Berlin Airlift Lesson

Berlin Airlift

By Daniel Sprenkle

After WWII, Germany was divided into 4 sectors with each of the Allies occupying a sector.

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A ​Divided Germany

The German city of Berlin was also divided. Berlin was located in the Soviet sector of Germany. Why was Berlin divided instead of left to the USSR to control? Here's why:

​-Berlin used to be the capitol of Germany.

-After WWII, the Allies wanted to ensure that Germany would not be able to start another war.​

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​Berlin

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​The future of Germany created tension between the USSR and the West in first years of the Cold War. USSR wanted to unify Germany as a communist nation & the West wanted a united Germany that had a democracy.

Tension

​-June 1948, US, UK, and France announced that their sectors would unite to form West Germany and West Berlin.​

-USSR threatened by a democratic West Germany. ​

Too close for comfort.

To intimidate the West into giving up West Berlin, the USSR set up blockade of Berlin on June 24, 1948.

-They blocked ​all major roads, railways, and water canals.

-US, UK, and French officials could no longer travel to West Berlin and supplies couldn't get to West Berlin citizens.​

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​Blockade

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-Without supplies from the West, West Berlin citizens would suffer and possibly starve to death.

​-The U.S. and England refused to be intimidated and found a solution to the Soviet blockade.​

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​"We will stay in Berlin, period."

​The US and England organized an airlift called "Operation Vittles" to fly food, fuel, coal, and other goods to West Berlin.

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​​Help is on the way!

​The airlift lasted for 10 months with US and English cargo planes landing in West Berlin every 30 seconds day and night.

By May 1949, 2.3 million tons of supplies had been delivered.​

​​Dedication

The delivery of cargo kept West Berliners fed, warm, and with clothes.

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These German children are cheering a US cargo plane as it takes off to bring more supplies.​

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Success!

Multiple Choice

What supplies were delivered to West Berlin?

• fuel, Eegee's, and other goods

• food, fuel, and weapons

• food, fuel, coal, and other goods

​-May 1949, the USSR ended the blockade to West Berlin.

​-October 1949, Germany was officially divided into two nations: West Germany and East Germany.

-West Germany had a democracy.

-East Germany was communist and heavily controlled by the USSR.​

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​Ok, you win.