The Cold War era event, Cold War Berlin Airlift, occurred from 1948 to 1949. That was a massive humanitarian and political operation designed to get supplies to West Berlin which was cut off by the Soviets. In this blog post, I will help you get a full grasp of the Cold War Berlin Airlift, its meaning, historical context, and the importance in world history.

Historical Context: The Cold War / the Division of Germany

In the aftermath of World War II, Germany was divided into four occupied zones: American, British and Soviet zones. Yet ideological differences between the Soviet Union and Western Allies made the division of Germany endurer. In their west, the Western Allies preached the virtues of democracy and capitalism; in their east, the Soviet Union put communist government systems in place in their eastern section, the former German Democratic Republic (GDR).

The Blockade and Crisis in Berlin

Tensions soared in June 1948 after the Soviet Union began to blockade West Berlin in hopes of forcing the Western Allies to withdraw from the city, which was ensconced within Soviet occupied territory. The objective was to take complete control of the whole city in order to undermine the weight of the West. All land and water routes between West Berlin and the rest of the world were cut off; supplies of food, fuel and medicine could not be imported.

The Berlin Airlift: A Humanitarian Response

In response, the United States, along with its allies, responded in kind by launching the Berlin Airlift, also known as “Operation Vittles,” as a massive logistical operation to supply West Berlin by aeroplane. That airlift included a fleet of cargo planes, mostly American and British, making continuous round trips between West Germany and the beleaguered city, carrying what it needed to live.

Key Players: General Lucius D. Clay and General Curtis LeMay

Two key players were at the heart of the success of the Berlin Airlift. The operation was supervised by General Lucius D. Clay, Military Governor in the U.S. Zone, and he persuaded the U.S. government that an airlift not only was feasible but preferable to military confrontation. And the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, general Curtis LeMay, kept the logistics in place and coordinated the airlift.

Berlin Airlift Significance

But there were far reaching consequences of the Berlin Airlift which went beyond humanitarian efforts to supply the people in West Berlin. Here are some key impacts of the airlift:

1. Purging Democracy and Capitalism

The Berlin Airlift proved that the Western Allies would not back down from supporting democracy and the strength of capitalism when confronted with Soviet aggression. It showed how strong the free world was and how far it could be pushed before the democratic nations would not allow their marxist neighbors to expand so far.

2. Solidifying NATO

Speed of formation of NATO was greatly accelerated by the Berlin Airlift. It revealed a need for some kind of collective security alliance between the Western countries. Twelve nations signed the NATO treaty in 1949, making that a strong alliance to serve as a deterrent to Soviet aggression in Europe.

3. Dividing Germany Permanently

The division of Germany crossed a watershed during the Berlin Airlift. It sealed eastern communism and western Freedom, and to build the Berlin Wall in 1961. The airlift marked the ideological gulf between the super powers and the splits that would remain intractable until the 1990 reunification of Germany.

Conclusion

Today, the Berlin Airlift of the Cold War is a symbol of hope, of determination, of international cooperation in the face of adversity. But not only did it supply West Berlin much needed supplies; it also showed the Western Allies were determined to resist Soviet aggression. It would be impossible to overstate the importance of the airlift to preserving democracy and capitalism, and to solidifying NATO and permanently dividing Germany. Knowing this major historic event, we can remember the privations and the enduring legacy.