Inasmuch as there is no single definition of the cold war, the event that can be best described as a hallmark is the Berlin Airlift. It refers to the unique Great Humanitarian Rescue which occurred from June 1948 to May 1949. In the following blog posting, I will give you some background information about the events of the Berlin Airlift as well as about its meaning in the frame of the Cold War.
1. The Context: The Cold War and the Division of Germany
After WW2 there emerged some certain rivalry between the United states and Soviet union this we call Cold war. Germany, once a unified nation, was divided into four occupied zones controlled by the Allies: Primal examples precipitate from the United States, Soviet Union, Britain and France. Likewise, the city of Berlin placed in the Soviet zone of occupation was divided in a like fashion. The Western Allies were very much concerned with the Soviets’ intention.
2. Blockade and the need for airlift
In order to try to bring the whole of Berlin under its authority, on June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded all access routes by road and water into the West’s zones of Berlin. It was the idea to push other Allies out of Berlin. But theazi was not to be because the western powers were prepared to defend their stance. Since all the routes for supply were blocked for them, they attempted a rather risky and dangerous idea – the aerial supply of the people of West Berlin.
3. Operation Vittles
The United States and its allies in an effort to supply the inhabitants of West Berlin initiated the Berlin Airlift or Operation Vittles. The airlift was in operation of flying tons of life necessities including food and fuel into the city while avoiding the blockade of the Soviets. This mission was carried out mainly from Tempelhof, Gatow and Tegel airports.
3.1 A Monumental Effort
The Berlin Airlift itself was quite logistical problem in terms of transportation. Wit germans eager to fly around the clock, planes such as C-47s and C-54s were landing within a few minutes in Berlin. Allied made more than 275000 flights and dropped about 2300000 tons of supplies to the troops. This incredible effort saw to it that the people of West Berlin were given what they required to live.
3.There are 2 kinds of these airplanes; Candy Bombers and Rosinenbomber.
That is why the pilots that participated in the Berlin Airlift came be known as the “candy bombers”. During rehearsing they would drop small parachutes containing sweets and chocolates for the children of Berlin as actual approach on the runway. The Germans endearing referred to allies’ planes as ‘Rosinenbomber,’ which meaning raisin bombers as these came bearing comfort.
4. The Triumph: The Soviet Blockade Ends
The Berlin Airlift was a political success and from a practical standpoint as well. It proved the resolve of the Western powers to defend the liberty of West Berlin, and negated the Soviet blockade completely. However, the Soviet Union had to call it quit and lifted the blockade on 12 May 1949. It also goes to prove just how important the city of Berlin was during the Cold War.
5. The Lasting Impact
The Berlin Airlift remains a very significant event to have happened in history, especially as it depicted the determination of the western powers and more so the bitter divide that existed between the east and the west. They supported the concept of a divided Germany and Berlin and subsequent building the Berlin Wall in1961. Also, it contributed in strengthening the pulling power of the United States to becoming a world super power.
6. Conclusion
T he Berlin Airlift would be mostly attributed to the early years of the Cold War though it was a very significant event. It was an outstanding symbol of persistence, endurance, and unity of nations. The event as the Berlin Airlift brings into focus values of freedom, solidarity, and fight for the oppressed. In a way it remains one of the most inspirational stories of survival of the human spirit which can be told in any age.