The Berlin Airlift is a storied event which occurred from 1948 to 1949 in the shadow of the Cold War. The massive Soviet blockade cut off the people of West Berlin from the outside world and it was a gigantic humanitarian and logistical enterprise to deliver essential supplies. In this blog post I am going to take you through the facts of Berlin Airlift, why it happened, how and when it was implemented and how successful it was.
Background
Following World War II, Germany was split into four zones of occupation held by the Anglo American and Soviet Union powers. Further, the city of Berlin, which lay much deeper into the Soviet zone, was also divided into four sectors.
The Soviet Union began cutting off the land and water routes into West Berlin on June 24, 1948, and the Soviet Union began pushing the tensions into the highest gear. The purpose of this blockade was to force the Western powers to abandon West Berlin.
The Response
The US and its allies had a difficult situation on their hands. They refused to leave West Berlin but knew they had to get beef to the city in order to keep its population fed. Therefore, the Berlin Airlift became a response to the blockade.
The Plan
His plan being to get a huge armada of cargo planes past Soviet domination to fly vital supplies into West Berlin. Planning and coordination of the operation were hard, and required the participation of Western powers and a large logistical back up.
The Implementation
On June 26, 1948 the Berlin Airlift officially began. Hundreds of trucks a day transported supplies into West Berlin, backed up by military aircraft, mainly from the United States and Britain, flying around the clock. The Tempelhof, Gatow, and Tegel airports were used as the main airports.
The airlift was organized into three main corridors – the American, British and then, the French corridor – to be efficient. It was patrolled by aircraft so no interference of the Soviets.
The Challenges
The Berlin Airlift had its troubles, both great and small, over its entire time span.
Soviet Opposition
All types of Soviet disinformation vehicles — from vicious propaganda campaigns to harassment of aircraft — have been used to disrupt the airlANER. But, although they failed to stop the airlift through a sustained effort, the Western powers had the determination and tenacity to keep it going.
Weather Conditions
The airlift was challenged by operating in all weather, including harsh winters. However, the pilots, and the ground crew showed up with skill and dedication.
The Success and Legacy
It was a remarkable success: the Berlin Airlift. The city withstood the Soviet blockade; the Western powers were able to deliver sufficient supplies to keep the population of West Berlin alive.
As the Berlin Airlift did not look like it would lose, the Soviet Union finally lifted the blockade on May 12, 1949. It showed the West’s determination to keep the people of West Berlin mobilized.
The Berlin Airlift: a long lasting impact. The division froze Germany into East and West and snuffed out reunification for nearly 40 years. On a symbolic level, it was a victory for the United States and its allies right at the outset of the Cold War.
Conclusion
The Berlin Airlift was an emphatic triumph of will over adversity, and, by all counts, a monumental event. This not only kept the people of West Berlin alive, but represented the stones set in a pillar the Western powers would not budge from.
The Berlin Airlift is today an event when remembering the spirit of resilience and solidarity. It is also a reminder of how far we will go to help others.