2. The Partition of Germany
The lack of cooperation between Stalin and the
west contributed to severe economic hardship
in Germany
Economic reform and rebuilding was greatly
needed
By 1948 it looked as though the East-West division
of Germany would be permanent
The three western powers prepared for the
creation of West Germany
3. Currency Reform
The western powers initiated economic
cooperation and a new currency, the
Deutschmark, in their sectors
The Soviets responded with their own new
currency in their sector, including Berlin
So the west brought the Deutschmark into west
Berlin
Economic disparity within Berlin
the west began to improve, the east did not
4. The Blockade
The Soviets announced that the west had no
business interfering in the east, and they closed
the roads, railways, and waterways that linked
West Berlin to western zones
But the Americans cannot abandon Berlin –
CONTAINMENT
If the Truman Doctrine was to be applied
seriously, they must keep Berlin
The Domino Theory – if Berlin falls, what will be
next?
5. The Airlift
The USA decided, instead, to begin a massive
airlift to supply West Berlin with everything that it
needed – food, fuel, medicine, necessities
The only way the Soviets could stop it would be
to shoot down one of the aircraft – an act of
war
For 15 months, the planes supplied 2.5 million
Berliners with all necessities
A plane landed in Berlin every 2 minutes
Stalin concluded the blockade was not working
and backed down
6.
7.
8.
9. 1960s East German Poster about the 1948 Western airlift.
The text reads: "Air bridge to West Berlin--a peace-endangering
provocation of the imperialist Western powers."
10. The Formation of NATO
April 1949
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
The Product of the Berlin Blockade and Airlift
The Blockade told the Americans that
they had to be at the ready in case of
further military showdown with the
Soviets
Americans stationed over a million men
overseas and occupied 675 overseas bases
11. Original Members
Great Britain, France, the Netherlands,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Portugal,
Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Canada, and
the USA.
