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
Related History GCSE answers
All answers ▸What benefits did the First World War bring to the American economy? [4 marks]
What was Henry VII's most poorly planned piece of foreign policy?
To what extent was pre-war Nazi social policy a success?
How do I remember the vast amount of content required for the exam?