First of all, we would like to provide you with wider information on the Berlin Blockade. Regardless of whether you are a history buff or just interested in gaining more knowledge this article is going to give a brief overview of the Berlin Blockade.

What was the Berlin Blockade?

Specifically, the Berlin blockade was one of the important episodes of the so called Cold War which began on June 24, 1948 and terminated on May 12, 1949. It was an international political and military crisis which saw Soviet Union putting a ring round West Berlin, thereby severing all the ground, air and rail links of the West Berlin to the Western Allies. This was done with an intention of choking the western Allies into the surrendering control over West Berlin.

The Context

The Berlin Blockade was a reaction as a result of the Western Allies’ having placed in West Germany a new currency known as the Deutsche Mark. The Soviet Union saw this as an attempt which destroyed its influence in Germany and had before formed a separate communist government in East Germany.

Causes of the Berlin Blockade

The main causes of the Berlin Blockade include:

• The Cold War: Due to that the civil confrontation between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies place Berlin firmly as a divided city.
• The introduction of the Deutsche Mark: Straw described how the Western Allies proposed to introduce a new currency called the Deutschmark in West Germany to counterbalance the growing influence of the Soviet regime in the eastern part of the same country.
• Desire for control: Which of the following best describes the goals of the Soviet Union in the activities that developed in Germany?

Effects of the Berlin Blockade

The Berlin Blockade had far-reaching consequences:

• Berlin Airlift: Because of this blockade, the Western Allies initiated the Berlin Airlift, which delivered various necessities such as food, fuels, and other resources to West Berlin using an air-lifting system.
• NATO Formation: The Berlin Blockade has a particular importance in the formation of NATO the Western Allies strived for a common defense against Soviets.
• East and West Germany division: It mainly worsened the relations between east and west Germany paving way for construction of the Berlin wall in 1961.

Key Players

During the Berlin Blockade, several key players were involved:

• Soviet Union: By severing all its road, rail and water links with West Berlin in 1948, the Soviet Union was essentially trying to gain full control on West Berlin under the leadership of Joseph Stalin.
• United States: President Harry S. Truman managed to respond to a blockade from the USSR with the Berlin Airlift.
• United Kingdom: Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister in Britain agreed with the United States in the Berlin Airlift.

Conclusion

The Berlin Blockade was one of those critical events of the Cold War that revealed the independence of the Soviet Union and the allied forces of the west. This was followed by Berlin Airlift and the creation of NATO an exhibition of the stand of western Allies to remain in West Berlin and limit Soviet expansion.

In learning the causes, settlement, and individuals involved in the Berlin Blockade we get full understanding of this event occurrence and impacts on Germany, Europe and the rest of the world.

We believe this summary has offered you some relevant information within the Berlin Blockade course. Any advanced topic can be researched in books and documentaries, and even visiting museums with exhibits would enlighten you on the topic even further.