The he said she said of the Cold War, a period of political tension and military aggression between the United States and the Soviet Union, readily had its bedrock established with the rise of an unassailable test of fortitude – The Berlin Airlift. Thus, in the course of this blog, we will undertake to disclose the Berlin Airlift’s meaning and role as well as its consequences as one of the key factors influencing history.
Understanding the Cold War
It is therefore important to consider the background to the Berlin Airlift before going further into the event proper. The Cold War was the peace time war that lasted from 1947 to 1991 between two most dominant powers that emerged after the Second World War, the United States and the Soviet Union.
The Berlin Airlift was carried out for nine months from mid-1948 to mid-1949, and centred on Berlin where East Germany was enclosed in the Soviet zone. Germany’s capital city, Berlin, was divided into four zones: the United States would now control one of those zones and so would Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.
The Berlin Blockade
West Germany was established in May 1949, and a month later in June the Cold War tension deepened when the Soviet Union physically sealed off West Berlin by closing all the roads, railways and canals. It was planned to push the Allies out of the city and strengthen the Soviet position on its territory. Soon this event got referred to as the Berlin Blockade.
Due to the blockade all the necessary items like food, fuel and medical supplies were denied to the people of West Berlin. He would strongly desire that Western Allies would be hard pressed to continue war against them as they would be tackling a clear humanitarian problem.
Defying the Blockade: The Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Blockade led to the depiction of the United States along with the united kingdom and France launch the airlift commonly referred to as the Berlin Airlift. It included the transport of large quantities of goods for West Berlin through the air directly over the Soviet blockade.
Aircraft flew daily to supply food, fuel, medicines and even coal to generate electricity in the city of West Berlin. Such an immense operation was only possible where matters of coordination and logistical organization were concerned.
The Candy Bombers
American pilots participated in delivering candies and chocolates to the kids of West Berlin in their struggle called the Berlin Airlift. These pilots got the nickname “Candy Bombers” and people loved them back as much as they could love their liberators.
It might be argued that the significance of the Berlin Airlift as a significant event in the Cold War cannot be overestimated, so this paper will attempt to analyze the main reasons behind this decision.
The Berlin Airlift had several significant implications:
Safeguarding Democracy: The West Allies made a bet on free world continued supply of West Berlin to prove its commitment to freedom and counterbalance the Soviet power. It featured commitment of the democratic countries regarding their principles.
Military Standoff: One of the best-documented incidences of conflict between the two powerhouses of the world during the first years of the Cold War was the Battle of Berlin Airlift. It stressed growth of animosity and likelihood of a war between the two super powers.
NATO Formation: These two powers conflicts were an essential factor that paved way to the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949 known as the BERLIN CRISIS. NATO was formed really as a military organisation of the Western countries in order to stave off the soviet influence and defend member state.
Psychological Victory: The actualization of the Berlin Airlift policy was an achievement in the psychological class, in the sense that the Allies triumphed over the Soviet Union, without the need to brawl.
The End of the Berlin Airlift
The Soviet Union remained adamant in it’s trade blockade and after almost a year of fierce airlifts, the blockade was finally lifted on May 12, 1949. In the same way the United States of America and her allies had proven to have been able to supply West Berlin for the period of the blockade.
Legacy and Remembrance
The Berlin Airlift give way for the unity, determination as well as the victory of democracy against aggression. The Berlin Airlift which took place in 1948 to 1949 was a decisive period in the history of the people of West Berlin and Berlin airlift military and civilian personnel are honored for responding effectively to this historic event.
Present day remembrance of the Berlin Airlift is in Berlin such as the “Candy Bomber” that is presently on display at the German Museum of Technology.
Conclusion
Berlin Airlift was on the key timeline of the Cold war as marked the determination of the western block against the imperialist policies of Soviet Russia. The successful air lift operations ensured the continuation of democracy in West Berlin helped in formation of NATO.
In this paper, the author explains how the West Berlin and the international community, proved during the Berlin Airlift, that they would not surrender to Soviet threats and pressure. Berlin Airlift experience is in the same vein a good message on the side of cooperation, perseverance and the stand to defend the democratic principles.
