Berlin Airlift Books

About Berlin Airlift

The Berlin Airlift (1948–1949) was a landmark Cold War operation in which the Western Allies supplied the residents of West Berlin entirely by air after the Soviet Union blockaded all ground routes into the city. Following World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the U.S., the UK, France, and the Soviet Union. Berlin, though located deep within Soviet territory, was similarly divided. Tensions escalated in 1948 when the Western Allies introduced a new currency in West Germany, which the Soviets opposed. In response, the Soviets cut off rail, road, and canal access to West Berlin in June 1948, attempting to force the Allies out and take full control of the city. Rather than retreat, the Western Allies launched an unprecedented logistical operation to sustain the city’s 2.5 million residents. For over a year, cargo planes—flying around the clock—delivered food, coal, medicine, and other essentials. At its height, aircraft were landing every 30 seconds at Tempelhof and Gatow airports. The U.S. and the UK led the effort, supported by Canadian, Australian, and other Allied forces. Over 277,000 flights were made, delivering more than 2.3 million tons of supplies. The airlift was not only a technical and logistical triumph but also a powerful demonstration of Western resolve. It highlighted the ideological divide between East and West and solidified the U.S.'s commitment to Europe’s defense, eventually leading to the formation of NATO in 1949. The Soviets ended the blockade in May 1949, realizing the airlift could not be broken. The Berlin Airlift remains a defining event of the early Cold War era—symbolizing the power of peaceful resistance, humanitarian action, and strategic air power in the face of political coercion.