Question by Meow: Why was Berlin so important to both the USA and USSR?
This is about the Berlin Blockade and Berlin Airlift, 1948-49
This is for my History work obviously, but i really don’t get why it was important than
USSR wanting Germany weak and that USA thought that Berlin would be a good buffer state against Soviet Expansion. ARE THERE ANY OTHER POINTS THAN THESE?
Answers and Views:
Answer by JVHawai’i
BERLIN served as a listening post for the Soviet World. In many ways it had no value for the Western Powers. Landlocked, deep in Communist East Germany, it was really exspensive supplying it by air BUT much like a Medeival Castle, holding on to it was deemed important. Arguably the Western Powers should have just let it go, but egos got in the way.
The Soviets had it, so they did not need to hold on to it, Berlin was simply there, arguably a thorn but thorns can be ignored. For the Soviets it was also a game of the ego to demand that the Western Powers give it up.
Berlin was most valuable through the rearview mirror. Holding on to Berlin was a defiant step, it servede as a ‘Beacon of Hope’ for the ‘Democratic Powers’ (a word no longer in vogue in the US of A, how Ironic). And when it came down to pushing the ‘Evil Soviet Empire’ over the edge, it was a rallying point, “Mr Gorbachev Tear Down This Wall.”
Berlin had an odd value in that it was easier for those escaping the Soviets to crawl into Berlin rather than trying for the borders of East Germany. A flawed but effective film is ‘The Defector’ with Montgomery Clift (his last movie) which actually does a good job depicting the mind set of the times.
Throughout the 1960s defectors found a refuge in Berlin so it can be argued that it served as a life raft.
Another Montgomery Clift film, way better, one you ought to watch, “The Big LIft” gives an almost documentary look at the airlift and a terrific look at devastated Berlin.
Peace///////////\\
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