The Berlin Blockade, which occurred from 1948 to 1949, was a major episode in the early Cold War between the Soviet Union and the Western powers. This blockade came about as a response to the growing divisions between the East and West and had significant implications for the future of Germany and Europe as a whole.
1. The Background
Following the second world war, the German capital, Berlin was divided into four zones of occupation:American, British, French and Soviet. Such nations had different ideas and practices that over the course of time led to flare up of tension.
- The Division of Germany
The cleavage of Germany and Berlin get more evident due to increasing political, economic and social differences. The Soviet Union wanted to impose an orientated socialist government in the East Germany while the USA and their allied were prepared to establish Democratic rights and a capitalist economy in the West Germany.
2.1 The Birth of West Germany
West Germany was allied by the Western powers in 1948 having its own government structure and market economy. Some of them are that it was interpreted as a threat to the Soviet Union as this dominated the region at the material time.
2.2 The Division of Berlin
To ensure they maintained control over East Germany, and to reduce the power of the West, the Soviet Union proceeded to seal all road, rail and canal links between East and West Berlin, thus starving West Berlin of supplies and cutting it off completely from its supporters in the West. This eventually led to the Berlin Blockade now remembered so well due to powerful media coverage and fossilized into history through films.
- The Causes of the Berlin Blockade
Soviet’s aim during the Berlin Blockade was to subjugate East Germany and make the western powers to let go of West Berlin. By severing the supplies they wanted the western powers out of the city and eventually absorb all for the divided Berlin into an Eastern Bloc.
- The Western Response
The leading World power, or America as well as the western bloc saw the Berlin Blockade as a real aggression and a challenge in Europe. They strongly wanted to stay in West Berlin as well as defend the freedoms of elections the represented.
4.1 The Berlin Airlift
As a result of such blockade, the Western powers gave the Berlin Airlift via supply dropping to West Berlin. This great military undertaking delivered the basic life sustaining items including food, fuels and other materials into the beleaguered city, thus saving the lives of its populace.
4.2 The Symbolic Significance
The Berlin Airlift showed how determined the Western powers were for the freedom and well being of West Berliners. It also depicted cruelty of the Soviet rule as well as the freedom the western world was offering to the people.
- The Resolution
Finally the Berlin blockade was resolved in 1949 whereby the Soviet union lifted the blockade due to westerners’ resolution. However Germany and Berlin was divided and more clashes were to follow during the Cold War.
- The Legacy
The Berlin Blockade also brought a very significant point in the division of East and West and the building of that infamous Berlin Wall in 1961. He underlined the opposition of communism to democracy, the intentions of the West to defend its interests.
In conclusion, therefore, it can be posited that the motive for the Berlin Blockade was basically to assert Soviet control over East Germany and, in the process, Test the resolve of the western powers in the city of Berlin. The Western powers responded this by forming the Berlin Airlift, which was practical as well as symbolism. This historical event is still relevant in helping people to understand some of the early manifestations of the cold war and division between east and west.
