Question

what actions did the soviet union take to try to gain control over west berlin

Answer 1

Welcome to OpenStudy @phillipsjc !

Answer 2

The Berlin Blockade. Back when Germany was split into East and West, East Germany was under communist control. The city of Berlin was in East Germany, but under agreement, it was split into East and West Berlin. West Berliners and the Western Powers could travel along assigned routes through East Germany to get to West Germany and back. I know, kind of strange, but that's how things were.

The Soviets, under Stalin, wanted to pressure the Western Powers out of West Berlin and closed all of the land routes. But the Western Powers put together the Berlin Airlift to supply their half of the city.