# Berlin Blockade / Airlift 1948

Source: https://projectgcse.co.uk/history/the_cold_war/berlin_blockade_airlift

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- Germany and Berlin were split into 4 zones.
- Britain, France and USA combined their zones in 1948 to form one big zone (West Germany).
- They reformed the currency and helped Germany to recover.
- Britain and USA wanted to help Germany's industries recover so that it could feed its people.
- Stalin wanted Germany kept crippled so he blocked off all supply routes to West Berlin.
- Stalin believed that this would make West Germany more dependant on Russia.
- If USA rammed blocks this would be seen as an act of war.
- America wanted to continue its policy about containment.
- Allies airlifted supplies to Berlin for 10 months.
- In May 1949 the blockade was cleared.
- Both sides claimed victory as USA saw it bringing people of Western Europe closer and demonstrated how they could keep freedom.
- USSR saw it as costing USA money and there was no guarantee they would not do it again in the future.
- Both sides lost because neither gained anything but it just made them more stubborn and suspicious in the future.