Introduction

During the intense Cold War period between the Soviet Union’s Eastern Bloc and the United States’ Western Bloc two important events emerged – Berlin Blockade and Airlift operations. Our examination covers two aspects of the Cold War conflict: examining the Berlin Blockade and Airlift events.

What was the Berlin Blockade?

In 1948 the Soviet Union took steps to cut off Western Allied supplies to their road and rail routes into Berlin Germany. After accepting this new currency in West Germany the Soviets reacted by halting access to some areas because they feared losing their grip over the region. The blockade existed to push Allies out of West Berlin.

Causes of the Berlin Blockade

The Berlin Blockade developed from growing Soviet-Western Alliance discord. Here are the main causes:

• Currency Introduction: Allied forces brought West Germany the Deutsche Mark as their new currency system. Soviet officials believed introducing West Germany’s new currency meant creating economic problems to weaken their East German control.
• Disagreement on German Reunification: Soviet Russia wanted East Germany separated from West Germany because they feared one united Germany building an army against them.
• Inability to Control West Berlin: Deep inside the East German Soviet section West Berlin stood strong as an example of Western democratic values. The Soviet government feared the Berlin city would demonstrate Western political values to its people too successfully.

The Soviet Blockade Made West Berliners Depend on Western Supplies for Survival

The Berlin Blockade created a full-scale lack of necessary supplies including food fuel and raw materials for West Berlin residents. Since Western Allies blocked the city’s primary supply routes residents of West Berlin now depended on support from the Allies.

What was the Berlin Airlift?

Through the Berlin Airlift western military forces sent basic necessities to West Berlin residents during the blockade. They sent their forces into action because West Berlin mattered to their military strategy.

The Operation

Airplanes delivered essential supplies to the people of West Berlin without interruption during the Berlin Airlift. Cargoplanes at Tempelhof and other Berlin airports carried fuel and basic supplies to the people of West Berlin.

Airbridge: Supplying West Berlin

The Western Allies built a planned system to drop necessary supplies into West Berlin. Every day a large network of aircraft delivered all needed materials through this airbridge system. A well-planned system needed both excellent timing and shared action to provide enough resources for Berlin’s citizens.

Consequences and Resolution

During the Cold War the Berlin Blockade made major changes to world politics. Let’s examine the outcomes of this pivotal event:

Western Allies’ Success

During the Berlin Airlift the Western Allies proved their determination to shield West Berlin against Soviet military threats. Through the operation they displayed their power to protect their territory without military confrontations.

The Formation of NATO

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift made Western Europe move faster to combine forces against the Soviet Union’s military danger. In 1949 NATO rose up as an institution that combined military forces between US and numerous European nations to defend their collective interests.

Division of Germany

After the Berlin Blockade Germany continued to split into Eastern and Western parts. After World War II ended in 1945 West Germany formed as a Federal Republic while East Germany became the German Democratic Republic in 1949. West and East Germany existed apart until 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell.

Conclusion

After the Berlin Blockade and Airlift took place the Cold War entered a new significant phase. The Western Allies who delivered supplies to blockaded Berlin shaped important Cold War results. The event showed clear Western support for their values and created both NATO and greater differences between East and West Germany. During the Cold War the Berlin Blockade and Airlift show us both the difficulties Cold War nations faced and the power of diplomatic resolve.