GCSE History - USSR and its control in Eastern Europe, Berlin Blockade and Berlin Wall
What was the Berlin Blockade?
The Berlin Blockade was Stalin's attempt to cut off West Berlin - that was in East Germany - from West Germany. He blocked supplies from coming into the city by road and train.
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
To stop people crossing into West Berlin and subsequently West Germany as it was the easiest crossing point.
Which countries airforces contributed to the Berlin airlift?
USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
How many flights were flown in a year during the Berlin Blockade?
200,000
When the wall was standing roughly how many people managed to escape through it successfully?
5,000
Roughly how many tons of necessities and supplies were provided during the airlift?
8,800 tons
During the 1950s what percentage of people who left East Germany to go to West Germany crossed the border in Berlin?
90%
What was the name of the main crossing point between East and West Berlin?
Checkpoint Charlie.
In what year did the Berlin Wall come down?
1989 in November.
What was Stalin hoping to achieve with the Berlin Blockade?
He may have been trying to starve West Berlin into submission.
What reason did Khrushchev give for building the Wall?
He sliding that it was there to prevent spies from entering East Germany easily and stealing documents or observing the USSR's military.
Who was president when the Berlin Wall was built?
JFK
Who was leader of the USSR when the Berlin Wall was built?
Khrushchev
What was another of the aims of building the Berlin Wall?
Khrushchev wanted the Western powers to give West Berlin to the USSR.
Roughly how many people were killed trying to escape through the Berlin Wall?
100
In what year did the Berlin Blockade start?
1948
In what year did the Berlin Blockade end?
1949
In what year was the Berlin Wall built?
1961
Which American president made a speech in 1987 that included the famous phrase, 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this this wall!'
Reagan
What was the response to the Blockade by Western countries?
The Berlin airlift was organised and essential supplies and food were flown into airport in West Berlin from West Germany.
What happened to the British, American and French zones of Germany just before the Berlin Blockade?
They merged together to form a new country - West Germany.
What was the main reason that people wanted to live in West Germany and West Berlin?
They wanted a better quality of life and they could see that people in West Berlin and West Germany had a better standard of life.
Why did the USSR not disrupt the airlift?
They were worried that stopping the airlift would result in open conflict.
