Chapter 706 – The Berlin Crisis Ends

“Oh!” Beria uttered a noncommittal exclamation; he was not a fan of such rhetoric.

Quite the contrary he also found the British claims ridiculous, especially the young diplomat.

The young fellow probably didn’t realize that his own side had been infiltrated into a sieve. At this moment, he was still talking about what, in the age of reconciliation, what seeking common ground was ridiculous.

Still, given the current situation, Beria was more concerned about the stabilization of his position, as the British had said, the Berlin Crisis had lasted until today, and it was time for it to come to an end. Using the crisis to consume the free world has not achieved its purpose.

On the contrary non-compliance might even intensify the conflict, especially at this time when the new leadership has just taken office, and indeed continuing the policy of confrontation would involve a lot of energy.

Currently, Beria and Malinkov’s relationship is still amicable, and both of them believe that they should focus on domestic issues and adopt a moderate attitude towards the outside world. What’s more, the world is now paying attention to the negotiations between the two countries.

“Peace is something that needs to be maintained by both sides, how can this peace be maintained when there is a threat to the Soviet Union?”

Adderley was able to hear that the Soviets were still fighting to get the United States, Britain and France to withdraw their troops, and sincerely and firmly shook his head, “Personally, I understand the Soviet Union’s concerns very well, but this is impossible, and I believe that the Americans’ attitude is the same as Britain’s and will only be tougher, not will it be softer.”

The strategic significance of West Berlin certainly isn’t there . No one in their right mind would think that such a tiny enclave could have any real impact on the course of the war if it did go to war.

But keeping West Berlin during the Berlin Crisis was making a clear statement:The Free World would defend its allies at all costs, and would never throw them to the Soviets. At the same time, it was also showing muscle and demonstrating the superiority of capitalism.

Now that even the citizens of West Berlin are running out, the purpose of demonstrating the superiority of capitalism is, naturally, out of the question. No one can light a candle to show superiority. This shows that the already small strategic position of West Berlin is now even smaller.

But even if there were only three countries left in West Berlin, Britain, the United States and France would not withdraw. Once evacuated is a sign of weakness, if this time to give up West Berlin, it is likely to make the people of Western Europe to lose confidence in the confrontation . And as we all know, if people’s hearts and minds are scattered, they can’t be led. So, no matter what, the Free World cannot choose to abandon West Berlin.

It doesn’t really matter if there are citizens in West Berlin or not, and it doesn’t really matter if West Berlin has a strategic position or not. But the Free World had to show its determination not to compromise.

Prime Minister Adderley couldn’t give any promises on this either, and any concessions involving West Berlin would be seen as weakness.

“Our attitude in Britain is simple, and the current situation will not change if the standoff continues.” Alan Wilson concluded, “It is a matter of position, involving NATO solidarity. The current situation relies on the airlift garrison can also hold out unless the Soviet Union launches an attack, but once the Soviet Union launches an attack, it will trigger the NATO collective defense mechanism.”

Since the Soviet Union can not go to war, the significance of holding out does not exist, and the continued blockade of the three garrisons will not retreat.

In fact, the historical Berlin crisis, the Soviet Union is to occupy a relatively advantageous situation to open the game, and then let the United States hard to move back to the disadvantage with a strong airlift power, to the end of the day, but the United States is superior.

Through the Berlin Crisis, the U.S. was relying on airlift to feed West Berlin, and when the Soviet Union lifted the blockade, West Berlin was still supplied with more supplies than before the blockade. This took a poor start and completely reversed it.

And this time and space, an extra blockade of electricity, along with the early outing of the Berlin Wall. Completely turning the Berlin crisis into something else. The US has no problem airlifting consumables, but the US can’t move the infrastructure of a major city. With the power cuts inside and the wall being built outside, West Berliners have run out of people.

Suffice it to say that the Soviet Union had embarrassed the Free World, and the evolution of the Berlin Crisis in this time period was that the Soviet Union won but didn’t quite win. And the free world lost but not completely.

Britain also does not hide, directly picking out the bottom line, no matter how to talk about the three countries in West Berlin garrison will not retreat, only the garrison is left on the air transport pressure is still small, as long as the Soviet Union does not take the force of expulsion, there is no way.

Than just when the negotiations have just begun, Britain and the Soviet Union around the Berlin crisis negotiations, is moving towards the direction of the sword, but this can not be helped, sometimes both sides also want to talk properly, but there will be such an evolution.

“We have exchanged views, as for what will eventually emerge, let’s be a little more patient.” Molotov raised his wrist and glanced at the time, “Next we have to communicate with the brother parties.”

“Very well!” Prime Minister Adderley nodded with a smile, he wasn’t prepared to get the desired result in the middle of the first round of talks either.

The group returned to the hotel where they were staying to discuss today’s negotiations, judging the Soviets’ attitude against the minutes. Hate to smell a fart over and over again, what it really smelled like.

“On the whole, we have no problem with diplomatic protocol at least, likewise the Soviets.” Still not pessimistic about the outcome, Prime Minister Adderley encouraged his entourage, “Alan, be honest, what is the best outcome of this one.”

“This one? Lifting the ground blockade is the best outcome.” Alan Wilson opened his mouth against his will.

If he was asked what he really thought, of course it would be best to withdraw from Berlin, so that one thing would be very favorable to Britain. That is that the unification of Germany will be more difficult.

A little loss of West Berlin, a hinterland deep behind enemy lines, without the comparison of two different systems within the city of Greater Berlin. Many problems would be solved. Citizens of the GDR could not see the GDR, citizens of the GDR could not see what was going on in the GDR, and it would be much easier to slowly move into old age and death.

If the link between the two Germanys was severed, it would not be so easy for Germany to unify. Germany’s inability to unify degree Britain is of course a good thing, especially since in this time and place, Britain has become the leading country in the EEC.

But now the result of the more acceptable, West Berlin became a purely military stronghold, the standard of living above the role of a big discount, the two systems of the comparative window status does not exist, the same contributes to the long division of Germany.

Lost the significance of people’s livelihood, purely as a military base, the significance of West Berlin has become important. Especially in the context of the Cold War, if NATO initiated an offensive, West Berlin was a good forward position.

If the Soviet Union took the initiative to launch an offensive, West Berlin also had the role of being the first to get wind of the situation.

If the USSR had already established absolute superiority over NATO, it would not be too late to give it up. All that would be sacrificed would be the lives of some of the troops stationed there. Overall, the disappearance of West Berlin’s role in people’s livelihoods would be good for Britain in preventing the reunification of Germany. The retention of a military role would help to monitor the Soviet Union’s every move.

Withdrawal of troops is never to be withdrawn, so over the next two days, when Molotov mentioned withdrawal again, the attitude of the British side was unmoved, and in the end it was made more than clear that the West Berlin garrison was to be retained regardless of any changes that might occur.

After the end of this meeting, the two sides did not communicate for three consecutive days, of course, during this period of time is not without good news to put out, nothing more than the Soviet Union to recognize the British efforts in the process of ending the Korean War.

Regarding the Berlin Crisis, it was simply stated that there had been very frank communication between the two sides and that the talks had been useful.

As for public opinion in Britain itself, it has shifted to this stage of Prime Minister Adderley’s tongue-lashing, what with being fearless in the face of dozens of pro-Soviet parties and all. The atmosphere of “I will go on with my life in spite of millions of people” had already been created.

In this kind of public opinion environment, even if Prime Minister Adderley didn’t get any results this time, he wouldn’t be blamed for anything. What’s more, the turnaround has already appeared!

The delay in the meeting has put Maurice Dollez and Palmiro Togliatti, the leaders of the French Republic and the Italian Communist Party, under pressure, and both of them believe that the current special situation will allow them to participate in an event that will put an end to a major crisis, which will help to raise the support of both of them and of the parties behind them.

There is also a lot of pressure on the new Soviet leadership to speak up under the good offices of both Maurice Dolez and Palmiro Togliatti, the leaders of the two largest fraternal parties in Western Europe.

Even the two men’s collusion, has already appeared in Italy and France itself on the keep, if a strong refusal. Maybe it will make these two Western Europe’s fraternal parties, to the Soviet Union appeared to microaggressions, this is the current everyone does not want to see.

“Even if we terminate the ground blockade of Berlin! We can also say that it was the advice of both Maurice Dolez and Palmiro Tauriati that caused us to make the decision out of class feelings.” With that Beria looked to Khrushchev and said, “Comrade Khrushchev, isn’t that right.”

Before Khrushchev could say anything, Molotov sighed, “But the British will surely take credit for this to Adderley.”

“Then there is nothing we can do about it! Obviously the Berlin Crisis, which has gone on for so long, has no value for further maneuvering, and the attitude of the Italian and French Communists is something we must pay attention to.” Interrupted, Khrushchev voiced his opinion, “One can only say that the British have looked for too good an opportunity.”

On March 16th, a week after British Prime Minister Adderley had arrived in Moscow, and a week after Moscow had captured the world’s attention, Britain and the Soviet Union reached a consensus after this round of talks, and both countries simultaneously announced that the ground blockade of Berlin would be lifted.

Soon the news spread around the world, with major newspapers reporting the two leaders’ statements in Moscow under the headline Berlin Crisis Lifted. The man at the center of the widespread acclaim was, of course, the current British Prime Minister, Derek Aidley.