Background
-After WWII Germany was divided into 4 zones
-Berlin was in Soviet Zone & was also divided into 4 zones
-Western countries delivered food & supplies to Berlin through air because other routes blocked by Soviets
-some historians call it first battle of Cold War because it was first major conflict
-Truman didn’t want to start WWIII so the airlift was alternative to fighting
-total coast= $224 million
bLOCKADE
-started June 24, 1948
-Soviets wanted to control Berlin so they started blockade to keep supplies from being delivered
-Soviets thought the blockade would drive France, US & GB out of Berlin permanently
-closed highways, railroads & canals
-Soviets thought if they could cut Berlin off it would fall under their control
-Berlin had only 36 days of food when blockade started
-ended May 12, 1949 & canals and roads were reopened
aIRLIFT
-code named “Operation Vittles” by American military; known as “Air Bridge” to people in Berlin
-lasted over a year
-Western countries didn’t want to give up Berlin or start war- thought they could send in supplies by air
-USSR thought airlift would fail & citizen in Berlin would give up
-Very difficult task because 2 million people lived there
-Over next 10 months- US & GB flew almost 300,000 flights to Berlin
-US & GB brought 2.3 million tons of supplies
-bases for Airlift in England & Western Germany
-700 aircrafts used; over 100 = civilian operators
-Every 30 seconds- Allie plane would take off or land
-intended to be short term operation but lasted longer than expected
-ended May 12 when blockade ended
sUPPLIES
-15,000 tons of food were needed per day to keep the people alive
-need food, clothes, medical supplies, medicine, and coal (for energy)
-about 65% of cargo = coal
-in all about 2.3 million tons were delivered
Operation "Little Vittles"
-pilots often dropped candy tied to parachutes
-helped moral in Berlin
-by end of airlift 3 tons of candy had been dropped
lIFE IN BERLIN
-life in Berlin= very difficult during blockade & airlift
-fuel was rationed
-people got most of their supplies from black market
-wasn’t a lot of luxuries