The Berlin Airlift 1948 Operation Vittles

Описание: The Division of Germany after World War Two
After the Second World War ended in 1945, the winning Allies divided Germany into four occupation zones. These zones were controlled by the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin was located deep inside the Soviet zone but was also split into four separate sectors. Tensions soon began to grow between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union regarding how to govern the country. This disagreement eventually led to a major political standoff between the different nations.
The Introduction of the Deutschmark
In June 1948, the Western Allies introduced a new currency called the Deutschmark in their zones and West Berlin. They wanted to stabilize the economy and stop the high inflation that followed the war. The Soviet Union strongly disagreed with this move because they had not been consulted about the change. They feared that a strong currency in the West would undermine the economy in their own eastern zone. In response, the Soviets decided to take drastic action to regain control over the situation in Berlin.
The Start of the Soviet Blockade
On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union stopped all land and water traffic between West Germany and West Berlin. They blocked all roads, railways, and canals that the Western Allies used to transport supplies to the city. This meant that over two million people in West Berlin were suddenly cut off from food, fuel, and electricity. The Soviets hoped that this pressure would force the Western powers to leave the city entirely. This event marked the beginning of one of the first major crises of the Cold War.
The Decision for an Airlift
The Western Allies had to find a way to help the people of West Berlin without starting a new war. They realized that the only way to reach the city was through three narrow air corridors that the Soviets had previously agreed to. General Lucius D. Clay and other leaders decided to fly all necessary supplies into the city by plane. This massive mission was officially named Operation Vittles by the United States military. It was a very risky plan because nobody knew if it was possible to supply a whole city by air alone.
Daily Life During the Airlift
The people living in West Berlin faced many hardships during the months of the blockade. There was very little food available, and electricity was only turned on for a few hours each day. During the cold winter months, there was not enough coal to heat the homes or cook warm meals. Despite these difficulties, the citizens remained determined to stay free from Soviet control. They often helped the ground crews at the airports to unload the planes as quickly as possible.
The Logistics of Operation Vittles
The scale of the airlift was incredible, with planes landing at Berlin airports like Tempelhof every few minutes. Pilots flew around the clock to deliver thousands of tons of goods including flour, milk, and medicine. Cargo planes carried heavy loads of coal to provide power and heat for the frozen city. Each flight had to be carefully timed to avoid accidents in the crowded air corridors. Engineers even built a brand new airport called Tegel in just ninety days to increase the delivery capacity.