The Berlin Blockade was the first major event of the Cold War. Stalin didn't agree with how the Allies were aiding Germany after World War Two. The United States and Great Britain wanted to become become better allies with Germany, helping them rebuild their industries. They also hoped that by working with Germany, we would not repeat the horrors of the past. However, Stalin wanted to do the opposite, and keep Germany broken after the war. On June 24, 1948, Stalin sent Soviet troops to West Berlin to block off all routes of transportation leading into West Berlin, the Berlin Blockade because Stalin wanted The United States, Great Britain, and France away from his section of land that he acquired from the Yalta Conference agreement. The city of Berlin was located in the center of Soviet-controlled East Germany; the Allies would require passage through the Soviet-controlled parts of Germany to access any part of Berlin by land.
The Berlin Airlift was a compromise made by The United States and Great Britain to avoid a conflict with the Soviets and Stalin and to aid the desperate people of West Berlin. West Berlin was blocked off from all transportation access including railway, road, and canal for supplies. Stalin hoped to push the Allies out of Germany so he could gain control of the entire area. There was no way of entering or exiting the city of Berlin except from the sky. Instead of attacking the Soviets in control of Berlin, as a union, The United States, and Great Britain decided to use cargo planes to drop supplies to the people trapped in West Berlin with no food or water. Britain aided the United States in this operation named "Operation Vittles", which delivered daily supplies of food, coal, milk, and gasoline. Each day 5,000 to 8,000 tons of supplies were transported to West Berlin. In total, 2.3 million tons of supplies were dropped into the city. Every thirty seconds, a cargo plane reached West Berlin, and in total over 500 million dollars was spent on supplies.
Realizing the blockade was failing, the Soviets sought to negotiate. On May 4th 1949, the Soviets met with the three Western Allies and agreed to end the blockade in Berlin. Stalin had finally given up on the area, the compromise of the Allies to not go to war and give into the conflict and instead to help, was successful. On May 12, 1949, the people trapped in West Berlin were freed after a full year of being isolated, and transportation was unblocked. |
Map of routes flown during Berlin Airlift June 24, 1948 - May 12, 1949.
“If ever there are monuments raised to commemorate democracy’s victory in the battle of Berlin, there are plenty of heroes to adorn them. In their weary, often grumbling and fumbling way, it was Berlin’s plain people who won the battle.”- A Time Magazine Correspondent
Supplies waiting to be transported from the Rhein-Main Airbase. July 26, '49
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