Berlin Blokade, 1 Country 2 Sides

Berlin Blokade is an incident that Soviet Union cuts all railroads and roadways to Berlin to brandish west allied powers. To understand how Soviet Union has power over Berlin and why they did this, we need to look at end of the II. World War.

After World War II, Germany divided into 4 pieces between France, United States of America, United Kingdom and Soviet Union. Soviet’s was at east and Allied Power’s were at west. However, despite their hostile attitude towards Germany, they were not so kind to each other. Western part were capitalist, especially USA was liberal. They were supporting free market. For this goal, western part of Germany took support from these countries, like Marshall Plan, and developed their economy day by day. In addition with their connections with Europe they could make commerce easily. Their economy increased dramatically between 1950 and 1960. Also Western part was more liveable. They had free press, diverse market; salary per person was higher, they could criticize government easily, they had freedom of speech. Basically more democratic.

While western part was living with these good conditions eastern part was a bit different. With Soviet Union’s communist politics, even though they were dependent to western part, their economy grew expeditiously. Economy was controlled by government, so market was not free like western part. Also unemployment was very low. Despite this great economy, people did not want to live at East Germany because they were not democratic as West Germany. They could not travel when they want, diversity of market was very low, salary per person was low, Stasi, government agents, were always listening and they couldn’t reach western trends.

Berlin, today the capital of Germany, was at East Germany. However, Berlin was also divided just like whole Germany between same countries. With 3.5 million population Berlin was very important city. In addition because of this division Berlin was like an island dependent to west but located at east.

Right after division West Germany changed their currency, because old Nazi currency was not worth much and this increased black marketing. In 1948 Germany’s official currency was Deutsche Mark. It helped West Germany to make their economy more stable after war. Production increased, economy started to fix. After this reform Germany’s economy started to grow quickly. However Soviet Union and naturally East Germany did not like this reform because despite of Berlin’s location, West Berlin started to use this currency too and this growing was threatening them. However, main reason made Soviet Union mad was because of this economic development, people started to travel to West Berlin to reach better life standards. Berlin borders were least controlled part, so people started to first go to East Berlin, then go to West Berlin, finally travel to West Germany. So Soviets make a decision and cut all roads and railways to East Berlin to isolate them and make West Berlin to surrender in addition to make west block to withdraw.

This blockade really reduce travelling but because of this blockade people at West Berlin started to suffering from famine. When blockade started, they only had food for 38 days and coal for 45 days. To solve this problem, Western powers started to take food to Berlin with aircrafts. Soviet’s couldn’t shoot planes because that was a war crime and after II. World War nobody wants to wage a war.

At first, planes were transport less amounts because that was an expensive operation and West block thought that blockade won’t be so long. However they increased amounts of supplies when Soviet’s won’t step back. They were transporting: food, coal, medicine, milk, fuel... These were vital needs but some American soldiers threw candies while flying for kids. This was one of the unforgettable incident through blockade.

After 1 year of airlift operations Soviets finally lift the blockade. This was huge for west block because besides saving Berlin also West block’s political power grew bigger. After lifting blockade everything was like before the blockade. Especially younger and qualified ones went to West Germany from West Berlin. So after 12 years, Soviet’s made another move.

At August 13, 1961 a wall in middle of Berlin was constructed by East Germany. At first that was only a spiked wire and soldiers but as the time passes people start to find new ways to escape. So that wires evolved into high concrete walls, soldier number increased, watchtowers built and even mines placed. Families separated because of this ‘iron curtain’. 140-250 people died while trying to escape after these precautions.

At 1989 Soviet’s power over Europe begun to weaken. So East Germany governments power started to weaken too. People at East Germany were protesting against government to take their transportation right back. Protests were started to grow stronger. Mikhail Gorbachev, president of Soviet’s, were more soft towards Europe. So at his period he decided to weaken travel politics. However at press release he talked like borders are opening completely.

At November 9 1989, same night as press release, people run to the wall. Soldiers couldn’t do anything because that will be escalate violence. People started to climb to wall, breaking it with tools or even with their bare hands. After that day walls were invalid. Families come together.

Berlin Blocade was one of the worst incidents that happen at history to bully a civil group with authority. Just power fights seperate friends families and lives. However I think German people proved that borders doesnt matter when there is an abuse of rights.