With reference to the effects of the Second World War, explain the following :

(a) Cold war and the Berlin Blocade.

(b) United Nations organisation

(a) Cold War is defined as an atmosphere when there is no armed struggle, but the rivals continue to maintain their peace time diplomatic relations along with their hostility. This was the situation between the USA and the Soviet Union due to old suspicion and ideological differences.

Berlin Blockade — Germany's capital Berlin was divided into four sectors. Soon the sectors assigned to the British, American and French joined together to form the West Berlin thereby leaving the eastern part all alone under Russia. This was much resented by Russia.

Soon the Soviet authorities established a blockade on all land and water communications between West Berlin and West Germany. This blockade continued nearly about a year from June 1948 to May 11, 1949 and led to one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. The Western Allies were left with no alternatives but to supply essential articles to West Berlin by a large scale uplift through the air corridor left open to them. The people of West Berlin suffered a lot as a result of this blockade. The blockade was withdrawn on May 11, 1949 after the lapse of about a year.

(b) Encouraged by the desire of establishing peace, the United Nations Organisation (UNO) was established in 1945. All the people of the world felt that if there would be another such war then nobody would survive in the world. Consequently, every country of the world became quite prepared to give every sort of help to the UNO for the establishment of peace in the world.