets were able to do this without breaking any international laws on a technicality; the west and the Soviet Union never made a written pact in regards to the right of western ground access to Berlin. It must be noted that at the time of the blockade Stalin did not give any ultimatums, and while the blockade was in place the Soviets did keep the door open to negotiations on the matter. As a matter of fact, Stalin curiously quipped to a western diplomat during the blockade, “We are still allies.”
But the western powers would not give in. To demonstrate their resolve, the Americans orchestrated a monumental airlift which flew necessities such as coal and food into the western sectors of Berlin. This airlift lasted for 324 days, and approximately 13,000 tons of supplies a day were delivered.
In the spring of 1949 it was increasingly clear that the objectives Stalin had in mind when ordering the blockade were not going to be met. The U.S. was still continuing its counter blockade measures, the separate western government in Germany was about to be established, and the North Atlantic Treaty was being signed in Washington. Stalin had the choice of either continuing with the disastrous blockade, or admitting defeat and lifting the blockade. Stalin chose the latter, and in May 1949, at the final meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the blockade was ended.
1. Why did the Soviet Union launch the Berlin Blockade?
2. Do you think Stalin was serious when he said "We are still allies" during the blockade? Explain
1. Why did the Soviet Union launch the Berlin Blockade?
2. Do you think Stalin was serious when he said "We are still allies" during the blockade? Explain
A.Q.
ReplyDelete1) The Soviet Union launched the Berlin Blockade, because of three key events. The key events are the Marshall plan, London Conferences and the resultant of the London Program. The Marshall plan was created to keep the European countries from becoming communist, and the Soviet Union didn’t like this plan since they want their own ideas to spread. Also the London Program was created to establish a West German government and a reform of the currency. The Soviet Union didn’t like that, so they block Berlin. They also constrained the supplies entering Berlin.
2) I think Stalin was serious when he said “We are still allies” during the blockade because during the time of the Blockade, the Soviets still allowed for negotiation. This shows that Stalin is giving a final warning that they are still allies but they won’t be any more if the Western powers don’t give in. In the end, Stalin had no choice but to admit defeat and lift the disastrous blockade since the western powers did not give in and they U.S. aided the countries.
A.Q.
ReplyDelete1) The Soviet Union launched the Berlin Blockade, because of three key events. The key events are the Marshall plan, London Conferences and the resultant of the London Program. The Marshall plan was created to keep the European countries from becoming communist, and the Soviet Union didn’t like this plan since they want their own ideas to spread. Also the London Program was created to establish a West German government and a reform of the currency. The Soviet Union didn’t like that, so they block Berlin. They also constrained the supplies entering Berlin.
2) I think Stalin was serious when he said “We are still allies” during the blockade because during the time of the Blockade, the Soviets still allowed for negotiation. This shows that Stalin is giving a final warning that they are still allies but they won’t be any more if the Western powers don’t give in. In the end, Stalin had no choice but to admit defeat and lift the disastrous blockade since the western powers did not give in and they U.S. aided the countries.
1. The soviets launched a blockade inorder to block people. they wanted to do this because eastern germany at the time was controlled by the soviet union. and since they were communist some of the east german people did not want to be in that economic system. they wanted to be in a democracy and capitalism like the western germany people which was owned by U.S and England.
ReplyDelete2. No because if they were still allies they were not going to be a blockade. Instead the soviet union could of worked out its problems. Like not putting the blockade. so in a way it didn't make sense when stalin said that.
GAR
H.J
ReplyDelete1. The Soviets launched the Berlin Blockade because of many reasons. After the London Conference, Stalin was concerned about the currency and customs changing, and alongside of this was the Truman Doctrine. This helped many countries who were developing or were in affect of the Cold War and Post World War II damages. There were also rebellions which finally forced them to launch the Berlin Blockade.
2. I don't think that he was seen he said "We are still allies" during the blockade. because he would have stopped before if they were allies. The was was now on its peak and he thought of it as an alliance. He knew that this will take the pressure off Stalin, and many other cases might stop which, were being taken place in Eastern Europe. He kept his door open to negotiations, which meant that he was serious in resolving, but not in being allies.
1)The Institution of the Marshall plan for European Recovery, the London Conferences of Winter and Spring of 1948, and the London Program are three events that led to the launch of the Berlin Blockade. Tension grew between the Soviet Union and the Western nations after the Marshall Doctrine that the U.S., France, and England decided that quadripartite occupational control Germany with the Soviet Union was no longer feasible. The Soviets refused to cooperate which caused the western nations to create a new western government. With this, they also created their own currency, leading to the soviets to do the same. The combination of these 3 events are what drove the Soviet Union to blockade Berlin.
ReplyDelete2) When Stalin said "We are still allies", during the blockade, I did not think he was serious because there was no point in him working together with them. During World War 2, him and the other nations had to cooperate in order to claim victory and put Hitler out of power. When they succeeded, he was able gain control of East Berlin. With this, there was no reason for him to work with the western nations because they had no say in his decisions. I believe the only reason he said "we are still allies" was to avoid any future conflict from arising.
A.J
The Soviets launched the Berlin Blockade because of a few reasons, one of the reasons is the Marshal Plan, this plan aided countries in need in exchange of them not becoming a communist or totalitarian nation. Also the London Conferences which was a conference with the U.S. and western nations about sharing Germany with Russia and they began to think about changing their policies. Also the result of the London Conference which was the western nations and U.S. sharing a zone which resulted in the blockade.
ReplyDeleteI do not think Stalin was serious about the statement “We are still allies” during the blockade because an ally does not restrict its allies from entering their countries. Stalin used the blockade to prevent the U.S. and western nations from interfering with his side of Germany. Without the interference of the U.S. and the western nation, Stalin could spread his ideas of Communism and totalitarianism. In addition, it took the North Atlantic Treaty in order for Stalin to lift the blockade. This shows that Stalin would not comprised with his “allies” and in-order for the U.S. and western nations to enter the other side of Germany, it took the North Atlantic Treaty.
-J.M.
1. The Soviet Union launched the Berlin Blockade because of western interference. Since the Soviets had control over Berlin, they didn't want any influence coming in from the west. However, the the was tried to introduce its currency on Berlin, the Soviets responded with the Berlin Blockade. With this, the Soviets were able to stop western influence, but not for long since airlifts were soon introduced.
ReplyDelete2. I don't think that Stalin was being serious when he said "We are still allies". This is because if they really were allies, he would have negotiated with the western powers instead of being difficult to comply with. If anything, Stalin said this as a form of mockery. Thinking that he had succeeded in beating the west with the Berlin Blockade, he said this to, in a sense, gloat and to make himself seem more powerful than he was, and was therefore open to discussion, when he likely wasn't any more open than prior to the establishment of the blockade.
-K.R
The Soviet Union launched the Berlin Blockade because of the Marshall Plan, the London Conferences and the London program. The Soviet Union did not approve of the Marshall Plan, which came after the Truman Doctrine. Also, during the London Conferences, the nations that occupy powers of Germany were trying to find ways to reason with the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union did not want to cooperate with them. When the London Program began, the western Allies wanted to come together as a single unit and make a whole government. The west allies released a new currency to Berlin and the Soviet Union made their own currency, showing that they didn’t want to be one unit. The following day the Soviet Union issued a blockade on Berlin.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Stalin was serious when he said that they would remain allies. This is because by spring, Stalin did not achieve any of his objectives after putting up the blockade. Also, the U.S continued to help Berlin, which the Soviet Union did not do anything about it. Ultimately, out of the choices that Stalin had with the blockade, he decides to stop the blockade. This shows that he has given into the western powers.
C.H
The Soviet Union launched the Berlin Blockade due to all that was happening during the Cold War. America enforced the Truman Doctrine while the Soviet Union was taking over Eastern Germany. Both superpowers had different plans as to what would occur with Germany. Stalin wanted to destroy Germany while the U.S and Britain wanted repair Germany to not have a repeat of conflict. The Marshall Plan was also enforced which made Stalin see that they didn't want the influence of communism. With the London Program, it states how Western allies wanted to combine their zones. Both superpowers also had new forms of currency. This all posed a threat to the soviets causing them to block all rails and traffic to Berlin.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Stalin was serious when he says "we are still allies." He just wants Western Germany to give in so that he could take over and dominate and spread the influence of his territory. Both sides had different ideologies and strategies. He just said this so that negotiations could happen. What he had in mind for the blockade didn't go as planned causing him to lift it.
A.K
ReplyDelete1- The soviet union launched the Berlin Blockade because they wanted to remove allies from Berlin. The soviet wanted to get rid of all the allies that were from Berlin. The institution of the Marshall plan for European recovery was also one of the causes for the Berlin Blockade. Another reason was because of the London Conferences of winter and spring of 1948.
2- I think no because the whole purpose of the Berlin blockade was to get rid of them. When Stalin stated "We are still allies" he definitely was not serious because you can't be allies with someone you want to get rid of. Stalin launched the Berlin Blockade so he can get rid of each and every ally from Berlin. Therefore, it can't be possible that Stalin is serious while committing that statement.
1. The Soviet Union launch the Berlin Blockade from three key events. One key event was the institution of the Marshall Plan for European Recovery. Another event was the London Conferences of winter and spring of 1948, and the third event, the resultant London Program. The London Program called for a separate West Germany and currency reform as a means to reach this end.
ReplyDelete2. I think Stalin wasn't being serious when he said "we are still allies" during the blockade. I believe Stalin wanted only the best for his nation. During the conference, Stalin wanted to cripple Germany so they would be protected from future threats. Also he wanted Germany to pay for the people who died while Truman did not want a reoccurrence of the mistake made with the Versailles Treaty.
D.C.
1.The Soviet Union launched the Berlin Blockade for 3 reasons: the institution of the Marshall Plan for European Recovery; the London Conferences of winter and spring of 1948; and the resultant London Program which called for a separate West Germany and currency reform as a means to reach this end. The Marshall Plan was implemented to aid the economies of free nations, the London Conference talked about Germanic powers, and lastly the broke apart Germany. All of which prevented the spread of communism in some way which angered the Soviet Union.
ReplyDelete2. Stalin was not serious when he said that “We are still allies” during the blockade. He says that as a cover to his actual feelings. Truly he hates the western powers because of their actions. Everything they are doing is hindering his plans since they are trying to contain the communist actions.
M.R.
1. Why did the Soviet Union launch the Berlin Blockade?
ReplyDeleteThree key events that the Soviet Union launch the Berlin Blockade, the institution of the Marshall Plan, the London Conferences of winter and spring of 1948, and the resultant London Program. After the communist rebellions in Greece and Turkey in March of 1947, President Harry Truman announced the Truman Doctrine. The Marshall Plan was introduced and that increased the tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The Conferences of weatern allies was hold and the result was the London Program, the main goal which was to establish a West German government. By achieving it was to combined three western zones and reform the currency, the western nations issued a new currency in their zone and the Soviet Union also issued a new currency in their zone. The west introduced the new currency into Berlin On June 23, the next day the Soviets imposed a blockade.
2. Do you think Stalin was serious when he said "We are still allies" during the blockade? Explain
I think Stalin was serious when he said "We are still allies" during the blockade. Although the Soviets imposed a blockade that no surface traffic between the western zones and Berlin could occur. However, there was no sign of breaking any international laws. After the North Atlantic Treaty was being signed in Washington, Stalin admitting defeat and lifting the blockade instead of continuing with the disastrous blockade.
-D.W
1. The Soviet Union launched the Berlin blockade because Stalin was taking over eastern Europe and Czechoslovakia had just turned Communist. On the other side, the USA had just adopted the Truman Doctrine to contain the USSR. The second reason for the Berlin Blockade was that the USA and the USSR had different aims for what they wanted to do to Germany. This difference in aims was the underlying cause of the Berlin Blockade. The policy of the USA and the USSR towards Germany was so different that conflict was bound to happen there sooner or later.
ReplyDelete2. I think Stalin wasn't serious when he said " We are still allies" during the blockade because in spring of 1949 it was positive that the thing Stalin said was not going to be happen anytime soon. But after he had only two choices left he chose to surrender. So he chose or admit defeat and then the blockade was ended.
-AN
Three key events had led to the Soviet blockade of Berlin. First of all, the institution of the Marshall Plan for European Recovery. Secondly, the London Conferences of winter and spring of 1948. And last of all, the resultant London Program which called for a separate West Germany and currency reform as a means to reach this end. These added together had created the Berlin Blockade from the Soviet Union.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that Stalin was serious because he had different ideology than the West. The Communism can never be allies with Capitalism, partners are possible, but never allies. On June 23, the west introduced the new currency into Berlin. The next day the Soviets imposed a complete blockade on Berlin. Railways and highways were restricted so that no surface traffic between the western zones and Berlin could occur. This event shows Stalin's determination to keep East Berlin as communism and completely cut off the outside interference.
SC
The Berlin Blockade
ReplyDeleteThe Soviet Union primarily launched the blockade to stop the citizens in Eastern Europe from immigrating to Western Europe where rather than a communist ruled government; the government was more freely run by democracy. With that said, it was also to stop democratic influence from entering Eastern Europe which would weaken communist ideas. The text state, the results of these discussions was the London Program. The western allies wanted to combine their zones so that they could be administered as a single economic unit, and so that the currency exchange would be uniform throughout the western sectors of Germany. However these programs/ movements were stopped by the communist who created the blockade.
I do not believe that Stalin was serious when he says that, “We are still allies, due to the fact that, he stated this after issuing the placement of the blockade. It was merely just a phrase to lessen/ joke off the tension with the Western powers. Furthermore, Stalin did not want a huge reaction coming from the Western powers as he was already losing support from most Western power due to his strong beliefs in a different political and economic system. Lastly, this was the start of division between the global super powers at the time where Stalin wanted to secure the support of his nation with his ideas and beliefs without interferences that would challenge his authority/power.
WGA
1. The main cause of the Berlin Blockade was the Cold War, which had just recently started. Another reason for the Berlin Blockade was that the USA and the USSR had different aims for what they wanted to do to Germany. Stalin built the "Iron Curtain" because he thought that the U.S. and Britain joined their two zones together. The U.S. and Britain wanted to join together and become wealthy tradining partners.
ReplyDelete2. No, I do not think Stalin was serious when he said "We are still allies" during the blockade because if they were still allies, he would have a reason for the blockade. Possibly, Stalin was lying in order to take advantage and or sabotage something in the government of his past allies. He probably had something planned all along, but tried to cover it up by the false excuse of them still being allies. Potentially, he could've stirred a lot of trouble if they were "still allies."
- D.L.
- D.L.
1) The Soviet Union launched the blockade for a variety of reasons. One reason was because the Western nations refused to be politically pressured out of West Berlin. The western allied nations introduced a new currency that was able to force the Soviets to do the same thing in their occupied zone, but the western allies excluded Berlin for the introduction of the new currency until later on. Finally the west introduced a new currency to Berlin, and the next day, the Soviets put the complete blockade on Berlin into action.
ReplyDelete2) I believed that Joseph Stalin was serious when he said "we are still allies" to a certain extent. He was in a political setting where he is representing his country. He is also sending that particular message to a diplomat that is there on behalf of a country. He didn't break international laws although it was on a technicality, so there wasn't really any means for the western nations to approach the situation in a hostile manner. I personally believe that he was serious when he said "we are still allies." He was serious but at the same time he was taunting the western nations because there wasn't really any action that the west can take against the Soviet Union since they technically didn't break any international laws with their actions.
-W.C.