In 1948 and 1949, Stalin decided to impose a blockade on West Berlin as part of an overall plan to bring West Berlin, then the whole of the western portion of Germany (still occupied by French, British, and American forces), into union with Soviet-controlled East Germany. By closing land-access to West Berlin, Stalin considered that the city would soon require Soviet assistance and thereby come under Soviet control.
The Berlin crisis. Stalin sought to submit Berlin to Soviet rule by by closing off all roads leading to Berlin from the west and starving it . The Western Allies however organized a huge airlift into Berlin to supply the Berlin people with everything necessary. When Stalin found he had been outmaneuvered, he chose not to escalate the conflict but to lift the blockade of Berlin.
coastal West Africa
Thousands of people rushed west in 1849 because that was early in the California Gold Rush. In 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in California. The people seeking gold were nicknamed 'forty-niners,' in reference to the year.
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How the Soviet's react to the blockade
The Berlin Airlift was a factor, supplies were flown in during Stalin's blockade.
Stalin was determined to capture West Berlin and gain concessions from the West
Stalin set up a blockade between East and West Berlin in 1948 to try to force the Western Allies to give up control of West Berlin and to prevent the flow of resources and people between the two parts of the city.
Stalin did not blockade Berlin; he was already deceased at that time, and the blockade was created by Nikita Kruschev. President Kennedy's response was to airlift supplies into West Berlin, thus defeating the blockade of the roads. At the time, Kennedy famously said "Ich bin ein Berliner" meaning, I am a Berliner.
the American, British, and French zones of Germany were unified.
The American, British & Freach zones of Germany were unified.
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 Soviets tried to force the Western Allies to abandon a currency reform, and possibly even Berlin itself. -JenniferMichelle Kinsel (:
Stalin's purpose in the Berlin Blockade, which began in June 1948, was to exert pressure on the Western Allies by cutting off access to West Berlin in an attempt to force them to abandon the city. He aimed to consolidate Soviet control over East Germany and to challenge the legitimacy of Western influence in Germany. By isolating West Berlin, Stalin sought to demonstrate the vulnerability of the Western powers and to compel them to negotiate on terms favorable to the Soviet Union. Ultimately, the blockade aimed to strengthen the Soviet position in Europe amid rising tensions of the Cold War.
Stalin imposed a blockade on Berlin for 11 months in an attempt to drive the Western Powers control out of West Berlin. As Berlin was in the Soviet bloc of Germany, he closed off all access to West Berlin so no resources could get through. this included food, coal for electricity etc.. The West Powers did not allow this to stop them and used the three air corridors, which they were still able to use, to supply West Berlin will all it needed. It was a massive airlift with planes flying into West Berlin constantly. After 11 months, Stalin saw that the Western Powers were not budging and ended the blockade. hope that helps!
The population of West Berlin at the time of the blockade and airlift (1948-49) was about 2 million.