Cold war was a state of hostile relations between the US and Soviet Union, after the World War II. Some of the significant occurrences during this period include the Berlin blockade and airlift which took place in the year 1948- 1949. For newcomers of history, this guide will give an all-encompassing knowledge more concerning this historical event.

1. Background

After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the Allied powers: the four key powers: The United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France. Also, its capital was the Berlin, which was divided into four neighbored sectors, although it was situated in the Soviet zone of occupation. Their combined bitterness towards the timeframe and their diverse ideological orientation continued to raise discontent between the Soviets on one side and the other Allies on the other side.

2. The Blockade

They have equally shut down all passage to West Berlin by put in force a blockade round the unstable of Berlin in June 1948 in their try for to get control of the total of Berlin. They severed all communication by rail, road and water so they cleared out all the canals and separated the city from the rest of the world. Its purpose was to make Allies surrender areas in Berlin which they occupied.

2.1 The Response

The United States led Allies did not allow the Soviet blockade to deter them with reason standing on the side of the Allies. For this, they came up with an approach to feed West Berlin with needs using a new strategy – the airlift. The operation was given the title “Operation Vittles.”

3. The Airlift

Airlift was to transport food, mainly, and coal through cargo planes to West Berlin. The planes were launched from airfields in western Germany and crossed the territory over flown by the Soviets for completing their mission. The operation was a show of grand organizational activities that needed a lot of work to be put in.

3.1 The Numbers

In the Berlin Airlift operation more than 240,000 flights were flown and approximately 2.3 million tons of supplies were flown in. This was what was commonly referred to as theל basics such as food, fuel and medicine. The airlift stay a sign of resolve and togetherness in the face of Soviets impositions.

4. The End of the Blockade

However, despite Soviet Union’s trying to put pressure on West Berlin and starve its population out of existence, the airlift was successful. The blockade officially ended on May 12, 1949, after Soviet authorities decided to withdraw restrictions list of their own. By all these accounts, while the Allies had been able to supply West Berlin for nearly a year under these conditions.

5. Legacy and Impact

The consequences of the Berlin Blockade and Airlift were evident in the Cold War. Attached to its significance was the denotation of the measures achieved by the United States and the allies to counterbalance the aggression of the Soviet in the Western Europe. The war was a success as it also brought out many things; unity among them as well as the emphasis on a collective endeavor approach and diplomacy.

5.1 Lessons Learned

The Berlin Airlift proved that negotiations and diplomacy were useful in preventing simple aggression between two world giants. It also brought out the fact and reality of what logistics and innovation can do when thrown with the toughest of challenges.

6. Conclusion

It is apparent that the Berlin Blockade as well as Airlift was one of the dramatic moments during the Cold War. They presented the cold war and US and its allies’ resolve to defend freedom of West Berlin. Thus, it is our intention that having read this article, the beginners have a clear perception of its importance.