QUESTION 1: HOW DID BERLIN BECOME A FOCAL POINT OF COLD WAR TENSION BETWEEN THE SOVIET UNION (USSR) AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) IN 1948? 1.1 Refer to Source 1A - NSC History - Question 1 - 2023 - Paper 1

According to the source, it was decided at Yalta in February 1945 to create a zone for France in Germany as a recognition of France's significant role in World War II. The Allies acknowledged that France had suffered from invasions and defeats and wanted to involve it in the post-war reconstruction and control of Germany, thereby preventing any single power from dominating the entire region.

The occupying countries had to ensure that Germany could not build up a military force again to prevent future aggression. Their experiences from World War I and World War II informed them that a militarized Germany posed a grave threat to European stability. Thus, measures needed to be in place to disarm Germany and monitor its activities closely, ensuring the peace and security of neighboring countries.

Having the city of Berlin in the Soviet zone had significant implications for Cold War tensions between the USSR and the USA. Berlin was centrally located within East Germany, making it a strategic point for power and influence. The division of Berlin became a symbol of the ideological conflict, with the Soviets aiming to establish communist control, while the USA sought to promote democracy and capitalism. This led to heightened tensions, illustrated by events such as the Berlin Blockade, and represented a broader struggle for supremacy between the two superpowers.

A blockade is a military or political action taken to prevent goods, people, or services from entering or leaving a specific area. It is often used to exert control over a region by isolating it from outside resources or assistance.

The USA regarded the Berlin Blockade as a clear violation of existing agreements because it disrupted the established protocols for governance in Berlin laid out by the Allied powers. The blockade was seen as an aggressive maneuver by the Soviet Union that contradicted the agreed upon cooperative management of Berlin and threatened the stability and security of the occupied territory.

The USA was determined to remain a power in Berlin for several reasons:

1. To ensure that Soviet influence did not spread further into Western Europe.
2. To maintain its position and presence as a counterbalance against the Soviet Union in the region.
3. To adhere to the commitments established in international agreements concerning the administration and security of Berlin.

The USA insisted on ensuring the physical well-being of the people of Berlin by maintaining open access for humanitarian aid and supplies, regardless of the political tensions that existed.

The USA emphasized its willingness to settle disagreements with the USSR by negotiations to project an image of diplomacy and restraint, contrasting its approach with the aggressive tactics employed by the Soviets. This stance aimed to strengthen its moral authority and gather international support, demonstrating a commitment to peaceful resolution rather than militaristic confrontation.