Why did Stalin blockade Berlin?

How did the United States respond, and what resulted?

In 1948, Stalin was upset with the 'occupational zones' (Soviet east zone - US,UK,French west zone) set up in Berlin. He expected that blockading the city from western supplies would cause the western Allies to give Soviet's control of the city. The U.S refused, and the Berlin Airlift ensued, in which allied bombers flew over 600 tons of food a day into Berlin, the Soviets soon saw the blockade wasn't working, and lifted it, after being publicly humiliated over the total failure of the blockade.

Answered by Tails | 2024-06-10

Stalin blockaded Berlin in June 1948 to force the Allies to abandon the city, but the U.S. responded with the Berlin Airlift, supplying the West with food and goods. After nearly a year of airlifts, Stalin lifted the blockade in May 1949, leading to the division of Germany into East and West. This incident cemented the Cold War divide and highlighted the conflict between the Soviet Union and the West.
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Answered by Tails | 2024-12-23