Berlin Blockade, 1948
- Began with currency reforms in West Germany
- Russians block the transportation routes into Berlin
- Allies had to decide to give up Berlin or make other plans
- War was an option
- could give up if they wanted, but they didn't
The Berlin Airlift, 1948
- Instead the US decided on a massive airlift to supply the western half of the city
- One aircraft lands every two minutes for fifteen months
- It became a public relations victory and a show of US industrial might
- Example of the Truman Doctrine
- One cause for the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 1949
- was a big slap to the face to the communist side because the democratic people were still living better than them even though everything was being shipped in
Summary
The Russian military creates a blockade, beginning with currency reforms in West Germany as well as blocking off transportation routes through Berlin. The United States chooses to help Berlin by sending in many aircrafts in order to supply the city. This proved that democracy was the better method as opposed to communism and led to Russia giving up a little more than a year later. This was seen as a victory in public relations and was a successful example of the Truman Doctrine's purpose. This was one of the causes of the formation of NATO.