The last but one element that played important role during the first years of the Cold War was the Berlin Blockade and the Airlift. It happened between June 1948, to May 1949, where the Soviet Union surrounded and sealed all the road, rail and barge routes to the western-controlled sectors in Berlin, Germany. In return the U.S.A and it allies launched an unprecedented air lift-campaign to deliver the needed supplies to the besieged city.

1. Background of the Cold War

Cold War was a state of political and ideological rivalry between the US and the USSR and their respective groups, breaking out in the period immediately following WWII up to early nineties. It was called as being tense, militarized and being about struggle for power and domination.

2. Causes of the Berlin Blockade

After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones, each controlled by one of the Allied powers: The four powers given special attention were the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. So too was Berlin – this city lay in the Soviet zone and was also divided into four parts. The Allies’ and especially the Soviet Union’s differences as to the political future of Germany and of Berlin itself fostered tensions.

2.1 Soviet Concerns

The planners in the Soviet Union sought to build a shield around itself and tried to push the anxieties of the west southwards. It worried about the formation of a single, German democracy that might turn to the Western side. The soviet Union wanted to govern its area and gradually turn it into an eastern bloc state.

2.2 establishment of the decode called Deutsche Mark

It was for this reason that in June 1948 the western allies began putting into circulation a new currency the ‘Deutsche Mark’ in their sectors including west Berlin. Taking with an account the growth of tension between the East and the West, the introduction of a separate currency in West Berlin was regarded by the Soviet Union as a means of regaining control over East Germany.

3. The Berlin Blockade

When the Soviet Union was exposed to the use of Deutsche Mark currency it retaliated by sealing off the road and railway routes to West Berlin on June 24, 1948 in what came to be known as the Berlin Blockade. Every ground access into West Berlin from West Germany was sealed off, meaning West Berlin received few important items such as food, fuel, and medical supplies.

4. The Allied Response

Before and during the war, the United States, Great Britain and France stated that they would not abandon Berlin and wanted to defend the rights of people in their occupied zone. It overemphasised the blockade as a threat to their authority and prepared to act in response to it.

4.1 Operation Vittles

This prompted the United States to begin air dropping supplies directly over West Berlin through an operation called glideline or Operation Vittles. Most of the airplanes were American, and its planes operated continuously to deliver tons of supplies such as coal and food to the city. The British also played their part for the airlift exercise.

4.2 The Airlift’s Impact

The Berlin Airlift was an incredible operation. Tens of thousands of flights were performed and at its highest, an aircraft was touching down in West Berlin, every few minutes. Ferrying supplies to the trapped population and showing determination of the Allies against Soviet imperialism was the function of the airlift.

5. The End of the Blockade

However, as the airlift proceeded Soviet Union came to understand that the blockade was not meeting its purpose and was even leading to great embarrassment to the union. On May 12 of 1949 the Soviet Union lifted the blockade that was inhibiting the road connection to West Berlin.

6. Significance to the Cold War

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift were significant events in the Cold War for several reasons:

Airlift was a prove that the western powers were determined to prevent Soviet’s expansion and hold on to Berlin.

The blockade and the relieving by air created a keen rivalry between the U.S.A and the Soviet Union thus heightening tension during the early years of the Cold War.

The Berlin Airlift was another indicator of rivalry between two super powers, they had to put into test what they stood for.

The airlift demonstrated the organisational advantages of United States and Its Allies in providing the unhindered leadership in western style.

Conclusion

The Berlin Blockade as well as the Airlift was some of the major acts that shaped the into formation early Cold War era while putting into test the Iron resolution of the western powers. Successful realization of the airlift not only met the need of West Berlin getting the essential supplies but also expressed the intentions of the Allies to the Soviet Union and the world. It could be observed that this event contributed greatly to the general trend of the war and its result.