The Berlin Blockade and Airlift

1. What is Source 37 (p. 75) saying about Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia?     
Source 37 is saying that Josip Tito is accepting money from the Americans. That he is so poor that he will take money from anyone and do anything for the money.


2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?        
Stalin was so hostile towards Tito because of what he did when he was elected in 1945. When he was elected he wanted to put in his own brand of Communism not the one that Stalin had liked. So he was expelled from the country for doing that.


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 helped explain why they didn't go in there because it was the farthest of the satellite countries away from the Soviet Union. He would have to send in troops through a bunch of different countries just to get to him, it would have been a waste of resources and time.


4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?       
The Soviet Union cut off the power to West Berlin because of "technical difficulties". They actually cut the power from their power plants to West Berlin but they gave them coal instead, so much help!


5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?           
I think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons because it just sounds so fake. They lost all their power just to West Berlin and then they stopped all their traffic into the city, it would have to be a huge coincidence that, that happened at the same time.


6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?            
The three sources differ a lot, the first source is saying that it was a considerable achievement but that neither side had gotten anything out of it. The second source is saying that it was both an achievement and that they got something out of it because it "brought the people closer to us...". The third source is saying that it was a stupid move, there was a threat of a war and they intrude onto their land. He is saying that they were calling for a war.


7.  Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?       
I think that the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade is a textbook. That has all the facts on what happened during that time period, it isn't just one persons view right then.



8.  Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?
I think a view from the people who had to deal with the blockade. They were the ones who were in there, they lived through it. 

Iron Curtain Separates Europe

1. What is your overall impression of Source 26 (p. 70) and use extracts from the source to support your view. (No fence sitting; you must choose one but not both)     

• a reasonable assessment of Stalin’s aims based on the facts
• an overreaction to Stalin’s actions based on fear of and prejudice towards the USSR?               
I do agree with the statement that it was a reasonable assessment of Stalin's aims based on facts. I agree with that because the things said in this document were true. In line 2 he says that the Soviet Union were not willing to co-operate with the other sides, that was true. The Soviets didn't want to co-operate with the other sides because they didn't the other sides didn't have the same ideals about communism. Also when he says that the Soviet Union wanted to extend their control into continental Europe is true. He wanted the whole world to be red(communist) and to get that he would have to start near him in Europe and then spread.



 
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?   
Yes it does seem likely that the American government was producing the same sort of documents. It seems that way because they were allies and we had the same viewpoints on the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union wanted to take over the world and that the Soviet Union was the enemy.




3. Study Source 27 (p. 71) and make a list of three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe. AND Explain how each factor helped.  
1. In Bulgaria a left-wing coalition won the government in 1945, the Communists then killed all the leaders in the opposing parties. This factor helped because when you get rid of all your competitors, you are the only one left and they have to give it to you. So they got control of the government by killing off everyone else.
2. In Hungary the Communist party became the largest party by imprisoning leaders of the other parties and attacking church officials. This factor helped in that when you kill off the opposition you win, like they did in Bulgaria, and when you attack people they are less likely to speak up against you. 
3. In Poland they forced the non-communist into exile. Again when you get rid of the other side you have won outright. That is what the did in Poland except they didn't kill them this time. They just forced him into exile, a lot better than killing him :).

Works Cited

Ambrose, Stephen E. D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II. New York: Touchstone, 1994.

Ricks, Thomas E. Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq. London: The Penguin Press, 2006.

Seager, Robin Pompey: A Political Biography. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1979.