Changes

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.

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] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506092238/http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/BERLIN_A/PAGE_11.HTM |date=2016-05-06 }}'' on [[Truman Library]] website, a Chapter section from: ''Airbridge to Berlin --- The Berlin Crisis of 1948, its Origins and Aftermath.''</ref>

[[Image:BerlinerBlockadeLuftwege.png|250px|thumb|left|Air corridors to Berlin.]]

[[Image:BerlinerBlockadeLuftwege.png|250px|thumb|left|Air corridors to Berlin.]]