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

2785 Views

See similar History GCSE tutors

Related History GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe the military terms of the Treaty of Versailles. (4 Marks).


Describe two reasons why Adolph Hitler was able to consolidate power so quickly between January 1933 and July 1933. [4 marks]


Why did the Nazis appeal to the German voters?


Why was the Weimar Republic in a state of crisis by 1923?


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:

© 2026 by IXL Learning