The Berlin Blockade and the Origins of NATO

 

Berlin Blockade

 

http://www.coldwar.org/articles/40s/berlin_blockade.asp

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/03/98/berlin/72088.stm

 

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/04/documents/cia.html

 

http://www.germannotes.com/hist_west_berlin_blockade.shtml

 

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/teacher/berlin.htm

 

1. Outline the events of the Berlin Blockade.  What did the Soviets do and how did the USA respond?  What did the French and British contribute?
2. What was the goal of the Soviets?
3. Why did the Western allies feel so strongly the Soviets could not be allowed to win this struggle?

 

 

NATO

 

http://www.nato.int/docu/handbook/2001/hb0101.htm

 

http://www.state.gov/www/regions/eur/nato/origins.html#roots

 

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/nato.htm

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/325388.stm

 

1. What was the Treaty of Brussels?  How did it act as a precursor to NATO?  (If you need more information about the treaty an excerpt is in your document book.)
2. How did the Berlin Blockade feature in the motivation to form NATO?
3. Who were the founding members of NATO?  How is this membership reflected in the name of the organization?
4. When and where was the agreement formalized?
5. Read Article 5 carefully.  For what action does it provide?  Why is this significant in the context of the tensions of the Cold War?
6. How do you think the Soviet Union will perceive this organization?  How might Stalin respond?