The Berlin Airlift was a historic event during the earliest of Cold War. It was a turning point in Soviet–Western Allies relationship. This blog post deals with Berlin Airlift, a context, causes and consequences of Berlin Airlift if we can say that it is the beginning of Cold War.
Berlin Airlift – Context
After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones, each controlled by one of the victorious powers: the Soviet Union, the United States, Great Britain and France. The city of Berlin, which lay in the heart of the Soviet zone, was divided into the same sectors.
Soon the allies and Soviets were in tension and soon there were separate governments in the Eastern and Western sectors of Germany. In 1948, the Western allies control West Berlin, but at that point the Soviets block all land and water access to West Berlin, cutting it off from the rest of the world.
The Berlin Airlift: The Causes
The most important cause of the Berlin Airlift was Soviet attempt to take over West Berlin. The Soviets were banking on controlling all supplies that reached the city, so that the Western Allies would have to give up their sectors, and leave Berlin under Soviet control.
An operation by the Western Allies to airlift West Berlin supplies was an antidote to the blockade which they called a violation of international law. The airlift was a huge logistical operation, which had to feed, fuel and other supplies to the inhabitants of the city.
The Berlin Airlift in Action
The Berlin Airlift started on June 26th, 1948 from Tempelhof Airport in West Berlin and aircraft were carrying supplies. The operation would transport goods to support the population over the next 15 months and thousands of flights to and from the city.
In fact, there were challenges to the airlift. The Soviet Union tried to do the same by jamming radio signals, harassing aircraft. But the Western Allies overcame such obstacles and the airlift continued.
The Berlin Airlift Consequences
The Berlin Airlift had serious importance for the political and military relations of the Cold War era.
1. Cold War Intensification
The Berlin Airlift was a classic example of a growing gap between the Soviet Union and Western forces. It showed the resolve of the Western Allies to defend their interests, and the principle of freedom, in divided Germany. This helped to raise the temperature between the two sides, starting another more powerful stage of the Cold War.
2. Formation of NATO
This experience also helped to emerge the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 1949. As such, the Western Allies felt the need to defend Europe against Soviet aggression as a unified force and the organizations of NATO, formed as a collective security organization, was born to ensure Europe’s protection.
3. Symbol of Western Determination
The Berlin Airlift acted as a powerful symbol of Western determination and resolve to stand up to Soviet aggression. Western Allies’ was to show that they were prepared to go to great length to defend their democratic values and support their allies if crisis.
Was the Berlin Airlift, the beginning of the Cold War?
The Berlin Airlift, a world significant event during the early years of the Cold War and a cause for its increasing coldness, cannot be regarded as the first sign of the Cold War. All were a long time before the airlift: ideological differences, military conflicts and geopolitical tensions between the Soviet Union and western powers.
The Berlin Airlift, though, did set the two sides back on opposing lines, and marked an important crosspoint in their relationship. Moreover, it drew attention to the ideological and political divisions which the Cold War would serve to resolve for many decades to come.
A Berlin Airlift marked the end of the Western Allies with determination and resilience. It had huge impact and eventually led towards taking shape of the Cold War. It was far from the start of the conflict but it was certainly vital to its escalation and demonstrated the need for Western solidarity in the teeth of Soviet aggression.