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The '''Berlin Blockade''' was from 24 June 1948 to 11 May 1949. It began when the [[Soviet Union]] ''blocked'' railway and road access by the three Western powers (the [[United States|Americans]], [[United Kingdom|British]], and [[France|French]]) to the Western-occupied sectors of [[Berlin]]. The Blockade stopped after the Western powers used airplanes to airlift food and other things that people needed.

The '''Berlin Blockade''' was from 24 June 1948 to 11 May 1949. It began when the [[Soviet Union]] ''blocked'' railway and road access by the three Western powers (the [[United States|Americans]], [[United Kingdom|British]], and [[France|French]]) to the Western-occupied sectors of [[Berlin]]. The Blockade stopped after the Western powers used airplanes to airlift food and other things that people needed.

The Soviet Union began the blockade because they thought that monetary reform in the three German Occupation zones controlled by the Western powers which started on 21 June 1948 made the western parts of Germany too strong and wanted to force the west out of their occupation zone. The Russians wanted one Germany, without an army, that they could control.

The Soviet Union began the blockade because they thought that monetary reform in the three German Occupation zones controlled by the Western powers which started on 21 June 1948 made the western parts of Germany too strong and wanted to force the west out of their occupation zone.  

==Postwar division of Germany==

==Postwar division of Germany==

When the Allied Powers met at [[Potsdam]] they agreed to divide [[Germany]] into four occupation zones, and divided Berlin into four zones as well. Berlin was surrounded by the Soviet occupation zone, so the only way to get to the three western controlled sectors was driving through Soviet-controlled territory.

When the Allied Powers met at [[Potsdam]] they agreed to divide [[Germany]] into four occupation zones, American, British, Soviet, and French. They divided Berlin into four zones as well. Berlin was surrounded by the Soviet occupation zone, so the only way to get to the three western controlled sectors was driving through Soviet-controlled territory.

 

 

Germany also has lots of coal and iron near its border with France. The Soviets wanted to use the coal and steel to help rebuild their own country, but these resources woudl be difficult to access if the western half of Germany turned into a capitalist country that was allied to Britain, France, and the USA. If Germany was a single neutral country, gaining access to these resources would be easier because Germany could be bullied by the Soviet Union.

==Berlin airlift==

==Berlin airlift==

[[Image:Berlin Blockade Milk.jpg|thumb|200px|Loading milk on a [[West Berlin]]-bound plane]]

[[Image:Berlin Blockade Milk.jpg|thumb|200px|Loading milk on a [[West Berlin]]-bound plane]]

On 24 June 1948, the Soviet Union blocked access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin. They cut off all rail and road routes going through Soviet-controlled territory in Germany. They also blocked routes by river and canal to the [[Baltic Sea]]. The Western powers had arranged a treaty with the Soviets guaranteeing the right to use the roads, railways and waterways.

On 24 June 1948, the Soviet Union blocked access to the three Western-held sectors of Berlin. They cut off all rail and road routes going through Soviet-controlled territory in the United States. They also blocked routes by river and canal to the [[Baltic Sea]]. The Western powers had arranged a treaty with the Soviets guaranteeing the right to use the roads, railways and waterways.

The commander of the U.S. occupation zone in Germany, General [[Lucius D. Clay]], wanted to send some tanks along the [[Autobahn]] from West Germany to West Berlin, with instructions to fire if they were stopped or attacked. President [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] said no, because that may start a war. Clay was told to ask General [[Curtis LeMay]], commander of [[United States Air Forces in Europe]], to see if an airlift was possible. General [[Albert Coady Wedemeyer|Albert Wedemeyer]], the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, was in Europe when the blockade began. He had been commander of the American forces in India and China in 1944–45. He knew about the Allied airlift from [[India]] over "The Hump" of the [[Himalayas]] to China. He was in favour of starting an airlift.<ref>* D.M. Giangreco, D.M and Griffin, Robert E.; (1988) ''[http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/BERLIN_A/PAGE_11.HTM The Airlift Begins]'' on [[Truman Library]] website, a Chapter section from: ''Airbridge to Berlin --- The Berlin Crisis of 1948, its Origins and Aftermath.''</ref>

The commander of the U.S. occupation zone in Germany, General [[Lucius D. Clay]], wanted to send some tanks along the [[Autobahn]] from West Germany to West Berlin, with instructions to fire if they were stopped or attacked. President [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] said no, because that may start a war. Clay was told to ask General [[Curtis LeMay]], commander of [[United States Air Forces in Europe]], to see if an airlift was possible. General [[Albert Coady Wedemeyer|Albert Wedemeyer]], the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, was in Europe when the blockade began. He had been commander of the American forces in India and China in 1944–45. He knew about the Allied airlift from [[India]] over "The Hump" of the [[Himalayas]] to China. He was in favour of starting an airlift.<ref>* D.M. Giangreco, D.M and Griffin, Robert E.; (1988) ''[http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/BERLIN_A/PAGE_11.HTM The Airlift Begins]'' on [[Truman Library]] website, a Chapter section from: ''Airbridge to Berlin --- The Berlin Crisis of 1948, its Origins and Aftermath.''</ref>

So many things had to be flown into Berlin that aircraft took off every three minutes.<ref>* Launius, Roger D. and Coy F. Cross II ''MAC and the Legacy of the Berlin Airlift.'' Scott Air Force Base IL: Office of History, Military Airlift Command, 1989.</ref> If an aircraft missed its landing place it could not fly around the airfield and try again, it had to return to its base. This was easier and safer than holding up the aircraft following behind.

So many things had to be flown into Berlin that aircraft took off every three minutes.<ref>* Launius, Roger D. and Coy F. Cross II ''MAC and the Legacy of the Berlin Airlift.'' Scott Air Force Base IL: Office of History, Military Airlift Command, 1989.</ref> If an aircraft missed its landing place it could not fly around the airfield and try again, it had to return to its base. This was easier and safer than holding up the aircraft following behind.

The Americans also recruited ex-[[Luftwaffe]] aircraft mechanics to help with maintenance, when the Allies realised that the blockade was going to last longer than the expected three weeks.<ref>http://www.indianamilitary.org/ATTERBURYAAF/History/BerlinAirlift.html</ref>

The Americans also recruited ex-[[Luftwaffe]] aircraft mechanics to help with maintenance, when the Allies realised that the blockade was going to last longer than the expected three weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianamilitary.org/ATTERBURYAAF/History/BerlinAirlift.html|title=Berlin Airlift|website=www.indianamilitary.org}}</ref>

[[Image:Gail-halvorsen-wiggly-wings.jpg|thumb|200px|U.S. Air Force pilot [[Gail Halvorsen]], "Onkel Schoklade"]]

[[Image:Gail-halvorsen-wiggly-wings.jpg|thumb|200px|U.S. Air Force pilot [[Gail Halvorsen]], "Onkel Schoklade"]]

British, U.S., [[Australia]]n, [[Canada|Canadian]], [[New Zealand]] and [[South Africa]]n pilots flew in the airlift. The French were fighting in their colonies in South-East Asia and could not spare many aeroplanes for the airlift. Instead they built a new and larger airport in its sector, on the shores of [[Lake Tegel]]. They completed the building in less than 90 days. Today it is the Berlin-Tegel International Airport.

British, U.S., [[Australia]]n, [[Canada|Canadian]], [[New Zealand]] and [[South Africa]]n pilots flew in the airlift. The French were fighting in their colonies in South-East Asia and could not spare many aeroplanes for the airlift. Instead they built a new and larger airport in its sector, on the shores of [[Lake Tegel]]. They completed the building in less than 90 days. Today it is the Berlin-Tegel International Airport.

Hundreds of aircraft, nicknamed ''Rosinenbomber'' ("raisin bombers") by Berliners, were used to fly in a wide variety of cargo, ranging from large containers to small packets of candy with tiny individual parachutes intended for the children of Berlinflown out of Berlin on return flights.

Hundreds of aircraft, nicknamed ''Rosinenbomber'' ("raisin bombers") by Berliners, were used to fly in a wide variety of cargo, ranging from large containers to small packets of candy with tiny individual parachutes intended for the children of Berlin, were flown out of Berlin on return flights.

278,228 flights were made, and 2,326,406 tons of food and supplies, including more than 1.5 million tons of [[coal]], were delivered to Berlin.<ref>[http://www.almc.army.mil/ALOG/issues/SepOct05/Berlinairlift.html UDS Army Berlin Airlift html]</ref>

278,228 flights were made, and 2,326,406 tons of food and supplies, including more than 1.5 million tons of [[coal]], were delivered to Berlin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.almc.army.mil/ALOG/issues/SepOct05/Berlinairlift.html|title=Army Logistician (Berlin Airlift: Logistics, Humanitarian Aid, and Strategic Success)|website=www.almc.army.mil}}</ref>

The USSR lifted its blockade at midnight, on 11 May 1949. But, the airlift did not end until 30 September 1949, because the Western states wanted to build up enough supplies in West Berlin in case the Soviets blockaded it again.

The USSR lifted its blockade at midnight, on 11 May 1949. But, the airlift did not end until 30 September 1949, because the Western states wanted to build up enough supplies in West Berlin in case the Soviets blockaded it again.

The three major Berlin airfields involved were [[Tempelhof Airport|Tempelhof]], in the American Sector, [[Gatow Airport|RAF Gatow]] in the British and [[Tegel Airport|Tegel]] in the French. To keep everything safe, air traffic control located at Tempelhof. A new four-power organization also started, [[Berlin Air Safety Center]] (BASC). BASC only closed down in 1990, when [[German reunification|Germany was reunited]] and the ordinary German civilian air traffic control took over.

The three major Berlin airfields involved were [[Tempelhof Airport|Tempelhof]], in the American Sector, [[Gatow Airport|RAF Gatow]] in the British and [[Tegel Airport|Tegel]] in the French. To keep everything safe, air traffic control was located at Tempelhof. A new four-power organization also started, [[Berlin Air Safety Center]] (BASC). BASC only closed down in 1990, when [[German reunification|Germany was reunited]] and the ordinary German civilian air traffic control took over.

===British operation===

===British operation===

Tegel was developed into west Berlin's principal airport, and by 2007 had been joined by a redeveloped [[Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport|Berlin-Schoenefeld]] in [[Brandenburg]]. As a result of these two airports Tempelhof has been closed, whilst Gatow no longer serves as an airport and now hosts the Museum of the German [[Luftwaffe]]. During the 1970s and 1980s Schoenefeld had had its own crossing points through the [[Berlin Wall]] for western citizens.

Tegel was developed into west Berlin's principal airport, and by 2007 had been joined by a redeveloped [[Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport|Berlin-Schoenefeld]] in [[Brandenburg]]. As a result of these two airports Tempelhof has been closed, whilst Gatow no longer serves as an airport and now hosts the Museum of the German [[Luftwaffe]]. During the 1970s and 1980s Schoenefeld had had its own crossing points through the [[Berlin Wall]] for western citizens.

==Other pages==

==Related pages==

* [[Berlin]]

* [[Berlin]]

* [[RAF Gatow]]

* [[RAF Gatow]]

==References==

==References==

* Robert E. Griffin and D. M. Giangreco, ''Airbridge to Berlin : The Berlin Crisis of 1948, Its Origins and Aftermath'', Presidio Press, 1988. ISBN 0-89141-329-4

* Robert E. Griffin and D. M. Giangreco, ''Airbridge to Berlin : The Berlin Crisis of 1948, Its Origins and Aftermath'', Presidio Press, 1988. {{ISBN|0-89141-329-4}}

* Launius, Roger D. and Coy F. Cross II ''MAC and the Legacy of the Berlin Airlift''. Scott Air Force Base IL: Office of History, Military Airlift Command, 1989.

* Launius, Roger D. and Coy F. Cross II ''MAC and the Legacy of the Berlin Airlift''. Scott Air Force Base IL: Office of History, Military Airlift Command, 1989.

==Other websites==

==Other websites==

* {{cite web | title=The Berlin Airlift| work=American Experience | url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/airlift/ | accessdate=2007-03-05}} - A PBS site on the context and history of the Berlin Airlift.

* {{cite web | title=The Berlin Airlift| work=American Experience | url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/airlift/ | accessdate=2007-03-05}} - A PBS site on the context and history of the Berlin Airlift.

* [http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Cold-war/Berlin-Airlift.htm Operation Plainfare]

* [http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Cold-war/Berlin-Airlift.htm Operation Plainfare]

* [http://www.luftbruecke.net Luftbruecke: Allied Culture in the Heart of Berlin]

* [http://www.luftbruecke.net Luftbruecke: Allied Culture in the Heart of Berlin]

* [http://www.almc.army.mil/ALOG/issues/SepOct05/Berlinairlift.html Berlin Airlift: Logistics, Humanitarian Aid, and Strategic Success]

* [http://www.almc.army.mil/ALOG/issues/SepOct05/Berlinairlift.html Berlin Airlift: Logistics, Humanitarian Aid, and Strategic Success]

* [http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part19.htm#berlin Royal Engineers Museum] Royal Engineers and the Cold War (Berlin Airlift)

* [http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part19.htm#berlin Royal Engineers Museum] Royal Engineers and the Cold War (Berlin Airlift)

 

[[Category:1948]]

[[Category:1948]]

[[Category:1949]]

[[Category:1949 in Europe]]

[[Category:1940s in Berlin]]

[[Category:Cold War]]

[[Category:Cold War]]