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The Berlin Blockade and Airlift: A Short Summary

by | Mar 7, 2024 | Cold War Tour Berlin

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift was an important episode of the Cold War early years. It occurred between June 1948 and May 1949 during which Western Allies flew food and other requirements to the people of West Berlin after the Soviet Union sealed off the city. As usual in this blog post, I will present a brief overview of this historical happening, the cause, players, and effects.

Causes of the Berlin Blockade

Post World War II Germany or the Federal republic of Germany was divided into four zones occupied by the United States of America, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin which was situated to deep inside the Soviet zone was also split into four sections. Sino-Soviet relations also turned hostile because the countries had different political systems as well as political views of the Europe after the World War II.

In 1948, the US, Britain and France sought to amalgamate their zones into a single entity they called West Germany and introduce another currency known as the Deutsche Mark, so as to restore or stabilize the German economy. This move put pressure on the Soviet Union as the power house of East Germany and East Berlin. In response to this the communists placed a blockade on West Berlin, sealing off all land, rail and water routes to the city thus starving the city of supplies. This began the Berlin Blockade Also Check your understanding See Berlin Blockades and Understandings from Different Views Follow the links for more information Education Berlin Blockade: This was followed by the start of the Berlin Blockade.

The Key Players

During the Berlin Blockade and Airlift, several key players played vital roles in resolving the crisis:

  • United States: Cherished by president Harry S.Truman, United States of America stood to condemn Soviet Union’s blockade. They decided to act by starting the operation of the airlift.
  • United Kingdom: The United States received considerable support from the United Kingdom; this support was under the able leadership of Prime Minister Clement Attlee.
  • Soviet Union: The Soviet Union organized the blockade in reaction to the formation of the Deutsche Mark and the coming together of the Western zones under the leadership of General Secretary Joseph Stalin.
  • Luftbrücke: Also known as the Berlin Airlift, it was the largest operation in which the Western Allies would fly supplies into West Berlin.

Operation Vittles: The Airlift

Fearing the implications of the situation, the Western Allies wasted no time in reacting to the establishmenet of the blockade through instituting of the Operation Vittles or the Berlin Airlift. This was to feed 2.5 million population of West Berlin with foods, water, fuel and other necessities of life.

Approximately every ten minutes, cargo aircraft flew from the Western zones in Germany to Tempelhof Airport in West Berlin, and then back to the west. Bombers flew in every few minutes dropping food like coal, flour, medicine and even Christmas gifts.

The Berlin Airlift was a strictly planned and coordinated event in order to be successful. This operation had to establish several air corridors simultaneously, and Constantly had to fly over them Allies’ planes day and night. During the airlifts, West Berlin was receiving aircrafts within every 45 seconds span of time.

In this paper, the topic of discussion is the end of the Berlin Blockade.

UL When the Soviets had seen that the Berlin Airlift has been feeding West Berlin for nearly a year, they realized that it has to stop. The blockade was lifted in May 12, 1949. While the conflict between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies intensified this event would be seen as a triumph for democracy and free spirit over totalitarian power in the Cold War period.

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift can be remembered up to today as a historic event that defines the will power of the western allies to safeguard … the freedom of its people. It symbolises the capacity of people to come together in moments of adversity as a symbol of freedom and democracy.

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift: A Short Summary