The Question of BerlinThe Question of Berlin

Cold War Berlin

Present Day

Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” SpeechSpeech

• ““From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an the Adriatic an iron curtainiron curtain has descended has descended across the Continent. across the Continent. Behind that line lie all Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in some cases, increasing measure of control in some cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow. Athens alone -- Greece with its from Moscow. Athens alone -- Greece with its immortal glories -- is free to decide its future at immortal glories -- is free to decide its future at an election under British, American and French an election under British, American and French observation. The Russian-dominated Polish observation. The Russian-dominated Polish Government has been encouraged to make Government has been encouraged to make enormous and wrongful inroads upon Germany, enormous and wrongful inroads upon Germany, and mass expulsions of millions of Germans on and mass expulsions of millions of Germans on a scale grievous and undreamed-of are now a scale grievous and undreamed-of are now taking place. The Communist parties, which taking place. The Communist parties, which were very small in all these Eastern States of were very small in all these Eastern States of Europe, have been raised to pre-eminence and Europe, have been raised to pre-eminence and power far beyond their numbers and are power far beyond their numbers and are seeking everywhere to obtain totalitarian seeking everywhere to obtain totalitarian control. Police governments are prevailing in control. Police governments are prevailing in nearly every case, and so far, except in nearly every case, and so far, except in Czechoslovakia, there is no true democracy.” Czechoslovakia, there is no true democracy.”

East and West GermanyEast and West GermanyA Country Divides the WorldA Country Divides the World

• Following the war, Germany is divided into four sections.

• These regions are controlled by The United States, France, Great Britain and the Soviet Union

• Why division?

The Division of BerlinThe Division of Berlin

• Berlin was also divided Berlin was also divided into sectors into sectors

• These sectors were These sectors were controlled by The controlled by The United States, Britain, United States, Britain, The Soviet Union and The Soviet Union and FranceFrance

• Berlin, however, was Berlin, however, was located in East located in East Germany, deep inside Germany, deep inside Soviet territorySoviet territory

West Germany Under the West Germany Under the AlliesAllies• In 1948, the three western In 1948, the three western

controlled zones of Germany controlled zones of Germany (US,France, UK) were united, (US,France, UK) were united, and grew in prosperity due to and grew in prosperity due to Marshal Aid.Marshal Aid.

• The west quickly moved to get The west quickly moved to get W. Germany back on its feet W. Germany back on its feet and restored much of its and restored much of its sovereignty through self sovereignty through self governmentgovernment

• Citizens in the West Germany Citizens in the West Germany could travel freely in the west, could travel freely in the west, those in the east could notthose in the east could not

East Germany Under Soviet East Germany Under Soviet ControlControl• Over time the western zones and Over time the western zones and

the Soviet zone start drift apart the Soviet zone start drift apart economically, not least because of economically, not least because of the Soviets' much greater use of the Soviets' much greater use of disassembly of German industry disassembly of German industry under its control as a form of under its control as a form of reparations.reparations.

• Military industries and those Military industries and those owned by the state, by Nazi owned by the state, by Nazi activists, and by war criminals were activists, and by war criminals were confiscated. confiscated.

• These industries amounted to These industries amounted to approximately 60% of total approximately 60% of total industrial production in the Soviet industrial production in the Soviet zone. zone.

• Most heavy industry (constituting Most heavy industry (constituting 20% of total production) was 20% of total production) was claimed by the Soviet Union as claimed by the Soviet Union as reparationsreparations

• The remaining confiscated The remaining confiscated industrial property was industrial property was nationalized, leaving 40% of total nationalized, leaving 40% of total industrial production to private industrial production to private enterprise. enterprise.

Why the Tension?Why the Tension?

The Truman DoctrineThe Truman Doctrine• In 1947 the British were In 1947 the British were

helping the Greek helping the Greek government fight against government fight against communist guerrillas and communist guerrillas and they appealed to America for they appealed to America for aidaid

• America promised it would America promised it would support free countries to help support free countries to help fight communism – this fight communism – this became known as the Truman became known as the Truman DoctrineDoctrine

• Greece received large Greece received large amounts of arms and amounts of arms and supplies, and by 1949 had supplies, and by 1949 had defeated the communists. defeated the communists.

• The Truman Doctrine was The Truman Doctrine was significant because it showed significant because it showed that America, the most that America, the most powerful western country, powerful western country, was prepared to resist the was prepared to resist the spread of communism spread of communism throughout the world.throughout the world.

The Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan• In 1947 Europe, still devastated by the war had

nothing to sell for hard currency • The United States recognized something had

to be done both for humanitarian reasons and also to stop the potential spread of communism westward.

• In 1947, US Secretary of State George Marshall announced the Marshall Plan.

• This was a massive economic aid plan for Europe which saw the United States offer up to $20 billion for relief, but only if the European nations could get together and draw up a rational plan on how they would use the aid.

• The Marshall Plan, it should be noted, benefited the American economy as well as the money would be used to buy goods from the United States, and they had to be shipped across the Atlantic on American merchant vessels.

• By 1953 the United States had pumped in $13 billion, and Europe was standing on its feet again. Moreover, the Plan included West Germany, which was thus reintegrated into the European community.

Tensions Rise – Stalin Takes Tensions Rise – Stalin Takes ActionAction• The west wanted the east to The west wanted the east to

rejoin, but Stalin feared it rejoin, but Stalin feared it would hurt Soviet security.would hurt Soviet security.

• In June 1948, Stalin decided In June 1948, Stalin decided to try to gain control of West to try to gain control of West Berlin which was deep inside Berlin which was deep inside the eastern sector.the eastern sector.

• He cut road, rail and canal He cut road, rail and canal links with West Berlin, hoping links with West Berlin, hoping to starve them into to starve them into submission. This has become submission. This has become known as the Berlin Blockadeknown as the Berlin Blockade

• The west ‘s response has The west ‘s response has become legendarybecome legendary

The Berlin AirliftThe Berlin Airlift

The Berlin AirliftThe Berlin Airlift• On June 25, General Lucius On June 25, General Lucius

D. Clay, commander of the D. Clay, commander of the American Occupation Zone American Occupation Zone gave the order to launch a gave the order to launch a massive airlift using both massive airlift using both civil and military aircraftcivil and military aircraft

• The lift lasted 462 days The lift lasted 462 days • Civilian and military aircraft Civilian and military aircraft

flew supplies into the flew supplies into the Western-held sectors of Western-held sectors of Berlin over the blockade Berlin over the blockade during 1948–1949. during 1948–1949.

• The first plane flew on June The first plane flew on June 2626thth, and the first British , and the first British airplane flew on the 28th. airplane flew on the 28th.

• This aerial supplying of West This aerial supplying of West Berlin became known as the Berlin became known as the Berlin Airlift. Berlin Airlift.

The Airlift ContinuedThe Airlift Continued

• Military confrontation loomed Military confrontation loomed while Truman embarked on a while Truman embarked on a highly visible move which would highly visible move which would publicly humiliate the Soviets.publicly humiliate the Soviets.

• The American Operation The American Operation became known as Operation became known as Operation VittlesVittles

• Hundreds of aircraft, nicknamed Hundreds of aircraft, nicknamed RosinenbomberRosinenbomber ("raisin ("raisin bombers") by the local bombers") by the local population, were used to fly in a population, were used to fly in a wide variety of cargo, ranging wide variety of cargo, ranging from large containers to small from large containers to small packets of candy with tiny packets of candy with tiny individual parachutes intended individual parachutes intended for the children of Berlin for the children of Berlin

• Sick children were evacuated on Sick children were evacuated on return flights. The aircraft were return flights. The aircraft were supplied and flown by the supplied and flown by the United States, United Kingdom United States, United Kingdom and France, but pilots and crew and France, but pilots and crew also came from Australia, also came from Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Canada, South Africa and New Zealand in order to assist the Zealand in order to assist the supply of Berlin. supply of Berlin.

The Airlift ContinuedThe Airlift Continued

• Ultimately 278,228 flights Ultimately 278,228 flights were made and 2,326,406 were made and 2,326,406 tons of food and supplies, tons of food and supplies, including more than 1.5 including more than 1.5 million tons of coal, were million tons of coal, were delivered to Berlin. delivered to Berlin.

• At the height of the At the height of the operation, on April 16, operation, on April 16, 1949, an allied aircraft 1949, an allied aircraft landed in Berlin every landed in Berlin every minuteminute

• There were 1,398 flights in There were 1,398 flights in 24 hours carrying 12,940 24 hours carrying 12,940 tons of goods, coal and tons of goods, coal and machinery, beating the machinery, beating the record of 8,246 set only record of 8,246 set only days earlier.days earlier.

Why did the Americans feel Why did the Americans feel they had to respond to the they had to respond to the Soviet Blockade?Soviet Blockade?

The Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall• The The Berlin WallBerlin Wall was the was the

iconic symbol of the Cold iconic symbol of the Cold WarWar

• It was initially constructed It was initially constructed starting on August 13, 1961 starting on August 13, 1961 and dismantled in the weeks and dismantled in the weeks following November 9, 1989. following November 9, 1989.

• The Berlin Wall was the most The Berlin Wall was the most prominent part of the GDR prominent part of the GDR border system. border system.

• The wall was a long The wall was a long separation barrier between separation barrier between West Berlin and East West Berlin and East Germany (the German Germany (the German Democratic Republic), which Democratic Republic), which closed the border between closed the border between East and West Berlin for a East and West Berlin for a period of 28 years. period of 28 years.

The Reasons for the WallThe Reasons for the Wall

• West Germany prospered West Germany prospered through assistance from through assistance from the westthe west

• East Germany was East Germany was hindered by reparations hindered by reparations paid to the Soviet Unionpaid to the Soviet Union

• The Soviet Union also The Soviet Union also liquidated many of their liquidated many of their industries further industries further hindering their progresshindering their progress

Why a Wall?Why a Wall?

• The wall was built in an effort The wall was built in an effort to stop the drain of labour to stop the drain of labour and economic output and economic output associated with the daily associated with the daily migration of huge numbers of migration of huge numbers of professionals and skilled professionals and skilled workers from East to West workers from East to West BerlinBerlin

• There were also many There were also many defections, which had defections, which had political and economic political and economic consequences for the consequences for the Communist bloc. Communist bloc.

• The Wall itself effectively The Wall itself effectively decreased emigration from decreased emigration from 2.5 million between 1949 and 2.5 million between 1949 and 1962 to 5,000 between 1962 1962 to 5,000 between 1962 and 1989.and 1989.

Escapes!Escapes!• The creation of the Wall The creation of the Wall

was a propaganda was a propaganda disaster for East disaster for East Germany and for the Germany and for the communist bloc communist bloc

• It became a key symbol It became a key symbol of what Western powers of what Western powers regarded as Communist regarded as Communist tyranny, particularly tyranny, particularly after the high-profile after the high-profile shootings of would-be shootings of would-be defectors. defectors.

• Many dies trying to Many dies trying to escape East Germany escape East Germany and many more went to and many more went to prison if they were prison if they were caughtcaught

Modifications to the WallModifications to the Wall

• The Wall was over 155 km (96 miles) The Wall was over 155 km (96 miles) long. long.

• In June 1962, work started on a second In June 1962, work started on a second parallel fence up to 91 meters (100 parallel fence up to 91 meters (100 yards) further in, with houses in between yards) further in, with houses in between the fences torn down and their the fences torn down and their inhabitants relocated. inhabitants relocated.

• A no man's land was created between A no man's land was created between the two barriers, which became widely the two barriers, which became widely known as the "death strip". It was paved known as the "death strip". It was paved with raked gravel, making it easy to spot with raked gravel, making it easy to spot footprints left by escapees; it offered no footprints left by escapees; it offered no cover; it was mined and booby-trapped cover; it was mined and booby-trapped with tripwires; and, most importantly, it with tripwires; and, most importantly, it offered a clear field of fire to the offered a clear field of fire to the watching guards.watching guards.

• Over the years, the Wall went through Over the years, the Wall went through four distinct phases:four distinct phases:- Basic wire fence (1961) - Basic wire fence (1961) - Improved wire fence (1962-1965) - Improved wire fence (1962-1965) - Concrete wall (1965-1975) - Concrete wall (1965-1975) - Grenzmauer 75- Grenzmauer 75 (Border Wall 75) (1975- (Border Wall 75) (1975-

1989) 1989)

Life Behind the WallLife Behind the Wall

• Life changed Life changed dramatically for the dramatically for the people of Berlinpeople of Berlin

• Entire families were cut Entire families were cut off from one anotheroff from one another

• Many died trying to Many died trying to escape to the westescape to the west

• Travel between the two Travel between the two side was very difficultside was very difficult

Images- Yesterday and Images- Yesterday and TodayToday

Guard PostsGuard Posts

Checkpoint CharlieCheckpoint Charlie

The Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall

Questions!Questions!

Why would the United States take this Why would the United States take this approach regarding Europe following approach regarding Europe following the conclusion of WWII?the conclusion of WWII?Why would the Soviet Union decide to Why would the Soviet Union decide to make their stand in Berlin?make their stand in Berlin?Are these moves aggressive?Are these moves aggressive?Is this where the Cold War began?Is this where the Cold War began?