Activity 1 - What caused the Blockade?

  1. Review - Read and make notes from the Lesson Presentation and from pages 38-45 of Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, on the causes of the Berlin Blockade.
  2. Recall - What decisions were taken at Yalta and Potsdam regarding Germany? Review the following sources to help you make a list of the key decisions made about Germany by the Allies during the war:
    1. 1944 - September 12 - Protocol on Zones of Occupation and the Administration of Greater Berlin
    2. 1945 - February 11 - Excerpts from the Protocol of the Proceedings of the Yalta Conference
    3. 1945 - June 5 - Statement by the UK, USA, USSR, FR on Control Machinery in Germany 
    4. 1945 - August 2 - Excerpts from the Report on the Potsdam Conference Agreement
  3. Examine - In 1946, Secretary of State James F Byrnes gave a speech in Stuttgart, known as the 'Speech of Hope'. You can find a full text of the speech here. 
    1. What is the tone of this speech regarding US actions towards Germany? 
    2. What promises does he make the Germans? 
    3. Why might the Soviets feel uneasy about this speech?
  4. Analysis - Read the statement by Vassili Sokolovsky, Soviet Marshal, from 1948 on the reasons for Soviet withdrawal from the Allied Control Council:
    1. Who does the source blame for the breakdown in relations between the four occupying powers? When did this occur?
    2. To what extent do you agree with the assertion that the allies are 'destroying' the Allied Controlled Council?
  5. Discuss - From what you have learnt about the Berlin Blockade, who do you think was responsible for causing the crisis?

Activity 2 - What occurred during the crisis?

  1. Record - Complete this timeline worksheet by making notes on what happened during the Berlin Blockade, using this interaction newsfeed for information. Notes will only appear for a limited amount of time. Make notes against the clock!
  2. Watch - Watch Episode 4 from the CNN series ‘The Cold War’. As you watch, take notes on the causes, what happened, and impact of the Berlin Blockade. Try to answers these questions with your notes:
    1. How did the post war settlement affect the Berlin Crisis?
    2. Who was responsible for the tension?
    3. Why did Stalin take the choice he did?
    4. What does the US response highlight?
    5. How would this be interpreted by Orthodox / Revisionist / Post Revisionist historians?
  3. Review - Review the video clips about Operation Vittles from the Berlin Blockade section of this website. What does each video tell you about what happened during the Blockade?

Activity 3 - What was the impact?

  1. Research - Using the resources and further reading suggestions from today, explore and find out more about the impact of the Berlin Blockade on:
    1. Germany
    2. USA/UK
    3. Europe
    4. The Cold War
  2. Discuss - To what extent did the Berlin Blockade trigger the Cold War? Or had it already started?

Further Reading

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, pp. 38-45
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, pp. 36-41
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
  1. Williamson, D.G. (2015). Access to History - The Cold War, pp. 47-50
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