The Berlin Blockade, 1948-49
Background:
Germany and her capital city, Berlin, were divided into 4 zones administered by Britain, France, the US and the USSR according to the post-war peace settlement,
The currency reform in the British, French and American zones angered the USSR in 1948. Stalin refused to let the new currency be used throughout Berlin, which was in the Soviet occupation zone.
Stalin decided to keep the Western powers out of Berlin.
Developments:
The USSR cut all the land routes linking Berlin and the Western zones of Germany on June 23, 1948
In response, the US, Britain and France airlifted massive amounts of supplies into West Berlin along three narrow air corridors
The Blockade failed and the USSR reopened the land routes to West Berlin in May, 1949
Significance:
The rivalry between the two blocs intensified, as it was the first direct confrontation between the two blocs.
Germany became a battlefield of the Cold War. Germany was divided into West Germany and the East Germany after the crisis. Later, in 1961, the Berlin wall was built to separate East and West Berlin.
The blockade reminded the two blocs of the need to unite together to deter their rivals. This speeded up the formation of rival military alliances.