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.

Iron Curtain Separates Europe

1. What is your overall impression of Source 26 (p. 70) and use extracts from the source to support your view. (No fence sitting; you must choose one but not both)      

• a reasonable assessment of Stalin’s aims based on the facts
• an overreaction to Stalin’s actions based on fear of and prejudice towards the USSR?        
I would say that Source 26  is a reasonable assessment of Stalin's aims based on the facts. This is because within the quote, "...not only is the Soviet Government not prepared to co-operate with any non-Communist controlled government in eastern Europe, but it is actively preparing to extend its hold over the remaining part of continental Europe...." the British Foreign Secretary is looking at what the USSR has chosen to do and is planning to do, he is looking at the facts and making a logical assumption that the Soviet Union plans to keep spreading communism over the world. He doesn't appear to hold too much prejudice, and he even admits that the USSR could potentially be successful in the quote, "The immensity of the aim should not betray us into believing that it cannot be achieved. Basically, source 26 was somewhat objective and just appeared to analyze the facts at hand rather than overreact due to prejudice. 
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?      
Yes it seems likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government because both Britain and the U.S. at this point realized Stalin was in it to win it, and wasn't planning to back down against non-communist governments. So, reports such as this would most likely be being delivered often in both the United States and Britain to the cabinets. 
3. Study Source 27 (p. 71) and make a list of three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe. Explain how each factor helped.     

1. Communists adapted a left-wing coalition government and exiled a non-communist leader in Poland. This non-communist leader would help enforce communism in Poland, and the coalition government would make it seem like the Soviet communists would run for elections, but then they'd just take over. 
2. Communists rid of of the monarchy in Romania and made a communist into Prime Minister there. This was a continuation of what the USSR had been doing to other countries in eastern Europe: eradicating any other government and implementing communism. 
3. Banned other parties after election in Czechoslovakia and made it a one-party state. This was another example of how the USSR would have "elections" where the left-wing coalition would win, and then just use that to take over the country and enforce communism. One the USSR made Czechoslovakia a one-party state, elections were no more, and communism was the dominant government. 

Basically all three of these actions spread communism throughout eastern Europe and rid of any opposing governments that might've threatened their power.

America Enters World War II

1. What impact did the outbreak of war in Europe have on U.S. foreign and defense policy?   
As the outbreak of war in Europe continued, Roosevelt began to address Congress with acts that would demand an increase in national defense funding, and an increase in funding and shipping to foreign countries, namely Britain. This is because he saw a foreshadowed war and began to prepare for it, despite the "neutrality" of the United States. The outbreak of war in Europe caused the U.S. foreign and defense policy to become less neutral. 
2. Why did Roosevelt take one “unneutral” step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941?    
Roosevelt took one "unneutral" step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941 because he didn't want to explicitly declare the war that he knew was inevitable; he wanted to ease the United States into a supportive war mode but didn't want to enrage the isolationists in America, so he kept his actions subtle. The Soviet Union had then become an enemy of Hitler, which therefore made it a temporary friend of the U.S. Britain also agreed that Hitler and his power-hungry Germany needed to be stopped, so Roosevelt did what he could to help both Britain and the Soviet Union out without declaring war. 

3. Why was the Atlantic Charter important?   
The Atlantic Charter was important because it pledged a joint declaration of war aims between Britain and the United States. Also, it ended up forming the basis of the document United Nations, which essentially expressed the common purpose of the Allies in the war.
4. Why did the United States enter into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941?   
The United States entered into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941 because German U-boats continually were sinking U.S. ships, and Roosevelt didn't want to declare war just yet. The Senate, as a result of this undeclared shooting war, ended up repealing the ban against arming merchant ships.
5. How was oil a source of conflict between Japan and the United States?   
Oil was a source of conflict between Japan and the United States because Japan needed it to fuel its war machine but the United States had cut off oil trade with Japan because Japan was becoming more aggressive and taking over French military bases. 
6. What problem would the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt? What new problems would it create?  
The problem the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solved for Roosevelt was his struggle to get full support of his country in declaring war, the attack gave him a perfect reason to do so. But, the attack did have brutal damage on the U.S.'s Pacific navy, and the United States was being attacked on both fronts now. Roosevelt had to face this challenge, with both naval losses and a now distraught country. 

Dictators Threaten World Peace

1. Why did the new democracies set up after World War I fail? (And yes, I am aware the answer is in the reading so make sure your answer is in your own words.)      
The new democracies set up after World War I failed because democracy wasn't something that had been that common, and so countries didn't really know how to go about it: lack of "democratic tradition". So in order to solve their problems, countries looked to authoritarian figures instead. Thus, the attempted democracies failed and dictators arose.

2. What are the characteristics of a totalitarian state?     
The characteristics of a totalitarian state are: has government that completely controls the citizens, individuals have no rights, and the government quells all opposition.

3. What factors led to the rise of Fascism in Italy?     
The factors that led to the rise of Fascism in Italy are: inflation and unemployment caused strikes, the demands of middle and upper classes for leadership, and Mussolini's support won by his persuasiveness based on the public's worries for their economy and government.

4. What were the key ideas and goals that Hitler presented in Mein Kampf ?      
The key ideas and goals that Hitler presented in Mein Kampf are: the main beliefs of nazism, racial purification, and national expansion.

5. Why did Japan invade Manchuria?     
Japan invaded Manchuria because they desired more living space for their increasing population.

6. What foreign countries were involved in the Spanish Civil War?     
The foreign countries that were involved in the Spanish Civil War were Germany, Italy, Ethiopia (African Americans angry about Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia), America (Abraham Lincoln Battalion), and the Soviet Union.

7. What factors contributed to America's growing isolationism?      
An onslaught of books accusing bankers and arms dealers of bringing the U.S. into WWI was a large factor of isolationism in America. People began to become very antiwar, believing that it was just for the benefit of  these "merchants of death". Roosevelt's "Quarantine Speech" also caused much protest, as some people believed Roosevelt was trying to drag them into another war.