Causes Of The Berlin Airlift

Words: 964
Pages: 4
Open Document
The Berlin Airlift originated after World War II, when the Allied Powers, composed of Great Britain, the United States, France, and the Soviet Union, discussed how to appropriately oversee a defeated Germany. The nations decided to divide Germany into four zones for the American, British, French, and Soviets at the Allied Control Council (ACC), a council formed in July 30, 1945 and made up of officials from all four zones. Berlin, although contained inside a Soviet zone, would also split into four zones as well. The Western allies, consisting of France, Britain, and the United States, believed that a dilapidated country governed democratically could recover more quickly and prevent any future threats of communism. The Soviet Union, …show more content…
In 1947 the Western powers responded to these actions by merging their zones together under the Supreme Economic Council. In March of 1948, the Western powers gathered at the London Conference where they agreed to enact a federal state in West Germany and begin a currency reform. Upon gaining knowledge of the conference, the Soviet Union withdrew its representatives from the ACC. The communist power branded the conference as a violation against the ACC Mandate, and on April 1, 1948 took drastic measures to block land transportation between West Germany and Berlin, starting the first critical conflict, dubbed the “baby blockade,” between the Western powers and the Soviet Union towards the separation of …show more content…
Large amounts of food, fuel, and luxury items were successfully transported to Berliners in need. The success of the airlift only served to worsen the expectations of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union, which desired the Western powers in Germany to leave, witnessed the bond between the powers and Berlin, and though the Soviets attempted to disrupt the British and American fliers through “air maneuvers”, the amount of deliveries only increased in number. By the end of September 1948, the Tempelhof Airport in West Berlin welcomed a new plane every three minutes, and by April 1949 the airport welcomed a new plane every minute. The blockade was finally called off by the Soviets on May 12, 1949. Throughout the duration of Operation Vittles, the Western powers used about 400/441 American planes and about 100/147 British planes that successfully flew a total of 124,420,813 miles and delivered approximately 2.3 million tons of resources were delivered to the Berliners in need. The operation also proved to be expensive, costing the United States approximately $500,000 per day and Britain between $50,000 and $100,000 per day. The Berlin airlift showcased the determination of the Western powers to help aid the Berliners, yet also helped the United States emerge as
Show More

Related Documents: Causes Of The Berlin Airlift

Cold War Notes Essay

Nagasaki was bombed on August 9th, 1945 • Truman gives orders • Causes Japan to drop out of WWII Marshall Plan • 1947 • U.S. worried about soviet expansion into Western Europe • A massive economic recovery program was launched • Named after Secretary of State, George Marshall • Gives aid to Western Europe Berlin Airlift • June 1948 • Western Berlin is blockaded • An airlift of food and supplies is given to the city by Truman so people don’t starve…

Words 450 - Pages 2

Berlin Wall Research Paper

In 1989, the Berlin Wall, an iron curtain, a potent source of conflict between the soviet union and the United States that almost started World War III, that was a symbol of the Cold War and Communist Repression, crudely taking freedom from East Germans, fell, because of a compromise between East German leaders and East German citizens, eradicating Communism and uniting East Germany. After World War Two, Germany was divided between the Capitalist United States, United Kingdom M 48 1963 France in…

Words 777 - Pages 4

Cold War Essay

although at times the Cold War turned “hot” as in Korea and Vietnam. Basically, the Cold War was a rivalry between the United States as leader of the western democracies, and the Soviet Union and the nations that were controlled by the communists. Some causes of the Cold War included: Attempts by the Soviets and Chinese Communists to influence and take over areas in Asia and Europe. Containment--the policy of the United States to stop communism from spreading to other areas of the world. The Truman Doctrine--a…

Words 323 - Pages 2

Who Was To Blame For The Cold War Essay

The causes of the Cold War is a prolonged topic and is delivered in a dispassionate type of way in most textbooks. However, extending out of the textbooks, there is a world that does not objectively seek the causes of the Cold War but rather instead to allocate blame. The matter then becomes scrambled up into political beliefs. The question of whether or not President Truman was responsible for the Cold War is arguable. Moreover, others might say that Josef Stalin’s belligerent behavior was the primary…

Words 828 - Pages 4

Essay on Eisenhower/Truman Doctrine Study Guide

Eisenhower/ Truman Study Guide The questions cover Chapters 5, 6, and 7 from the Cold War book- Pearson, and Ch. 12, 16, and 17 and pages 150-161 from the Todd book. All of these sections were assigned and questions were asked in class covering most of the readings. 1. What was the difference between Cominform and COMECOM? Cominform: Communist Information Bureau (September 1947) created as an instrument to increase Stalin’s control over the Communist parties of other countries. COMECOM:…

Words 1347 - Pages 6

The Cold War Essay

other Eastern European countries. As a result, the so-called iron curtain soon divided East from West in Europe. Stalin also tried unsuccessfully to drive French, British, and American occupation forces from the German city of Berlin by blocking highway and railway access.The Berlin crisis, as well as the formation of the Eastern block of Soviet-dominated countries in Eastern Europe, caused foreign policy officials in Washington to believe that the United States needed to check Soviet influence abroad…

Words 1580 - Pages 7

Questions On The Three Causes Of World War II

UNIT 5 STUDY GUIDE 1. What are three causes of World War II in Europe? 1. Failure of the Treaty of Versailles 2. Failure of the League of Nations 3. Failure of the policy of Appeasement 2. What happened after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor? The United States declared war! 3. Name the Axis Powers 1. Germany 2. Italy 3. Japan Name the Allied Powers 1. Great Britain 2. United States 3. Russia 4. France 4. Match the World Leaders with their country. (pg.730-736; 767) Winston Churchill…

Words 548 - Pages 3

Writing and Quadruple u. s. Government Essay

secretary of state, Dean Acheson; and an expert on Soviet affairs, George F. Kennan. In an influential article, Kennan had written that only “a long­term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies” would eventually cause the Soviets to back off their Communist ideology of world domination and live in peace with other nations. ● Truman Doctrine­ MILITARY AID! the principle that the US should give support to countries or peoples threatened by Soviet forces or communist…

Words 757 - Pages 4

How Did The Truman Doctrine Change American Foreign Policy

As President, Truman made some of the most important decisions in history. His decision to drop the two atomic bombs evidently appeared to have been the right call. If there was a delay for a physical invasion of Japan then it would have allowed the USSR to expand their position in the Far East more. A physical invasion would have been even bloodier and would’ve left a bad impact among both sides that might have been there for many more years than the other did. With the Truman Doctrine, President…

Words 620 - Pages 3

Cold War Essay

outside pressures.” Marshall Plan The European Recovery Program; proposed by Secretary of State George C. Marshall; approved in March 1948; $13 billion to restore the economies of sixteen Western European nations Berlin Airlift After the Soviet Union Blockaded land routes into West Berlin in June 1948, the Western allies used airplanes to deliver food, fuel, and other necessities to Germans living there; confirmed the wisdom of containment; when challenged, the Russians backed down NATO established…

Words 1199 - Pages 5