993,099
edits
Changes
mLine 1:
Line 1: − + − + − + − − + − − + − + − − + Line 38:
Line 35: − + − + − ===British operation=== − + + + + + + − == Afterward ==+ − 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.+ + + + + + + + − + + + − + − + − − + − − + − − +
KS update 1.3
[[Image:Deutschland Besatzungszonen - 1945 1946.svg|thumb|Occupation zones after 1945. Berlin is the multinational area within the Soviet zone]]
[[Image:Deutschland Besatzungszonen - 1945 1946.svg|thumb|Occupation zones after 1945. Berlin is the multinational area within the Soviet zone]]
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 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, 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.
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.
== Causes ==
==Causes==
[[Image:1-DM-Coin-German.jpg|thumb|A 1 Deutsche Mark coin from 1992. The DM was Germany's official currency until it was replaced by the [[Euro]] in 1999.]]
[[Image:1-DM-Coin-German.jpg|thumb|A 1 Deutsche Mark coin from 1992. The DM was Germany's official currency until it was replaced by the [[Euro]] in 1999.]]
The Soviet Union began the blockade because they thought the western half of Germany (controlled by the UK, USA and France) was becoming too strong, because one currency had recently been introduced throughout the entire western half - the [[Deutsche Mark]]. The Soviets were worried that a single currency would help the economy of the western half recovered quickly from the damage caused by the [[Second World War]], and that this stronger western half would eventually develop into a country (it eventually did, called [[West Germany]]). The Russians wanted one Germany, without an army, that they could easily control. The [[Operation Barbarossa|Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union]] had killed one in seven Soviet people, and the Soviets feared that Britain, France and America might try to launch their own invasion at some point in the future. They therefore wanted as much land between them and France as possible, so that any major war would be fought in central Europe, and not in the Soviet Union where Soviet civilians might be killed (which is what had happened during WWII).
The Soviet Union began the blockade because they thought the western half of Germany (controlled by the UK, USA and France) was becoming too strong, because one currency had recently been introduced throughout the entire western half - the [[Deutsche Mark]]. The Soviets were worried that a single currency would help the economy of the western half recovered quickly from the damage caused by the [[Second World War]], and that this stronger western half would eventually develop into a country (it eventually did, called [[West Germany]]). The Russians wanted one Germany, without an army, that they could easily control. The [[Operation Barbarossa|Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union]] had killed one in seven Soviet people, and the Soviets feared that Britain, France and America might try to launch their own invasion at some point in the future. They therefore wanted as much land between them and France as possible, so that any major war would be fought in central Europe, and not in the Soviet Union where Soviet civilians might be killed (which is what had happened during WWII).
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.
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 would 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 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] {{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>
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.]]
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 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.
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 ==
The British had about 150 [[C-47 Dakota]]s and 40 [[Avro York]]s. The RAF was also using 10 [[Short Sunderland]]s and later by Short Hythe flying boats. These flew Finkenwerder on the [[Elbe]] near [[Hamburg]] to the [[Havel]] river. The flying boats were designed to resist rust and water damage so were very useful for transporting bulk salt, which would have rusted the other planes. Many other aircraft were later used, and the British had flown in about 100,000 tons of cargo by the end of the blockade.
The British had about 150 [[C-47 Dakota]]s and 40 [[Avro York]]s. The RAF was also using 10 [[Short Sunderland]]s and later by Short Hythe flying boats. These flew Finkenwerder on the [[Elbe]] near [[Hamburg]] to the [[Havel]] river. The flying boats were designed to resist rust and water damage so were very useful for transporting bulk salt, which would have rusted the other planes. Many other aircraft were later used, and the British had flown in about 100,000 tons of cargo by the end of the blockade.
== Monument ==
== Monument ==
39 British and 31 U.S. pilots died during the blockade. There is a monument with their names in front of Tempelhof airport. Similar monuments can be found at the military airfield Wietzenbruch near [[Celle]] and at [[Rhein-Main Air Base]]
39 British and 31 U.S. pilots died during the blockade. There is a monument with their names in front of Tempelhof airport. Similar monuments can be found at the military airfield Wietzenbruch near [[Celle]] and at [[Rhein-Main Air Base]]
{{quote|They lost their lives for the freedom of Berlin in service for the Berlin Airlift 1948/49|Luftbrückendenkmal, Tempelhof}}
{{quote|They lost their lives for the freedom of Berlin in service for the Berlin Airlift 1948/49|Luftbrückendenkmal, Tempelhof}}
== Afterward ==
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 1980s Schoenefeld had had its own crossing points through the [[Berlin Wall]] for western citizens.
== Berlin Blockade Media ==
<gallery widths='160px' heights='100%' mode='traditional' caption=''>
File:Map-Germany-1947.svg|The red area of Germany (above) is Soviet controlled [[East Germany]]. German territory east of the [[Oder-Neisse line]] (light beige) was ceded to Poland, while a portion of the easternmost section of Germany [[East Prussia]], [[Königsberg]], was annexed by the [[Soviet Union|USSR]], as the [[Kaliningrad Oblast]].
File:Berlin Blockade-map.svg|Map showing sectors of occupation of Berlin
File:C-47s at Tempelhof Airport Berlin 1948.jpg|[[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|C-47 Skytrains]] unloading at [[Berlin Tempelhof Airport|Tempelhof Airport]] during the Berlin Airlift
File:Germans-airlift-1948.jpg|Germans watching supply planes at Tempelhof
File:Berlin airlift.ogv|1950s film by the British Government about the Berlin airlift
File:C-74 Globemaster unloading flour at Berlin Gatow during Operation Vittles.jpg|A [[Douglas C-74 Globemaster|C-74 Globemaster]] plane at Gatow airfield on 19 August with more than 20 tons of flour from the United States
==Related pages==
File:Sunderland 201 Sqn on Havel during Berlin Airlift 1948.jpg|An RAF [[Short Sunderland]] moored on the [[Havel]] near Berlin unloading salt during the airlift
</gallery>
== Related pages ==
* [[Berlin]]
* [[Berlin]]
* [[RAF Gatow]]
* [[RAF Gatow]]
* [[East Berlin]]
* [[East Berlin]]
* [[Gail Halvorsen]] (also known as "Uncle Wiggle Wings the Candy Bomber")
* [[Gail Halvorsen]] (also known as "Uncle Wiggle Wings the Candy [[Bomber]]")
* ''[[The Big Lift]]'', a [[1950 in movies|1950 movie]] about the airlift from an American point of view.
* ''[[The Big Lift]]'', a [[1950 in movies|1950 movie]] about the airlift from an American point of view.
* [[Bob Clarke (Historian)]]
* [[Bob Clarke (Historian)]]
== Notes ==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
== 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=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/airlift/ | access-date=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/ | access-date=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] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404143246/http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Cold-war/Berlin-Airlift.htm |date=2004-04-04 }}
* [http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Cold-war/Berlin-Airlift.htm Operation Plainfare] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404143246/http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Cold-war/Berlin-Airlift.htm |date=2004-04-04 }}
* [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.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/psf/box31/t297c01.html Agreement to divide Berlin]
* [http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/psf/box31/t297c01.html Agreement to divide Berlin]
* [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/marshall/large/documents/index.php?documentdate=1948-07-23&documentid=45&studycollectionid=mp&pagenumber=1 Memorandum for the President: The Situation in Germany, July 23, 1948]
* [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/marshall/large/documents/index.php?documentdate=1948-07-23&documentid=45&studycollectionid=mp&pagenumber=1 Memorandum for the President: The Situation in Germany, July 23, 1948] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512202710/http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/marshall/large/documents/index.php?documentdate=1948-07-23&documentid=45&studycollectionid=mp&pagenumber=1 |date=2016-05-12 }}
* [http://www.almc.army.mil/ALOG/issues/SepOct05/Berlinairlift.html Berlin Airlift: Logistics, Humanitarian Aid, and Strategic Success] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116210844/http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/SepOct05/Berlinairlift.html |date=2007-01-16 }}
* [http://www.almc.army.mil/ALOG/issues/SepOct05/Berlinairlift.html Berlin Airlift: Logistics, Humanitarian Aid, and Strategic Success] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116210844/http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/SepOct05/Berlinairlift.html |date=2007-01-16 }}
* [http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part19.htm#berlin Royal Engineers Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228220638/http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part19.htm#berlin |date=2007-02-28 }} Royal Engineers and the Cold War (Berlin Airlift)
* [http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part19.htm#berlin Royal Engineers Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228220638/http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part19.htm#berlin |date=2007-02-28 }} Royal Engineers and the Cold War (Berlin Airlift)