The Background
After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the Allied powers: the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France, as well as the United States. Even though the city of Berlin was 110 miles in to Soviet territory, it too was divided into four zones, deep under Soviet control in the East German city.
In 1948, hostilities between the Soviet Union and the West’s Allies spiked when the Soviets virtually blockaded West Berlin, cutting land and water passage to the West, in an attempt to force the Western powers from the city. In response to this blockade an unprecedented aircraft operation called the Berlin Airlift was launched.
The Countries Involved
Several countries played crucial roles in the Berlin Airlift:
1. United States
The Berlin Airlift was organized and executed by the United States. Yet, the choices the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, made to sustain the essentially isolated West Berliners were not easy. The airlift capacity essential to the war effort was provided by the American Air Force.
2. United Kingdom
Berlin Airlift was the other key player in the United Kingdom. Truman’s airlift plan was backed by British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, who believed the Soviet blockade was a direct attack on the Western Allies. The U.S. Air Force and the Royal Air Force working together, using aircraft, pilots, and what proved to be so crucial to the people of West Berlin, supplies.
- France
The Berlin Airlift also involved France, under the aegis of one of the Allied powers, occupied Germany, after World War II. It was still a significant French contribution, as their contribution was smaller than the U.S. and the U.K. Airlift to the Mediterranean and Middle East was provided by French aircraft and crews to supply a continuing flow of food, fuel and other essentials.
- Canada
Although not as widely known as the United States, the United Kingdom and France, Canada was an important part of the Berlin Airlift. Transport planes of the Royal Canadian Air Force sent to take part in the airlift side of the operation and to supply its logistics.
- Australia and New Zealand
The Commonwealth included Australia and New Zealand, who both gave substantial assistance while the Berlin Airlift was in progress. Military personnel and transport aircraft, showing solidarity and support for their fellow Allies, were sent to join the joint effort.
- Soviet Union
The Berlin Airlift will surprise the reader since the Soviet Union, the most aggressive aggressor in the blockade of Berlin, also participated, but only to a limited extent. Soviet power allowed them to disrupt the airlift operations as the occupying power in East Germany. They however decided not to confront Western Allies head on, maybe to minimize the escalation of the war into a full blown war.
The Operation
From June 24, 1948 to May 12, 1949, the Berlin Airlift existed. But thousands of flights were flown during this time to ferry essential supplies to West Berlin. The airlift was driven by the need to deliver food, fuel, medicine and other things needed to the blockaded city.
The aircraft flew into the three main West Berlin airports: Tempelhof, Gatow, and Tegel. The cargo planes, unloading their supplies with remarkable precision and efficiency while at the same time loading coal, machinery and other items for the return journey, picked up just about everything they landed with.
The Aftermath
The Berlin Airlift was a huge success. However, it communicated how the Western Allies were determined and resilient enough to keep West Berlin and thwart Soviet domination. The Cold War had just begun, and this was a turning point at its earliest stages.
Aviation’s unique power was demonstrated by the airlift and its ability to be used as a strategic tool. It also promoted the idea of maintaining control over German airspace in order to avoid future blockades like that. Eventually it led to the division of West Germany and East Germany as separate states.
Conclusion
For example, in the Berlin Airlift the display of unity, determination and brilliance in the face of difficulty was not to be surpassed. On joint action, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand successfully overcame the Soviet blockade and helped the people of West Berlin survive. In the course of reshaping history and laying the foundation for the Cold War, they gained much of their wealth.
The indomitable human spirit is memorialized in this extraordinary operation, a tribute to the power of international collaboration. The Berlin Airlift is the stuff of which humanitarian effort and aviation defines the 20th century.
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