Berlin Blockade
Assess the importance of the Berlin Blockade as a cause of the Cold War.
The Berlin Blockade was not as important in the causing of the Cold War as compared to more significant events like that of the overarching German Question, instances of Soviet aggression in Manchuria and Iran, Kennan’s Long Telegram of February 1946, the Marshall Plan of June 1947 and the entry of West Germany into NATO in 1955. The Berlin Blockade is merely seen as a subset of the umbrella German Question and a mere reflection of the divide between the US and the Soviets, especially because the division of Germany into different zones controlled by the different powers coupled with the different postwar aims was a clear indication of the division within Europe which began long before the Berlin Blockade.
The German Question was the main overarching issue which birthed the division of Germany and Berlin into four different zones to be occupies by the British, Americans, French and the Soviets. However, more importantly was the differing postwar aims between the powers, but most significantly the Americans and the Soviets. The Soviets wanted to impose Carthaginian peace on Germany so as to ensure that it would not pose a threat once again. The Soviets main postwar aim was to first rebuild their country and economy, which had undoubtedly suffered the most losses during the war – which was also acknowledged by the other three powers who had agreed to allowing the USSR to take reparations from their zones as well. Stalin’s solution to the rebuilding of his economy was the economic exploitation of Germany, secondary was his want to rebuild the European economy. The Americans on the other hand, saw the rebuilding of the European economy as paramount to the recovery of the region. What angered the Soviets however, was the change in tune of American endorsement, of which they had first endorsed the Morgenthau Plan in 1944 which agreed on the deindustrialization and pastoralization of Germany but
The Berlin Blockade was not as important in the causing of the Cold War as compared to more significant events like that of the overarching German Question, instances of Soviet aggression in Manchuria and Iran, Kennan’s Long Telegram of February 1946, the Marshall Plan of June 1947 and the entry of West Germany into NATO in 1955. The Berlin Blockade is merely seen as a subset of the umbrella German Question and a mere reflection of the divide between the US and the Soviets, especially because the division of Germany into different zones controlled by the different powers coupled with the different postwar aims was a clear indication of the division within Europe which began long before the Berlin Blockade.
The German Question was the main overarching issue which birthed the division of Germany and Berlin into four different zones to be occupies by the British, Americans, French and the Soviets. However, more importantly was the differing postwar aims between the powers, but most significantly the Americans and the Soviets. The Soviets wanted to impose Carthaginian peace on Germany so as to ensure that it would not pose a threat once again. The Soviets main postwar aim was to first rebuild their country and economy, which had undoubtedly suffered the most losses during the war – which was also acknowledged by the other three powers who had agreed to allowing the USSR to take reparations from their zones as well. Stalin’s solution to the rebuilding of his economy was the economic exploitation of Germany, secondary was his want to rebuild the European economy. The Americans on the other hand, saw the rebuilding of the European economy as paramount to the recovery of the region. What angered the Soviets however, was the change in tune of American endorsement, of which they had first endorsed the Morgenthau Plan in 1944 which agreed on the deindustrialization and pastoralization of Germany but