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The Berlin Airlift: An Extraordinary Summary

by | Mar 7, 2024 | Cold War Tour Berlin

Do you know when and where took place the Berlin Airlift? It was one of the most remarkable events in military history of the world after Second World War. As for this blog entry, we will get down to learning about the Berlin Airlift, the backstory to this event, the aim, and the major work that was done by the members of the Allied powers. Thus, let it extend back in time and discover this amazing event.

What was the Berlin Airlift?

The events are Berlin Airlift which was a humanitarian and logistical operation occurred mainly during the period of the Cold War. It was carried between June 1948 and May 1949 to deliver food and other fundamentals to west Berlin population without allowing Soviet influence over the city.

The Historical Context

Before turning our attention specifically to the Berlin Airlift it might be of value to consider its historical context. After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the Allies: ,there are the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. Again, like in Potsdam, Berlin was within the deep Soviet zone and also divided into four mini-zones as well.

The cause of tensions between the Allies and the Soviet Union began because of ideological differences which climaxed in the Berlin Blockade. Soviet Union’s planned was to sealed off the west from West Berlin in the hope of dominating the whole city. The blockage of Berlin was responded by the Western powers by the Berlin Airlift.

The Purpose of the Berlin Airlift

The purpose of Berlin Airlift was to deliver foodstuffs and other basic needs, these foods and need most importantly including fuel. In doing this, the allied powers aimed at asserting democracy, encouraging the people of West Berlin and rejecting Soviet influence.

The Logistics

The Berlin Airlift also demanded extensive strategy and unparallel planning and great deal of endeavors on the logistic front. The operation entailed an enormous number of cargo aircrafts with supply dropping into West Berlin. Tempelhof and Gatow were the principal airports used for the operation and the former now symbolizes the event.

Planes landed hourly in Berlin, during day and at night, which made them to operate in adverse weather and in congested flight zone. As fate would have it, the airlift dictated the need to coordinate and choreograph the supply line in order to remain efficient. Earlier, it was reported that more than 8, 000 tons of supplies were flown in per day.

The Berlin Airlift: Its Importance

The Berlin Airlift marked a turning point in the Cold War and had significant historical implications:

  • Indeed, the successful operation of the airlift given that all flights were being bombed raised morale of the citizens of West Berlin, Who had found comfort and hope in non-Soviet control.
  • They showed intentions and determination of the western countries to fight for core western democratic and Liberal values against the Soviets.
  • The Berlin Airlift made the division between West Germany- Federal Republic of Germany and East Germany- German democratic republic.
  • It affirmed its Actor endurance for the protection of its associate and paved the ground for further defense relationships.

Conclusion

The Berlin Airlift was and remains one of the historical facts which marked the world’s history by the unification of the western powers in order to save the people of West Berlin during the Cold War. It effectively conveyed the sincerity of West’s desire for freedom and per-capital-ism, and establish an unshakable link between West Berlin and people of the West.

Through analysis of the Berlin Airlift one gets an insight of the challenges and accomplishments of that great event in history.

The Berlin Airlift: An Extraordinary Summary