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The Berlin Blockade: A Turning Point in the Cold War

by | Mar 7, 2024 | Cold War Tour Berlin

This is your guide to understanding one of the critical moments in the Cold War – the Berlin Blockade. This paper will give an outline of the causes, effects and importance of the blockade. As you may be a history guru or a complete novice let me assure you, this post will give you all the information you need in a bid to understand this epoch-making period in world history.

 

1. Understanding the Cold War

Cold war may be defined as the period of unfriendly relations between two world powers, USSR and the United States of America, between 1947 and the year 1991. It was marked by surrogate wars, spying as well as the use of political slogans.

 

1.1 The Berlin Blockade: A Brief Overview

The Berlin Blockade must be placed on the historical context at the early formation of the Cold War. It happened rousing in response to the Soviet Union’s efforts to seize control over West Berlin which the Americans, British and French had occupied after World War II.

 

2. Causes of the Berlin Blockade

2.1 Soviet Concerns

 

For the Soviet Union the maintaining of West Berlin was dangerous because they considered it as a threat to their regime. The very fact that Western powers had controlled this anyclave within East Germany had created impression of hostile environment around them.

 

2.2 New Currency

 

In June 1948, the western Allies starting using the Deutsche Mark new currency in their zones and likewise in west Berlin. Hiking tariffs was perceived as an economic bluffing for the Soviet Union.

 

2.3 Diverging Ideologies

 

Ideologically and politically there was also hostility due to differences between the East and the West. The soviet Union wanted to spread communism while USA was supporting democracy and capitalist economy.

 

3. The Blockade Begins

In an attempt to counter the new currency known as the Deutsche Mark, the Soviet Union put a severance to all the roads, railways and waterways linking the western sector of Berlin to the east on June 24, 1948. This led to the Berlin Blockade which was a major accesory for the western power.

 

3.1 The Berlin Airlift

West Berlin saw its population of more than two million citizens having their means of sustaining themselves under potential blockade. In response the United States along with its Western allies responded with the Berlin Airlift. Translated into reality, for almost one year, cargo airplanes delivered all kinds of necessities including food, fuel and other supplies to the besiege city.

 

4. The Consequences

4.1 The Failure of the Blockade

 

The Soviet Union finally understood that the blockade could not fulfill its objectives. Western powers insisted and the was effective Berlin Airlift; on May 12, 1949 Soviets had to raise the blockade.

 

4.2 Division of Germany

 

The Berlin Blockade helped to expand the split of Germany into two parts – East and West. The Federal Republic of Germany – or West Germany – was founded in 1949, and shortly after that in the same year the, German Democratic Republic or East Germany was formed.

 

5. The Berlin Blockade: Its Importance

5.1 Increase of NATO and the Warswaw Pact’s Military Capability

 

Facing the threat of the Berlin Blockade or the Soviet Forces West European countries formed the North Atlantic Treaty organization (NATO)in 1949. In like manner, the Soviet Union set up the Warsaw Pact in reply.

 

5.2 Cultural and Political Implication of the Iron Curtain

 

The Berlin Blockade was an event pointing out East/West divergence together with the notion of the Iron Curtain. This metaphorical and physical division of the Europe in two, essentially strengthened ideological battles during the Cold War period.

 

5.3 Peaceful Resistance

 

The successful implementation of the Berlin Airlift is now seen to be an indication of effective non-violent tools to help bring about change around the world today.

 

6. Conclusion

The Berlin Blockade was a clear turning point in the Cold War giving evidence of the show down between the east and the west. In my view the aggressiveness of the western powers and toughness of the West Berliners during the Berlin Airlift changed polarity and staked ground for future standoffs. Knowledge of this event plays an important role in comprehending the circumstances of Cold War and its consequences all over the world.

The Berlin Blockade: A Turning Point in the Cold War