The Berlin blockade

Events:

After WWII Germany was split into 4 zones (see map). By June 1948, the British, American and French zones had merged together and a new currency was introduced to try and make the zone prosperous. Stalin was worried that Berlin would now be a wealthy Capitalist base within Communist Eastern Europe. On June 24th Soviet troops cut off all links between West Berlin and West Germany. Stalin hoped that by blockading Berlin like this America and her allies would be forced to give up their sections. They did not. Instead they airlifted supplies into West Berlin until May 1949 when Stalin gave in and re-opened all the routes to Berlin.

Consequences:

This was a big victory for the Capitalist countries. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was set up (NATO) in Sept. 1949

Supplying Berlin from the air. During the Berlin Airlift food was unloaded straight on to German lorries from allied cargo planes flying night and day into the city. they supplied the Berliners with everything they needed by air - even heavy raw materials such as coal.