Introduction

One of the most important crisis after the Second World War was the Berlin Airlift also known as the Berlin Blockade. This event occurred from June, 1948 to May of 1949 and acted as a reaction to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin. It was a huge military-operation scientifically known as ‘Operation’ being a logistics effort of the United States, United Kingdom, and France to deliver the people of West Berlin with the necessities of life.

The Background

Following World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones, each controlled by one of the four major Allied powers: four major world powers of the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Great Britain and France respectively. Berlin was also divided into four sectors although it was situated in the very heart of the Soviet zone.

But in June 1948 the Soviets got ticked off at the introduction of a new currency in western Germany known as the deutsche mark and proceeded to surround west Berlin with a blockade, which effectively sealed the city and all its inhabitants off from the rest of the world.

The Blockade

The Soviets encircled West Berlin by sea and on land through a ring of concrete with the intent to put pressure on the city and the Western alliance occupying it. This made it impossible for food, fuel and the other necessities to be supplied to West Berlin by normal methods.

First of all, the Western allies tried to respond to the blockade by carrying on improving road and rail access to Berlin. But, the Soviets did see this and turned the routes to their own advantage by making them impracticable.

The Airlift Plan

In response to the blockade, the United States, United Kingdom and France came up with a plan that would see supply airlifted to West Berlin. The Berlin Airlift was created and the mission statement here was to supply the people in West Berlin with the basic needs in life.

This airlift started on 26 th June of 1948 and entailed the use of a lot of large cargo aircraft. These planes fled from airfields in the western zones of Germany, and arrived at several airports of West Berlin.

Operation Details

In the Berlin Crisis about 277,264 flights were flown, transporting more than 2 300 000 tons of cargo. Such items consist of foods, coals, drugs, or others that are essential in the routine lives of human beings.

The flights stipulated were available all day and night with airplane touchdowns formulated at specific time intervals. So it was necessary to use the so called “air corridors” to get directly to West Berlin without encountering those roadblocks.

This form of transport needed a lot of organization, and so did the airlift. They employed every effort in order to evacuate the supplies to the ground, so that the plane could go back to its base to get more supplies. It was a well coordinated event whereby every eventuality had to be timed to the hilt.

The Success of the Airlift

The Berlin Airlift continued for almost a year and the outcome can be associated with efforts of all participants. The allies were extremely determined to continue providing West Berlin with necessities as the demonstration of this by construction of the Berlin Wall.

On May 12, 1949, the Soviet Union ended the blockade because the blockade did not accomplish its aims. Despite the technical end of the operation on September 30, 1949, people of Berlin and the world lived to testify of the affects.

Legacy and Significance

Covington also regards the Berlin Airlift as the significant episode in the Cold War because it was the first major conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. And it stressed the intention to safeguard and maintain the freedom of West Berlin and as such became a symbol of hope.

The success of the airlift also contributed in formation of NATO, considered as a defensive from the side of Soviet Union. It proved how the Western powers were ready to stand for the other in the extreme condition.

Conclusion

The Berlin Airlift is one of the significant events which took place immediately after World War II. It also brought to the fore strong message of endurance, synergy and creativity in the midst of adversity. The success of the airlift was uncompromising not only for the survival of West Berlin but also for the Cold War politics around the world.

Berlin Airlift today has become a symbol of the fact that no matter what circumstances are there people of the world can stand up for humanity.