World War II left Germany in a state of desperation with many demolished sites from Allied bomb raids. The Soviet dictator Josef Stalin had long range goal of a pro-Soviet communist government (Miller 6). Therefore this required the support of many German people. Ultimately the Soviet Union would have to convince the Germans that they had a stake in the Soviet success or a Soviet-sponsored future (6). Many of these people were willing and looking for hope of some kind because the economic situation was in ruins.
Another significant event that took place before the official blockade began was the April crisis. Beginning on the 1st, the Soviet announced there would be no cargo by rail let through without Soviet inspection and permission. Finally, General Clay refused these actions to happen and ordered all supplies be flown in. Eventually by April 10th, Soviets eased up on the restrictions also known as the “Little Lift” (Miller 17). This previous lift required the U.S Air Force to deliver almost eighty tons of Army rations and perishable items daily. The irony about the April lift was the Soviets thought their plan worked and continued to underestimate the American and British powers especially the air force. Despite the Soviet’s blurred eye for the true capabilities of airmen at this time, Soviets didn’t want to interfere with the air corridor because this could potentially begin a war and they didn't have much experience.
The Soviet Union had control of areas where agriculture was rich meaning they had an advantage of food production and supplies such as agriculture. The Soviets pushed millions of Germans into the Western zones. The Red Army pushed the border into the west giving the Poles about a quarter of Germany’s most fertile land and depriving the West of applicable resources. This was done on purpose to overpopulate the British and American zones, so there would be more mouths to feed (Miller 2). However the Allies weren’t able to supply food as easily as the Russians because lack of available resources. All of this was essentially apart of Stalin’s plan. Yet, Stalin had feared the power of the U.S. and western Allies had amassed (Miller 7).
In the midst of the political plight, Western Europe had persuaded George C. Marshall to introduce a program of American assistance known as the European Recovery Act or Marshall Plan on June 5, 1947. This plan basically was created from deepened concerns of the communism situation in Eastern Europe (Miller 8). Once Stalin realized how the Western powers were really confining desires to unite Germany economically and prevent communist growth; he began to tighten actions to spread communism and gain power.
After World War II, the Western powers introduced a single new currency for Germany, the Deutsche Mark. However the Soviets only agreed if they were able to manufacture the money without Allies supervision, yet this was highly declined by the Western Powers (Miller 18). Therefore the Soviet Union were finally getting fed up and decided to heightened transmissions to West Berlin. They proclaimed any U.S. supply train was to sent back to western Germany. In addition they announced they were going to put forth their own currency into East Berlin called the "Ostmark". This created term oil,and played a major part of the start of the blockade. Then on June 24, the Soviets severed all land and water communications, and on the 25 the Soviets claimed they weren't going to feed the civilian population (Miller 19). Yet, the air traffic remained open. This was essentially the beginning of the Berlin air lift!
In 1948 Josef Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, ordered a seige of all transportations routes to Berlin as an attempt to starve West Berlin citizens and intentions of gaining control. "When the Allies established a distinct West German currency and encouraged its use in the Soviet Zone of Berlin, the Soviets struck back" (Wilkinson, 30). Eventually on June 24, almost 2 million in Berlin were starved and deprived of food, water, gas, electric, etc.
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After World War II ended and the Cold War began, Germany was occupied by the United States, French, British, and Russians. The city of Berlin was divided into two sectors, East and West. The East was controlled by the Soviet Unions while the West was split into three sectors occupied by the United States, Britsh, and French also known as the Western Powers and Allies. The split city was ran by different goverments, the GDR (German Democratic Republic) and the FGR (Federal German Republic).
