“The Origins of Commitment” by Deborah Larson is an article looking into the Berlin Blockade, The U.S Airlift, and the reason why the U.S, specifically Harry Truman decided to stay in West Berlin. The main argument or ideas of Larson’s article, are that many people believed that after the Soviet Blockade the U.S would no longer stay in West Berlin, due to West Berlin’s recently established government. Also, Larson claims that the U.S was hesitant to stay in West Berlin as a result of the Soviets large army that surrounded the borders, and the remoteness of Berlin. Nevertheless, Larson argues that the U.S decided to stay once the Soviets decided to cut off all ground water and water accesses to West Berlin. In order for the U.S to aid West Berlin, they used airlifts to deliver all the resources needed for their survival; this was called the Berlin Airlift, and was greatly criticized prior to the lift.
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Stiver’s argues that the Berlin Blockade was a strategic plan to weaken the Germans of West Berlin, so they would revolt against the Western powers aiding their city. In return, the U.S launched the Berlin Airlift, which few people thought was possible. He then argues that the Soviet attempt of the blockade neither “attempted nor achieved the isolation of West Berlin.” He claims that it is a popular view of many historians to that “the Berlin Blockade entailed
Stiver’s argues that the Berlin Blockade was a strategic plan to weaken the Germans of West Berlin, so they would revolt against the Western powers aiding their city. In return, the U.S launched the Berlin Airlift, which few people thought was possible. He then argues that the Soviet attempt of the blockade neither “attempted nor achieved the isolation of West Berlin.” He claims that it is a popular view of many historians to that “the Berlin Blockade entailed