Option B: Twentieth century topic Did the blockade of Berlin ever have a chance of succeeding? Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all parts of Question 2. Background Information After the Second World War Berlin was divided between Britain, France, the USA and the USSR. However, Berlin lay 100 miles within the Soviet part of Germany and, when the USSR and the West began to disagree over the future of Germany, this made it easy for Stalin to blockade the Western sectors of Berlin. This began in June 1948 and the West responded by supplying Berlin through a massive airlift. In May 1949 Stalin called off the blockade. He had failed. Was it always likely that the Western Allies would be able to defeat the blockade? SOURCE A The Berlin Crisis started on 24 June when Soviet forces blockaded rail, road and water access to West Berlin and cut off electricity supplies. The cause was a dispute over which currency should be used in Berlin. A blockade of Berlin had been forecast and the Soviets had done some planning. At first, some in the West did not think they could stand up to the Russians. However, Britain and the USA decided to try an airlift. This was a fairly desperate attempt to buy time, since West Berlin had stockpiles for only between one and two months and nobody believed that 2.5 million civilians could be indefinitely supplied by air. On 27 June US Secretary of State Marshall talked of zero hour being reached in two or three weeks, and by July it was thought that the airlift would be workable only till October. Throughout the summer of 1948 the USA and Britain were concerned and constantly reviewed their options. The Soviets were simply waiting for the winter to make their strategy work. To the surprise of the Western Allies, West Berlin survived the winter and the blockade ended on 12 May 1949. By that time 277500 flights had delivered 2.3 million tons of food. The West had taken an enormous risk because there had always been the threat of a Soviet military response. However, the Soviet attempt to force the West out of Berlin had failed. From a recent account of the Berlin Blockade. SOURCE B Stalin was losing the initiative in Germany. On 1 June the Western Allies announced plans to establish a separate West German state. On 18 June a new currency was announced. On 23 June, in a desperate response to both of these developments, the Soviets issued a new currency for East Germany and cut rail lines linking Berlin to Western Germany. A total blockade was introduced on 23–24 June. Stalin's policy was not part of a larger planned move of aggression. Stalin's purpose was to force the West to leave the city or abandon its plans for a separate West German state. There were two reasons why the blockade failed. Stalin did not make it as tight as he could have done because he did not obstruct Western access to Berlin by air. This made the airlift possible, especially with the West's superiority in the air. Second, the West was confident that the airlift would work because they believed the Russians did not intend war and would not let things escalate further. The airlift supplied 2.3 million tons of food. The Soviets backed down on 11 May, although the airlift did not end until September. From a recent account of the Berlin Blockade. SOURCE C We are responsible for two million people in Berlin; our presence there prevents this great European capital from being delivered over to Communist tyranny. But that is not all. The Russians are trying to push us out of Berlin now because they think this is the moment when a blow to Western prestige would most assist their aims. To force the small Allied forces out of Berlin would be a great success. The next step would be a strong political offensive against Western Germany. The logical outcome of our forcible ejection from Berlin is war. The Russians do not want war, but appeasement will win nothing. The Western Allies must stick together. To agree to a settlement on the Soviet terms would make Germany a Communist-controlled country and Russia's frontiers would become the North Sea and the Rhine. From a British newspaper, 28 June 1948. SOURCE D [Figure 10.0] A cartoon published in West Germany, 17 July 1948. The title says ‘Note after note’. The USA is saying to the Berliner in the cage ‘Fear not! We shall feed him so many strongly worded notes that he will no longer have any appetite for you ...’. SOURCE E [Figure 11.0] A cartoon published in a British newspaper, 28 July 1948. ‘Dauntless’ means brave or fearless. The three figures represent the USA, France and Britain. SOURCE F The air communications with Berlin are now placed in danger, with the Soviets determined to cut the last links between the West and Berlin. The seizure of the Berlin City Hall by the Communists appears to be only a matter of time. When that happens, the position of the Western powers will be even more difficult. The USSR is holding all the advantages in Berlin and will only give in at a price that may prove too high for the West to pay. Its plan is to drive the Americans and the British to despair and a declaration of war in which they will be branded the aggressors. It is not too late for a decision that will save the peace of Europe. The Allies can pull out of Berlin proudly and with dignity and get back to their own zones and establish their military front along their border with Russia. From an American newspaper, 12 September 1948.