Comprehension

1a What does this map tell you about communications links between West Berlin and
the Western zones of Germany?

Analysis and interpretation

1b Does this map help you to see why Stalin decided to blockade Berlin?

1c Do you think this map was drawn up mainly to help the military, the politicians or
civilians? Explain your answer.

1d If you were in charge of getting supplies to Berlin by air, what would be the main
problems facing you?

The Case Study question

Look at your answers to the questions on source 1.
Which category / categories does it fit in your worksheet?

The Big Exhibition

Do you think you will use this source in your exhibition?
What are its strengths and weaknesses?

Comprehension
2a What are the main challenges which appear to be facing the British officials in
Berlin?

2b Which would you say were the most serious?

1
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/
Analysis and interpretation
2c According to this source, is there any doubt about who is responsible for the clash
over Berlin?

2d What evidence does this source provide about conditions for civilians in West Berlin?

2e In the final sentence of this extract the British official says it would be useful to be
able to tell people that ‘the Russian authorities were to blame for any inconvenience or
suffering’.
What does this suggest about the extent to which people in West Berlin knew what
was happening?
Why do you think the British government have so far stopped the British officials
from giving out this information?

The Case Study question

Look at your answers to the questions on source 2.
Which category / categories does it fit in your worksheet?

The Big Exhibition

Do you think you will use this source in your exhibition?
What are its strengths and weaknesses?

Comprehension
3a Choose two examples listed in this document of Russian ‘bad faith’.

3b What was wrong with the Potsdam Agreement?

2
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/
3c Explain how the introduction of a new currency would have caused the split.

Analysis and interpretation

3d Do you think this is a reliable source of information on the causes of the Berlin
Blockade? Explain your answer.

3e Imagine you were in the British Cabinet and this report was being presented to you.
Make a list of 3 questions you would want to ask the official who was giving the report.

The Case Study question

Look at your answers to the questions on source 3.
Which category / categories does it fit in your worksheet?

The Big Exhibition

Do you think you will use this source in your exhibition?
What are its strengths and weaknesses?

Comprehension
4a According to the letter, how has President Truman been stupid?

4b How does the writer describe Stalin?

3
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/
Analysis and interpretation
4c Make a list of the ways which show you that the writer is a critic of Truman.

4d Is there any evidence that the writer is pro Stalin or the USSR?

4e How do we know this writer is genuinely afraid that there will be a war?

4f How reliable is this source to the historian as:

a guide to the events of the Berlin Blockade?
a guide to how people in the USA felt about the events of the Berlin Blockade?

The Case Study question

Look at your answers to the questions on source 4.
Which category / categories does it fit in your worksheet?

The Big Exhibition

Do you think you will use this source in your exhibition?
What are its strengths and weaknesses?

Comprehension
5a How many aircraft flew on this day?

5b What did they transport?

4
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/
Analysis and interpretation
5c Questions 5a and 5b asked you to extract information from the source. Now look at it
again and see what you can infer from the source about:
the materials West Berlin needed most
the problems in transporting these goods
the strains on the aircraft and pilots

The Case Study question

Look at your answers to the questions on source 5.
Which category / categories does it fit in your worksheet?

The Big Exhibition

Do you think you will use this source in your exhibition?
What are its strengths and weaknesses?

Comprehension
6a Who is the old man?

6b Why is the small boy so puzzled?

Analysis and interpretation

6c What does this cartoon tell us about the airlift and its importance to the people of
West Berlin?

6d Is this a political cartoon?

5
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/
The Case Study question
Look at your answers to the questions on source 6.
Which category / categories does it fit in your worksheet?

The Big Exhibition

Do you think you will use this source in your exhibition?
What are its strengths and weaknesses?

6
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/