COLD WAR - BATTLE FOR BERLIN

In the tense nuclear stalemate, the Western Allies hatched drastic plans to defend against Soviet invasion, which meanwhile was being plotted in the East

- ANDREW LONG

As the Second World War was drawing to a close, the Soviets were given the dubious prize of taking Berlin. General Dwight D Eisenhower's decision was brutally pragmatic - it would be Soviet blood spilt in the attack, not American, British or any other Allied force's. That said, the British and Americans (and later the French) all staked a claim in the conquered capital.

Germany was divided into three (later four) occupation zones for the victorious powers - the Americans, British, French and Soviets - and Berlin was similarly split into four occupation sectors. Berlin was, of course, deep inside the Soviet zone, but much to Joseph Stalin's annoyance the Western powers showed no signs of quitting their sectors and leaving Berlin to him, as was the plan all along. With goodwill quickly evaporating between the former allies, a new 'cold' war descended over Europe. With the very real possibility of the conflict turning 'hot', the West formed NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to which the Soviets and their 'satellite states' responded with their own alliance, the Warsaw Pact.