Berlin Blockade Document Analysis

Document Analysis

1. What type of document is this? What is its purpose?      
This document is a memorandum, or a written message. It's purpose is to inform the President of Soviet activity. 
2. When was it written? Why is that significant?     
 It was written June 30, 1948. This is significant because it was in the midst of the Cold War, where there were extremely high tensions between Truman and the USSR. 



3. Who created the document? Who received the document?     

 The director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), R. H. Hillenkoetter, created the document. President Truman received the document. 



4. Who is Marshal Sokolovsky?     

 Marshal Sokolovsky was the head of the Russian officials in the meeting between them and German members of the German industrial committee which took place in Karlshorst on June 28, 1948.



5. How did the CIA get information of the meeting between Marshal Sokolovsky and German members of the German industrial committee?      

 The CIA got information of the meeting between Marshal Sokolovsky and the German members of the German industrial committee from a spy that they put in Berlin.

  
6. What were the three Soviet alternatives as they presented themselves when this document was written? What policy did the Soviets pursue over the course of the next nine months? Why?   

The three soviet alternatives as they presented themselves when this document was written were: start a war, lift the travel restrictions at Berlin, and leave all of Berlin to the West, giving them the rail  line. The policy that the Soviets pursued over the course of the next nine months was to maintain the blockade because they didn't want to lose face by lifting the blockade, they weren't able to sustain another war, and because they didn't want to just give Berlin to the West.

Homework


7. Stalin stated in a speech on February 9, 1946, "he [Stalin] blamed the last war on 'capitalist monopolies' and warning that, since the same forces still operated, the USSR must treble the basic materials of national defense such as iron and steel, double coal and oil production, and to delay the manufacture of consumer goods until rearmament was complete." Who are the "capitalist monopolies?" How does this statement enlighten the Soviet viewpoint against the United States? Were the Allies justified in canceling the shipments of German reparations to the Soviets at the end of World War II? Why did the Soviets rely so heavily on Germany for food and industry?        

The "capitalist monopolies" are France, Britain, and the U.S. This statement enlightens the Soviet viewpoint against the United States because it shows that that the Soviets viewed the United States as almost tyrannical capitalists that were just in it for the money. Yes, the Allies were justified in canceling the shipments of German reparations to the Soviets at the end of World War II because they didn't want to repeat the Treaty of Versailles, which didn't work the first time. The Soviets relied so heavily on German for food and industry because Russia was having heavy droughts, and they were dependent on German supplies during that time of year.

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift

1. What is Source 37 (p. 75) saying about Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia?     
Source 37 is saying that Josip Tito was being sneaky and financially mooching off the U.S. and thus betraying the Communist part that had been set up by Stalin in eastern Europe.

2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?        
I think Stalin was so hostile towards Tito because he was the source of  the only internal resistance Stalin faced in eastern Europe, aside from the allies in Berlin. Tito resisted Stalin's domination in Yugoslavia his whole life.

3. Look back at the map in Source 27 on page 71. How does the geographical position of Yugoslavia help to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito?     
The geographical position of Yugoslavia helps to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito because it was on the border of the "iron curtain," meaning it was closer to western Europe which was under the control of Britain, France, and the U.S. If Stalin sent in troops there, the Allies might've mistaken it for a preparation for war, and helped support Tito in Yugoslavia, as well as attack back. 

4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?       
The reasons the Soviet Union gave for cutting off West Berlin were technical difficulties and shortage of coal.
5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?           
I think the U.S.A. did not believe these were genuine reasons because the Soviets wouldn't allow in any goods from the USA at all, and hostilities between the Soviets and the U.S. had been getting worse, as they obviously wanted Berlin to themselves.

6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?            
Source 41 makes it seem as if the blockade was pointless in regards to the gains of the U.S and the USSR, while Source 42 expresses the idea that the blockade allowed for a demonstration of loyalty by the U.S. towards the people of Europe, and Source 43 basically says that there were high tensions and lots of anti-Soviet feelings going around in the U.S., thus they were on the brink of war, while the people in Berlin were being quite negatively affected by the blockade itself. Source 43 also makes it seem as if the USSR conducted itself in such a way that prevented war.

7.  Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?       
I'd say source 42, as it explains what the U.S. really achieved during the blockade.

8.  Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?      

Source 41, as it is the most objective out of the three sources, considering Source 42 is a speech by Truman, and Source 43 is a commentary from a Soviet.