Showing posts with label Berlin Blockade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Berlin Blockade. Show all posts
Monday, May 7, 2012
Berlin Blockade Document Analysis
1. What type of document is this? What is its purpose?
Source A and Source B are both government reports from the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) to President Truman. The purpose of the documents are to mention to the president the possible threat they could be facing from the Soviets and what options are available for them to take.
2. When was it written? Why is that significant?
The documents were written on June 30, 1948. The date the documents were written is significant because the reports were written during the time of the events taking place between the Soviets and America. Source A, was written 2 days after the conference held in Karlshorst, between Russian officials and members of the German industrial committee. Source B, was written 7 days after the justice administration of the Soviet Zone issued a directive on the judicial measures to be taken in connection with currency reform.
3. Who created the document? Who received the document?
The documents were created by the Director of Central Intelligence, R.H Hillenkoetter and were received by president Truman.
4. Who is Marshal Sokolovsky?
Marshal Sokolovsky was a Russian official who led the other Russian officials at the conference in Karlshorst. Sokolovsky was the one who stated the three possibilities the Soviets could take in regards to the United States including; starting a war, lift travel restrictions in Berlin, or leave Berlin to the West.
5. How did the CIA get information of the meeting between Marshal Sokolovsky and German members of the German industrial committee?
The CIA got their information of the meeting between Marshal Sokolovsky and German members of the German industrial committee from a spy, a trusted comrade to the United States who obtained information from the conference and reported it back to U.S officials.
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; to start a war with the U.S, lift travel restriction on Berlin, or leave Berlin entirely to the West, giving them the rail line. The Soviets knew war was impossible due to bad harvest prospects. They didn't want to lift travel restrictions on Berlin because they thought that would make the Russians loose control. Therefore, the Soviets figured the West could feed all of Berlin. Tulpanov, stated that 2,000 tons of food would be needed daily in order to feed the Germans in the Western sectors.
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 cancelling 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 the enemies of Stalin; the U.S.A, Britain, and France. This statement enlightens the Soviet viewpoint against the United States because it exemplifies the Soviet viewpoint that the United States was their enemy even though they were supposed Allies. The Allies were justified in cancelling the shipments of German reparations to the Soviets at the end of World War II because they were preventing war with the Soviet Union and reducing communist threat to the U.S. After the war, the Soviets needed iron, steel, coal, and oil to build up their troops and their defense. The soviets relied so heavily on Germany for food and industry because Germany was able to produce more amounts of food and supplies due to Germany's industrial advantages. They had industries that the Soviets didn't have, which made the Soviets rely on Germany for food and industry.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift
1. What is Source 37 (p. 75) saying about Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia?
2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?
Stalin was so hostile to Tito because Yugoslavia was the only country who refused to follow Stalin's direction and resist aid from the United States. Therefore, Tito loosened Stalin's control over Yugoslavia, focusing Stalin's attention on making sure other countries didn't follow Tito's path. Stalin kept up an ongoing propaganda war with Tito.
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. Yugoslavia is on the far edge of the European countries and is far away from the Soviet Union. Also, Greece is boarding Yugoslavia and Stalin knew Greece was being protected from both Britain and the United States, therefore, he didn't want to risk getting into a conflict.
4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?
The Soviet Union stated that technical difficulties made them cut off West Berlin. They also stated that there was a shortage of coal, therefore, they needed to disrupt electrical power from Soviet power plants to the Western sectors.
5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?
6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?
Source 41 states that neither side gained any advantage from the blockade. The Soviets did not gain control of Berlin, and the West had no guarantees that there would not be another blockade. Historian Jack Watson states that the blockage only made both sides more stubborn. Source 42 demonstrates the commitment the US had in Berlin refusing to leave the city. Truman states how the Truman Doctrine brought the people of Western Europe closer to the US politically. Truman says that the blockade was a test of US ability to resist communism. However, Source 43 states that the US planned to help Berlin to as a war plan against communism. Source 43 says that the United States were forced to yelid at Berlin because of the conduct of the U.S.S.R.
7. Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?
I think the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade is Source 41. Source 41 is most useful because it is written by a historian who is retelling the outcome of the blockage without taking a side. The other two sources are either from the Soviet view of the American view, therefore, the two sources could be a little biased favoring their side.
8. Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?
I think Source 41 gives the most reliable view of the blockade because it isn't favoring either side, only stating the facts and the outcome of the blockage. Neither side gained any advantage from the blockage. Both Source 42 and 43 could be limited because they are written from either the Soviet or American view. Truman is trying to make the Untied States sound superior to the Soviet Union while Source 43 is trying to make the US sound weak saying that they were forced to yield at Berlin due to actions taken by the Soviets. Source 44 gives you a picture of American aid to Berlin but it could be staged to make the US look better. Overall, I think Source 41 gives the most reliable view of the blockade since it is written by a historian who isn't taking sides.
Source 37 is depicting Josip Tito as a traitor to the Communist party. He is shown accepting money from the U.S through the American policy of Marshall Aid, which Stalin was against. He is depicted wearing a cloak labeled Judas, who was famously known for betraying Jesus.
2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?
Stalin was so hostile to Tito because Yugoslavia was the only country who refused to follow Stalin's direction and resist aid from the United States. Therefore, Tito loosened Stalin's control over Yugoslavia, focusing Stalin's attention on making sure other countries didn't follow Tito's path. Stalin kept up an ongoing propaganda war with Tito.
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. Yugoslavia is on the far edge of the European countries and is far away from the Soviet Union. Also, Greece is boarding Yugoslavia and Stalin knew Greece was being protected from both Britain and the United States, therefore, he didn't want to risk getting into a conflict.
4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?
The Soviet Union stated that technical difficulties made them cut off West Berlin. They also stated that there was a shortage of coal, therefore, they needed to disrupt electrical power from Soviet power plants to the Western sectors.
5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?
The USA did not believe these were genuine reasons because they knew Stalin was trying to gain control of the Eastern European countries without completely breaking their alliance with the US. They saw Berlin as a test case and were not willing to give up. They knew a coal shortage was just an excuse and not a genuine reason for cutting off supplies and food for 2 million people. The United States knew this was just one of Stalin's plans to make Berlin entirely dependent on the Soviets.
6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?
Source 41 states that neither side gained any advantage from the blockade. The Soviets did not gain control of Berlin, and the West had no guarantees that there would not be another blockade. Historian Jack Watson states that the blockage only made both sides more stubborn. Source 42 demonstrates the commitment the US had in Berlin refusing to leave the city. Truman states how the Truman Doctrine brought the people of Western Europe closer to the US politically. Truman says that the blockade was a test of US ability to resist communism. However, Source 43 states that the US planned to help Berlin to as a war plan against communism. Source 43 says that the United States were forced to yelid at Berlin because of the conduct of the U.S.S.R.
7. Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?
I think the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade is Source 41. Source 41 is most useful because it is written by a historian who is retelling the outcome of the blockage without taking a side. The other two sources are either from the Soviet view of the American view, therefore, the two sources could be a little biased favoring their side.
8. Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?
I think Source 41 gives the most reliable view of the blockade because it isn't favoring either side, only stating the facts and the outcome of the blockage. Neither side gained any advantage from the blockage. Both Source 42 and 43 could be limited because they are written from either the Soviet or American view. Truman is trying to make the Untied States sound superior to the Soviet Union while Source 43 is trying to make the US sound weak saying that they were forced to yield at Berlin due to actions taken by the Soviets. Source 44 gives you a picture of American aid to Berlin but it could be staged to make the US look better. Overall, I think Source 41 gives the most reliable view of the blockade since it is written by a historian who isn't taking sides.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)