Imagine living in a city that is abruptly cut off from the outside world. Streets are filled with empty store shelves, and essential supplies become scarce. This was the reality for the people of Berlin in 1948 during the Berlin Blockade and the subsequent Airlift. In this article, we will dive into the historical events that unfolded, the reasons behind them, and the incredible efforts to overcome this crisis.

What was the Berlin Blockade?

Following the Second World War, the relations between the Allies on one side and the USSR on another were gradually deteriorating. The city was split into four parts occupied by the USA, Great Britain, France, and the USSR which gives physical and political split. The Berlin Blockade was consequent of an attempt made by the Soviet Union to capture the entire city. Its goal was to sever all ground and water links to West Berlin – the city occupied by the Western powers.

Causes of the Berlin Blockade

The Berlin Blockade was a result of various factors:

• Disagreements over Germany: The Allies had different opinion on how Germany should be rebuilt after the war. The Soviet Union wanted a weak Germany; the Western Allies wanted a more self-reliant Germany.
• Introduction of the Deutsche Mark: Moreover, in 1948 the western troops’ commanders started to introduce into their zones other currency called Deutsche Mark. This challenged the S.U’s dominion over East Germany and it is in this backdrop that they responded by…
• A desire to expel the Western Allies: The objectives of the Soviet Union in the Prague Spring were to eject the Western Allies out of Berlin and assert dominance over that city.

The Berlin Airlift: A Remarkable Response

Seeing the rising potential of the crisis the Western Allies worked upon a plan to supply some vital necessities to the people of West Berlin. The former commenced in June 26, 1948, and lasted for almost one year.

Airlift Operation

For instance, the American C-47s and C-54 aircraft made giant gigantic flying cargo ships that transported food stuffs, fuel and other basic necessities through the air and air drops over West Germany into West Berlin. These started making these flights a 24-hour business to ensure that the city needs were well met. It was a purely organizational accomplishment, and to organize such complex action, the western allies had to plan and coordinate their work.

Success of the Airlift

Nevertheless, the so-called Berlin Airlift was an incredible success. The spines of both the pilots and the West Berliners did not buckle. Finally, the Soviets came to know that their attempts were too weak to defeat west Berlin and to stop all sorts of supplies reaching the city, they removed the blockade on 12 May 1949.

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift in the process of the Cold War

Historically, events such as the Berlin Blockade, and Airlift were of much meaning. Here are some key takeaways:

• Demonstration of Cold War tensions: The Berlin Blockade was actually the death knell of the alliance between USA and Soviet Union and the beginning of the Cold War.
• Symbol of hope: The Berlin Airlift achieved an exemplary success, and it became diplomatic strategism showing the will and ability of the Western Allies in helping a free West Berlin.
• Formation of NATO and Warsaw Pact: As a result of the Berlin Blockade, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) came into existence to cement the alliance of the western countries. In consequence, the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Pact.

Conclusion

The two events which unfolded were the Berlin Blockade and the Airlift, both important episodes in the world immediately after the last global conflict. Based on the Western Allies attempts to supply the people of West Berlin during the blockade showed that they were willing to fight for freedom. However, that victory to Berlin Airlift remains one of the best samples of human resource endowment and better unity in the worst of times.