The introduction of the new currency in West Germany alarmed Stalin, as he was worried by the idea of a successful, anti-communist government in the west of Germany. Furthermore to him this raised the possibility of another German attack on Russia, as in 1914 and 1941.
The construction of the Berlin Wall.
Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt decided on the postwar division of Europe at the Yalta Conference. For that reason, American forces ended their advance at the Elba River, leaving Russia to take Berlin. In essence, this gave Russia control of East Germany which fell in the Soviet sphere, and the Western Allies (Britain, France, and the US) divided West Germany.
WWI caused WWII because Berlin, Rome and Tokyo created an alliance that was trans-European. Therefore, this set up everyone on a path of confrontation. The better path would have been to understanding and compromise.
Germany had to surrender because the allies were all in Germany their economy was basically destroyed and the Russians were in Berlin and Hitler had committed suicide so they had no leader
Note: A lot of opinions. Some are below. It depends on how you define evil.Stalin:I would say Stalin as he was pure evil. Hitler was evil do not get me wrong, but Stalin hated everyone. Hitler had problems with the Jews and a few others, but Stalin persecuted his own people and others. There are more statistics on Hitler than Stalin. That is why more people might say Hitler for they do not know much about Stalin. Hitler is a household name, Stalin is usually not.Hitler:I would actually say Hitler was the more evil of the two. Like the poster above said, Stalin hated everyone, but Hitler targeted, isolated, and slaughtered one group of people. At least Stalin didn't discriminate.Hitler:Hitler plunged Europe into war as well as committing appalling atrocities. (Stalin did not unleash a major war). Hitler has become the #1 20th century icon (or symbol) of evil.Stalin:Although Stalin didn't cause a war he still sided with Hitler in the war. On top of that Stalin killed everyone even in his own army he had groups that where called blocks behind his soilders. They were ordered to shoot any troop giving up ground no matter what. Plus Stalin did start a war by him self the cold war!!!Hitler:There is all this talk about Stalin killed off his own fellow Russians - In actual fact he was betrayed by a fair number of his own fellow men who worked secretly for Hitler. When Stalin found this out, brutally and literally, lined those who betrayed them and had them shot. Everything he did was for a reason and people are too quick to jump to conclusions without fact. In all honesty, he can be seen as one of the greatest leaders of our time who took an undeveloped country and turned it into the greatest industrial country with one of the most powerful military forces to this very day.Stalin:Both Stalin and Hitler are both considered some of the worst leaders. Both instituted totalitarian governments and they both killed lots of people. Stalin would kill people, and then expunge them from all records, like in pictures. Hitler, at the end of the war, gassed millions of people. However, Stalin's communist policy also led to major shortages in food and caused tens of millions of people to starve to death. So, between Hitler and Stalin - they were both terrible leaders, I would have to say Stalin. Yes, Hitler was bad, but Stalin was worse! Wrap up:One can debate motive and intentions all day, but if murder is the greatest evil, then when the debate is said and done, Hitler is usually ascribed with about 15 million murders and Stalin with tens and tens of millions of murders.
Stalin. He was in power from the 1930s to the early 1950s. The Berlin Blockade occured in 1948.
The Soviet Union lifted the Berlin Blockade in May 1949 primarily due to the realization that it was not achieving its objectives of forcing the Allies out of West Berlin and that the situation was escalating tensions with the West. The success of the Berlin Airlift by Western Allies demonstrated their commitment to defending the city and provided critical supplies to West Berliners, undermining the effectiveness of the blockade. Additionally, the economic strain on the Soviet Union and a shift in strategy towards a more diplomatic approach contributed to their decision to end the blockade.
The Berlin Blockade, which began in June 1948, was primarily caused by rising tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies following World War II. The Western powers' decision to introduce a new currency in West Germany threatened Soviet interests and control over East Germany. Additionally, ideological differences between capitalism in the West and communism in the East contributed to the blockade, as the Soviets sought to consolidate their power in Eastern Europe while preventing the spread of Western influence. The blockade aimed to force the Allies out of Berlin and solidify Soviet dominance in the region.
The Russians caused it by blockading Berlin.
America and Russia both had different views on what to do with the divided Germany in 1948. Stalin and the Soviets wanted to destroy Germany, stripping its wealth and power so it was no longer a threat to them. On the other side, the USA and Britain wanted to re-build Germany, building them up financially to make a new trading partner. There are 3 events that led to Stalin blockading Berlin and they were: -On January 1947, America and Britain joined their two zones of the divided Germany creating a new zone which they called Bizonia. This angered the Russians as they realised the British and Americans were beginning to create a new, stronger Germany. -On the 31stMarch 1948, the Americans voted for the Marshall Plan (the Americans would donate huge sums of money to struggling European countries to aid them and hopefully turn them capitalists) . This too angered Stalin, the leader of Russia, as he saw it as an attempt to weaken Russian influence on eastern Europe. Because of these the Russians began stopping and searching all road and rail traffic into Berlin as a warning to the Americans. -And finally on June 1st, America and Britain announced they wanted to create West Germany as a new country and so introduce a new currency into Bizonia. The people of East Germany and Europe began to change all their money for the new currency of West Germany, believing it to be worth more. The next day, Stalin completely cut off all road, rail and water routes to Berlin.
The Berlin Blockade and airlift were important for the development of the Cold war because it was one of the first crises which happened during the Cold War. The Berlin Blockade changed many people's lives in West Berlin as the Soviets had blocked food supplies, energy supplies and gas to West Berlin by closing all roads and railways. This lead to the USA and Britain having to supply West Berlin by sending airplanes filled with supplies to West Berlin. In order for West Berlin to survive, they needed 4000 tonnes of food a day which meant that aeroplanes filled with supplies landed every 30 seconds. This was called the Berlin airlift. As a result of this, 79 American and British pilots lost their lives. In May 1949 Stalin called off the Berlin Blockade as the Soviets realised that the people of West Berlin were managing fine with the help of the USA and the UK.
Certain distant factors came together including the Berlin Blockade, the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War, admissions of officials about spying for the Soviet Union and the birth of McCarthyism which reached into the arts and literature of the time with a vengeance.
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Stalin's demise was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage, a stroke, which might or might not have been induced by the surreptitious administration of warfarin, a blood thinner used to kill rats, by Stalin's inner circle and high members of the Politburo.
The Union naval blockade of Confederate ports
The blockage caused trade between colonies to disappear and the blockade also made it so that no outside help could come to the colonies.
In the late 1930's border clashes between the USSR and Japan in the Far East intensified and caused Stalin to heavily reinforce his defenses there. The prospect of armed conflict there and in Eastern Europe, placed Stalin in a difficult situation.