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Children in West Berlin watch U.S. airplanes bring in supplies
On this Day: Soviet Union Ends Berlin Blockade
May 12, 2008 12:10 AM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
On May 12, 1949, Russia ceased an 11-month blockade and efforts to isolate and annex West Berlin, defeated by a massive daily U.S.-British airlift of supplies.
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After World War II, Germany had been divided into four zones, occupied by the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. Berlin, located in the heart of the Soviet zone, was similarly divided.
But postwar relations between Russia and the Western Allies quickly soured over economic and political issues, and the Soviets decided to push the West out of Berlin.
On June 12, 1948, the Soviets closed the Autobahn to West Berlin, then cut off barge and rail traffic. On June 25, all supply shipments into West Berlin were prohibited.
Britain and the United States decided to supply West Berlin by air. The Berlin airlift, which began on June 26, reached its goal by August of delivering more than 4,500 tons of food and fuel daily. Pilot Gail Halvorsen and his “candy bombers” even airlifted tons of candy for Berlin children.
On Easter Sunday 1949, almost 13,000 tons of supplies were delivered in a single 24-hour span. Realizing the blockade was failing, the Soviets sought to negotiate. After a May 4 meeting with Western Allies, Russia agreed to end the blockade, effective on May 12.
By then British and American pilots had delivered more than 2.3 million tons of supplies in more than 275,000 flights. The operation was a major political and public relations success for the Western Allies and an embarrassment for the Soviet Union.
But postwar relations between Russia and the Western Allies quickly soured over economic and political issues, and the Soviets decided to push the West out of Berlin.
On June 12, 1948, the Soviets closed the Autobahn to West Berlin, then cut off barge and rail traffic. On June 25, all supply shipments into West Berlin were prohibited.
Britain and the United States decided to supply West Berlin by air. The Berlin airlift, which began on June 26, reached its goal by August of delivering more than 4,500 tons of food and fuel daily. Pilot Gail Halvorsen and his “candy bombers” even airlifted tons of candy for Berlin children.
On Easter Sunday 1949, almost 13,000 tons of supplies were delivered in a single 24-hour span. Realizing the blockade was failing, the Soviets sought to negotiate. After a May 4 meeting with Western Allies, Russia agreed to end the blockade, effective on May 12.
By then British and American pilots had delivered more than 2.3 million tons of supplies in more than 275,000 flights. The operation was a major political and public relations success for the Western Allies and an embarrassment for the Soviet Union.
Headline Links: Blockade ends
By April 1949, the Soviets knew that they were beaten and announced their desire to negotiate an end to the blockade. “The fact that the bold, persistent Berlin airlift—and Berliners’ dogged courage—had brought them to this point was a notable cold war victory for the West.”
Source: Time
The end of the blockade gave the West Berliners access to more and better quality food, more electricity and more jobs. This seemed a fitting reward for their 11 months of dogged determination: “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.”
Source: Time
Background: Strained relations led to blockade; West responds with ‘Operation Plane Fare’
The Western Allies wanted to rebuild Germany’s economy but the Soviet Union, fearing that Germany could again become a military power, wanted to keep it weak. The Western Allies planned to introduce the Deutsche Mark to West Berlin, against the wishes of the Soviet Union. When the Soviets shut off access to West Berlin they hoped the West would evacuate. Instead, the British and American militaries launched the Berlin Air Lift (Operation Plane Fare and Operation Vittles), which made daily deliveries of food, milk, coal and gasoline.
Source: Army Logistician
Key Players: Gail Halvorsen’s candy bombers
During a brief stay in Berlin, American pilot Gail Halvorsen promised a group of children that he would drop some candy bars and gum from his plane the next day. Using handkerchiefs as miniature parachutes, he dropped the sweets to a group of waiting children near the airfield. His story was picked up by the media and soon the military launched Operation Little Vittles, which would drop 23 tons of chocolate, candy and gum by the end of the airlift.
Source: Truman Library
Historical Context: The beginning of the Cold War
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift was the first major crisis of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Learn more about the Cold War in the findingDulcinea U.S. History Web Guide.
Source: findingDulcinea
Reference: Documentaries on Berlin Airlift and Cold War
PBS’ American Experience produced a film called the “Berlin Airlift.” Its Web site features a timeline, interactive maps, biographies of prominent individuals and newspaper accounts during the Airlift.
Source: PBS
CNN’s “Cold War” is a 24-part series on the Cold War. Its Web site includes interactive maps, interviews, radio broadcasts, historical documents and a transcript of the show.
Source: CNN
© 2008 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
