What was the Berlin blockade?

During the Cold War, Stalin cut off all road and rail traffic into West Berlin which was, at the time, occupied by the USA. This left 2 million Germans living in West Berlin isolated with only enough resources left for 6 weeks. Stalin believed this would stop the Western allies from providing for Berlin, making West Berlin entirely dependent on the USSR. However, Truman was not prepared to give up 2 million people to communism and thus supplies such as food, clothes and oil were airlifted into West Berlin for 10 months. As a result, only 2% of West Berliners moved to East Berlin, showing their loyalty to the capitalist ideology.

AK
Answered by Anya K. History tutor

2480 Views

See similar History GCSE tutors

Related History GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Why did Labour win the 1945 election?


“The Night of the Long Knives was the most dramatic and significant single event during the establishment of Hitler’s supremacy” using your own knowledge (including form the photocopy) how valid is this interpretation? Give reasons


How should I approach a question and structure my answer?


How should I approach an essay which asks me 'How far' or 'To what extent' a statement is true?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning