The Berlin Blockade heightened US-Soviet Union tension which eventually produced the Cold War. This blog post examines all aspects of the blockade including how it began and why it impacted the world.

The Background: Post-WWII Era

After the end of World War II, the victorious Allies divided Germany into four occupation zones, each controlled by one of the major powers: The four victorious war powers divided Germany after World War II into control sectors for the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, and France. Both the Soviet Union and the western powers established four occupation zones after World War II and Berlin sat in the heart of Soviet-controlled eastern Germany.

Why Did Soviet Leaders Blockade Berlin

When tensions increased between East and West Allies the Soviet Union strove for complete control over Berlin. Russia enforced the Berlin Blockade in June 1948 because the United States, France and Britain tried to unite their zones of occupation and create a new currency.

The Soviet Union tried to make West Berlin surrender by closing all ground routes to the area. The Soviet leadership wanted total command over Berlin city.

The Berlin Airlift

Because the United States and its partners needed to maintain authority in Berlin they established a lengthy air supply mission to deliver vital necessities.

In 18 months starting June 1948 cargo planes worked nonstop to deliver supplies through Tempelhof Airport in West Berlin. Through the Berlin Airlift the Western Allies used supply flights to show their resolve in defending West Berlin from Soviet invasion tactics and kept the city’s residents alive.

The Berlin Blockade Demonstrate Results

After the Berlin Blockade and US aid deliveries through air transport started a steady decline into Cold War tensions between the United States and Soviet Union. Here are some key consequences:

1. The Formation of NATO

During the Berlin Blockade governments in the West formed an agreement to work together for their security. Following Soviet aggression NATO formed in 1949 as a collective security partnership between its member states.

2. Through Formal Action Germany Became Divided Nationally

The Berlin Blockade cemented the partition of Germany into two separate states: After the blockade the map split Germany into two parts. One part joined NATO (West Germany) under Western alliances and the other party sided with Soviet Union powers in East Germany.

3. The Arms Race

The blockade pushed countries to make nuclear weapons faster which created a dangerous competition between US and Soviet Union military powers. Superpowers built their military power to stop attacks from the opposing force while defending their strategic assets.

4. Germany split into East and West Berlin as this event took effect.

The Berlin Blockade made East and West Berlin permanently separate into two parts. Through their selves and Allies West Berlin’s control West and East Berlin developed differently pushing apart communist and capitalist societies.

In Conclusion

The Berlin Blockade changed global events permanently after it happened. The United States and its allies crushed the Soviet blockade through the Berlin Airlift while their united stand formed NATO and set off the arms race and permanent German partition.

During the Cold War’s buildup the Berlin Blockade proved the resolve of Western forces to stop Soviet territorial expansion.