Why did Stalin and the Soviet Union block access to West Berlin?

Stalin and the Soviet Union blocked access to West Berlin in 1948 as a response to the introduction of the Deutsche Mark in West Germany, which threatened the economic stability of the Soviet-controlled East Germany. By cutting off supply routes, Stalin aimed to exert control over West Berlin and pressure the Western Allies to abandon the city. This blockade ultimately led to the Berlin Airlift, where Western powers supplied West Berlin via air, demonstrating their commitment to resisting Soviet expansion.