Berlin Blockade / Airlift

Cost of the Berlin Airlift

$350 million (at the time).

Soviet military forces around Berlin

1.5 million troops

Food required each day

2000 tons

Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota

A military aircraft developed designed to carry huge loads.

The Iron Curtain

A term coined by Winston Churchill to describe the countries in Eastern Europe who had been occupied by the USSR after WWII and then turned Communist.

Berlin Wall

A wall built in 1961 by the East Berlin Government to stop people escaping to West Germany through Berlin.

Containment

American policy to stop the spread of communism by helping others nations stand strong against the "communist threat".

Communism

An economic system where everyone has their fruit bursts taken off them and then they are evenly distributed. In many countries with this system some people get give extra fruit bursts if they are favoured by the Government.

Capitalism

An economic system where people take risks to earn more fruit bursts and everyone gets to keep what they earn. There is often a big difference between those who have lots and those who have a few or none.

Fuel and coal required each day

Around 4000 tons

General Lucius Clay

Clay orchestrated the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949) when the USSR blockaded West Berlin.

"The West"

Defines the group of allies led by the USA who were capitalist and democratic.

Division of Germany and Berlin end WWII

Germany and Berlin were divided among the four major Allied powers - U.S., Great Britain, France, USSR.

Federal German Republic

In May 23, 1949, this country was established - popularly known as West Germany This action marked the effective end to any discussion of reuniting East and West Germany.

Berlin Blockade

June 24, 1948 - May 12, 1949 Initiated by Joseph Stalin One of the first major international crises of the Cold War.

Berlin Airlift

Lasted 318 days (June 26, 1948 - May 12, 1949) During this time, 275,000 planes transported 1.5 million tons of supplies and a plane landed every three minutes at Berlin's Templehof airport.

Why did the Soviets blockade West Berlin?

The blockade was an attempt in 1948 by the Soviet Union to limit the ability of France, Great Britain, and the US to travel to their sectors of Berlin, which lay within Russian-occupied East Germany.

Soviet Bloc

The group of countries that were led by the USSR who were communist.

The Western Allies wanted WHAT from Germany?

They wanted a strong Germany as an ally against the Soviet Union

The Soviets wanted WHAT from Germany?

They wanted a weak Germany having fought them during both World Wars

German Democratic Republic

This country was established on October 7, 1949 in response to West Germany. Also known as East Germany.

"Candy Bomber"

US pilot who threw candy out the plane to the local children in West Berlin.