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Berlin Blockade Facts
for kids: Definition of Blockade
Definition of Blockade: A Blockade is the hostile act
of sealing off and isolating a place, such as a city, to prevent
people or goods from entering or leaving. A Blockade is designed to
obstruct commerce, transportation and communications.
Berlin Blockade Facts
for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting information, history and
facts on Berlin Blockade for kids.
Berlin Blockade
Facts for kids
Berlin Blockade
Facts - 1: At the end of
World War 2, on June, 5 1945, The Allied Control Council
(ACC), with representatives from each of the Allied
powers, announced the division of Germany.
Berlin Blockade
Facts - 2: Germany was split
into four zones of occupation (the Soviet Union, the
United States, Great Britain and France) and split
between the two blocs as communist controlled Eastern
Germany and democratic Western Germany.
Berlin Blockade
Facts - 3: Following WW2 a
period of "non-hostile belligerency", referred to as
The Cold War,
evolved primarily between the USA and the USSR
Berlin Blockade
Facts - 4: The "Iron Curtain"
was the term that was used to describe the boundary that separated
the communist dominated countries of the East and the free
democratic countries of the West
Berlin Blockade
Facts -
5: Berlin was the
capital of Germany and lay in the Soviet (eastern)
sector of Germany and was also divided into the four
zones.
Berlin Blockade
Facts - 6: The city of Berlin, divided by
four zones of occupation, was located 100 miles (160 km) inside
Soviet-controlled eastern Germany (see map).
Berlin Blockade
Facts - 7: One railroad and one highway
and were set aside for Western use. The Allied Control Council (ACC)
also approved three, 20 mile wide, air corridors from Hamburg,
Buckeburg and Frankfurt which secured Western access to Berlin.
Berlin Blockade
Facts - 8: The Americans and the British
tried to restore German prosperity in their sectors, but the
Russians systematically looted their zone
Berlin Blockade
Facts - 9: In January 1947, the British
and the Americans joined their two zones together to help kickstart
German industry. They called the new zone Bi-zonia meaning ‘two
zones’).
Berlin Blockade
Facts - 10: Disputes continued
over German war reparations and tensions between the
Soviets and Americans escalated with the
Truman Doctrine on March
27, 1947 followed by the
Marshall Plan a US-financed relief package that
includes $1,390,600 worth of aid to Germany..
Continued...
Berlin Blockade
Facts for kids
Facts
about the Berlin Blockade Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with interesting information, history and facts
on Berlin Blockade for kids.
Berlin Blockade
Facts for kids
Facts - 11:
Pressure mounts in
the city in April 1947 as Russia imposes a PARTIAL
blockade of the city. Allied transport into the city has
to apply for a permit and the USSR demand to inspect all
western trains going into the city.
Facts - 12:
In June 1948
America, Britain and France united their zones into the
new country of West Germany and announced plans for a
new deutschmark to replace the former, worthless German
currency. The new currency caused economic chaos in the
Russian zone as East Germans clamored to get rid of
their old money and change to the new currency
Facts -
13: On June 23, 1948
the Soviets cut power to West Berlin and then begin a
full blockade of the city and all road, rail, tunnels
and water access by barges from the Western zones to
Berlin is stopped.
Facts - 14:
The Berlin blockade by the
Soviets leaves the western half of the city in a perilous position
as it is estimated that there is only enough food for 36 days. There
were 2 million west Berliners. Military forces in the western
sectors of the city numbered 8,973 Americans, 7,606 British and
6,100 French.
Facts - 15:
All the entry points to the
Western zones of Berlin by road and rail were blocked as the Soviets
attempted to starve the Western allies out of the capital and
abandon the city.
Facts - 16:
The US and the British
responded to the blockade by supplying the western part of the city
by air. The Berlin Airlift supplied
vital necessities by aircraft to Templehof airport for 318 days,
from June 1948 to September 1949 to keep West
Berlin alive and functioning.
Facts - 17:
The situation in the city,
referred to as the Berlin Crisis, brought the United States and USSR
to the brink of war.
Facts - 18:
On 12 May 1949, Joseph Stalin
abandoned the blockade of the city.
Berlin Blockade
Facts for kids
Berlin Blockade - President Harry Truman Video
The article on the
Berlin Blockade provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
Harry Truman video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 33rd American President whose presidency spanned from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953.
Berlin Blockade
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Interesting Facts about Berlin Blockade for kids and schools
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Summary and Definition of the Berlin Blockade in US history
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Berlin Blockade Facts with important dates and key
events
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Berlin Blockade Facts with important dates and key
events
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Fast, fun, interesting
facts about Berlin Blockade
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Foreign & Domestic
policy of President Truman
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