Causes
This economic aid plan for war-torn Europe made Stalin nervous, contributing to tensions before the blockade.
What is the Marshall Plan?
The Berlin Blockade led directly to the formation of this Western military alliance in 1949.
What is NATO?
The Berlin Blockade was the first major conflict of this global struggle.
What is the Cold War?
This Soviet leader ordered the blockade of Berlin.
Who is Joseph Stalin?
The blockade officially began in this month and year.
What is June 1948?
This 1947 U.S. foreign policy promised to support countries resisting communism, further deepening Cold War divisions.
What is the Truman Doctrine?
The blockade made West Berlin a Cold War symbol of this political and economic system.
What is democracy and capitalism?
The airlift proved that Stalin could not stop the Western allies from supporting this divided city.
What is Berlin?
This U.S. president responded to the blockade by launching the Berlin Airlift.
Who is Harry Truman?
The Berlin Airlift delivered this essential resource in massive quantities to keep Berlin running.
What is coal?
After WWII, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by these four countries.
What are the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union?
Stalin’s failure to starve West Berlin into submission led to the eventual division of this European country.
What is Germany?
The crisis showed that airpower could be used not just for war but also for this peaceful purpose.
What is humanitarian aid?
This American general oversaw the Berlin Airlift and coordinated its success.
Who is General Lucius Clay?
The record-breaking peak of the airlift saw planes landing in Berlin at this interval.
What is every 30 seconds?
In 1948, these Western nations merged their German zones and introduced a new currency, angering the USSR.
Who are the United States, the United Kingdom, and France?
The success of the Berlin Airlift forced Stalin to lift the blockade after this many months.
What is 11 months?
The blockade and airlift highlighted that the Cold War would be fought through these indirect conflicts rather than direct battles.
What are proxy wars and political standoffs?
This British Prime Minister strongly supported the airlift, helping ensure its success.
Who is Clement Attlee?
The blockade ended on this exact date in 1949.
What is May 12, 1949?
Stalin justified the blockade as a response to this major Western economic reform in Germany.
What is the introduction of the Deutsche Mark?
The crisis deepened distrust between the East and West, setting the stage for this future physical Cold War divide.
What is the Berlin Wall?
The failure of the blockade ultimately weakened Stalin’s control over Eastern Europe and accelerated the creation of this Soviet-led alliance in response to NATO.
What is the Warsaw Pact?
Nicknamed "Uncle Wiggly Wings," this U.S. pilot became famous for dropping candy to Berlin’s children.
Who is Gail Halvorsen?
To transport supplies effectively, the Western allies used these three main air corridors.
What are the northern, central, and southern air corridors?