Introduction

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift, occurred in the period between 1948 and 1949, form part of the early period of the Cold War. It happened when the Soviet Union surrounded West Berlin and sealed all routes by land, sea and water. An equally stunning response by the United States and like mind allies saw an elaborate airlift to the service of the city in dire need of basic necessities. This blog post contains a brief about the Berlin Blockade and Airlift, pinpointing the main actor s and outcomes.

The Berlin Blockade

After World War II ended, Germany was split into four zones each controlled by the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France. Similarly, the city of Berlin which was located in the deepest Soviet zone was divided in the similar identical fashion. Soviet’s pressure on western ally increased, and it resulted in the blockade of West Berlin.

The intention of the Soviet Union was to push the Western Allies out of Berlin by encircling it and thus – by blocking their supply routes. Following the switching off of electricity, power, and water supplies on June 24, 1948, all ground access to West Berlin was blocked cutting off more than two million people from their supplies of food, fuel, and medicine.

The Airlift Operation Begins

As a result of this blockade, the United States, with its allies the United Kingdom, and France they started the Berlin Airlift. This operation included constantly supplying West Berlin through the air. The first supply flights were made on 26 th June 1948.

The airlift delivery system was very much organized and well thought of. Aircraft, especially transports, arrived at the airfields of West Berlin: Tempelhof was especially famous. They touched down regularly; in every few minutes to make sure they off loaded essentials such as food, fuel, and spare parts. These aircrew operations where carried out by both American and Britain nations.

The Huge Size of the Airlift

When the Berlin Airlift started, the US and its allies increased the commonly transported amount to fit the need of the people in West Berlin. This was at the height of the war; it increased to well over 277,000 air evacuations, ferrying about 13, 000 tons of supplies per day. This was a very large task that demanded a lot of work – the air traffic controllers are rarely off their jobs due to their responsibility in managing the arrival and take off of airplanes.

They valued this concept in the airlift to the extent that many different countries made contributions that aided their great effort. However, apart from the United States and the United Kingdom, other European countries and Canada joined in supporting during this time.

The End of the Blockade

This air lifiting went on for almost a year and it was such a successful operation in the area of logistics. And finally, on May 12, 1949, USSR has decided and removed the blockade as well. The airlift operation ceased shortly after, on September 30 1949. By that time West Berlin had received more than 1.5 million tons of supplies.

Consequences and Significance

Thus, the Berlin Blockade and Airlift gave a number of meanings at the start of the Cold War. It illustrated that the vision of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union were diverging through the understanding of communism, politics and economies.

The successfully completed airlift operation also revealed the will-power and despise of powers in the west for the Soviets while they were willing to defend their allies. It army to morale of West Berliners and brink symbolic of freedom and demorecray to world.

Conclusion

Berlin Blockade and Airlift was one of the most important moment in the history of early Cold War. It demonstrated the resolve of the Western Allies to stand firm for West Berlin against the aggression of Soviet Union. The airlift operation remains one of the last biggest undertaking of air transportation, to end the blockade and is a testimony to how cooperation was successful. It’s important to get an understanding of this event in order to grasp the dynamics and conflicts of the post World War II period.