Britain, France and USA combined their zones in 1948 to form one big zone (West Germany).

They reformed the currency and helped Germany to recover.

Britain and USA wanted to help Germany's industries recover so that it could feed its people.

Stalin wanted Germany kept crippled so he blocked off all supply routes to West Berlin.

Stalin believed that this would make West Germany more dependant on Russia.

If USA rammed blocks this would be seen as an act of war.

America wanted to continue its policy about containment.

Allies airlifted supplies to Berlin for 10 months.

In May 1949 the blockade was cleared.

Both sides claimed victory as USA saw it bringing people of Western Europe closer and demonstrated how they could keep freedom.

USSR saw it as costing USA money and there was no guarantee they would not do it again in the future.

Both sides lost because neither gained anything but it just made them more stubborn and suspicious in the future.

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