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The City Becomes a Symbol: The U.S. Army in the Occupation of Berlin, 1945-1949 (The U.S. Army in the Cold War)

The City Becomes a Symbol: The U.S. Army in the Occupation of Berlin, 1945-1949 (The U.S. Army in the Cold War)

Center of Military History
4/5 ( ratings)
Read Download
The City Becomes a Symbol: The U.S. Army in the Occupation of Berlin, 1945–1948, by William Stivers and Donald A. Carter, is the latest publication in the Center of Military History’s The U.S. Army in the Cold War series. The volume begins in July 1945 during the opening days of the occupation of Berlin by the Allied powers. The four powers, the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, negotiated on all aspects of the city from troop placements and headquarters locations to food distribution and which Berliners could serve in governing the city. During the initial years of the occupation differences emerged over policies and goals that lead to the Soviets cutting off road and rail access to the city. With no other options, U.S. and British forces had to supply their sectors of the city by air. In addition to meeting the basic needs of the residents in their sectors, the Western allies worked to win the loyalties of the citizens and political leaders to resist the spread of Soviet communism. These first four years of occupation set the stage for a decades-long face-off with the Soviets in Germany.

Click here for more products produced by the US Army, Center of Military History The decision of American and British leaders not to make a final push for Berlin during the waning days of the war was, itself, a source of friction. Although British Prime Minister Winston Churchill strongly advocated for a final U.S.-British offensive to seize the city ahead of the Red Army, the Supreme Allied Commander, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, refused to risk the additional casualties. As a result, the Red Army single-handedly captured Berlin in early May.
During the next several years, Berlin became the focal point for tensions between the Soviet Union and its former wartime allies: the United States, Britain, and France. Occupied by four-power agreement among the major wartime Allies, the city became an island deep within Soviet-controlled territory.
Although the four powers established the structure and procedures for joint control over the city, differences soon emerged over the policies and goals of the occupation. Moreover, the Western Allies grew concerned as the Soviets tightened their grip on Eastern Europe, bringing most of it under Communist control. By 1948, the United States, Britain, and France struggled to maintain their positions and rights of access as the Soviets cut off road and rail routes into the city. Confronted with a blockade of the city, American soldiers and leaders found themselves embroiled in a military-political situation of great complexity and grave risk.
Ultimately, the citizens of Berlin played a major role in determining the fate and political orientation of their city. As both East and West waged intense campaigns to win the loyalties of Berlin’s citizenry, key political leaders in what had become known as West Berlin cast their lot with the West and the Americans. An alliance between German politicians, led by Ernst Reuter, and the officers and civilians who made up the American military government in Berlin ensured that the sectors of West Berlin would become firmly aligned with the West and made the city a symbol of resistance against the spread of Soviet communism.
The City Becomes a Symbol tells the story of the first four tumultuous years of the U.S. Army’s occupation, explaining how Berlin became the epicenter of superpower confrontation in Europe. It is an important volume in the Center of Military History’s U.S. Army in the Cold War series, setting the stage for the decades-long face-off with the Soviets in Germany.
Format
Kindle Edition

The City Becomes a Symbol: The U.S. Army in the Occupation of Berlin, 1945-1949 (The U.S. Army in the Cold War)

Center of Military History
4/5 ( ratings)
Read Download
The City Becomes a Symbol: The U.S. Army in the Occupation of Berlin, 1945–1948, by William Stivers and Donald A. Carter, is the latest publication in the Center of Military History’s The U.S. Army in the Cold War series. The volume begins in July 1945 during the opening days of the occupation of Berlin by the Allied powers. The four powers, the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, negotiated on all aspects of the city from troop placements and headquarters locations to food distribution and which Berliners could serve in governing the city. During the initial years of the occupation differences emerged over policies and goals that lead to the Soviets cutting off road and rail access to the city. With no other options, U.S. and British forces had to supply their sectors of the city by air. In addition to meeting the basic needs of the residents in their sectors, the Western allies worked to win the loyalties of the citizens and political leaders to resist the spread of Soviet communism. These first four years of occupation set the stage for a decades-long face-off with the Soviets in Germany.

Click here for more products produced by the US Army, Center of Military History The decision of American and British leaders not to make a final push for Berlin during the waning days of the war was, itself, a source of friction. Although British Prime Minister Winston Churchill strongly advocated for a final U.S.-British offensive to seize the city ahead of the Red Army, the Supreme Allied Commander, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, refused to risk the additional casualties. As a result, the Red Army single-handedly captured Berlin in early May.
During the next several years, Berlin became the focal point for tensions between the Soviet Union and its former wartime allies: the United States, Britain, and France. Occupied by four-power agreement among the major wartime Allies, the city became an island deep within Soviet-controlled territory.
Although the four powers established the structure and procedures for joint control over the city, differences soon emerged over the policies and goals of the occupation. Moreover, the Western Allies grew concerned as the Soviets tightened their grip on Eastern Europe, bringing most of it under Communist control. By 1948, the United States, Britain, and France struggled to maintain their positions and rights of access as the Soviets cut off road and rail routes into the city. Confronted with a blockade of the city, American soldiers and leaders found themselves embroiled in a military-political situation of great complexity and grave risk.
Ultimately, the citizens of Berlin played a major role in determining the fate and political orientation of their city. As both East and West waged intense campaigns to win the loyalties of Berlin’s citizenry, key political leaders in what had become known as West Berlin cast their lot with the West and the Americans. An alliance between German politicians, led by Ernst Reuter, and the officers and civilians who made up the American military government in Berlin ensured that the sectors of West Berlin would become firmly aligned with the West and made the city a symbol of resistance against the spread of Soviet communism.
The City Becomes a Symbol tells the story of the first four tumultuous years of the U.S. Army’s occupation, explaining how Berlin became the epicenter of superpower confrontation in Europe. It is an important volume in the Center of Military History’s U.S. Army in the Cold War series, setting the stage for the decades-long face-off with the Soviets in Germany.
Format
Kindle Edition

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