The Berlin Crisis How do the US & Soviet Union “fight” their first Cold War Battle?

Trouble in Berlin Harry Truman US, Britain, France will allow their 3 zones of Germany to combine into W. Germany by Spring 1949 US/GB will supply City of W. Berlin (in Soviet Zone) Truman tells West Germans not to pay Stalin reparation money At Yalta Conf. US, Britain, Soviets decide Germany will be split into three zones at end of the war – US/GB will give France a 4 th zone Capital city Berlin is also divided into four occupation zones even though it is inside the Soviet zone

Joseph Stalin Says not paying reparations is a violation of agreement made at Potsdam conference! Installs a “puppet” communist govt. in Soviet zone creating the country of East Germany Soviets/E. Germans block road access to West Berlin, which is inside East Germany Soviets/E. Germans: no agreement for road access Soviets hope US will just give up West Berlin The Berlin Blockade

Stalin threatens military action, but ends blockade in May of 1949 US & Britain claim they have a “legal right” to supply West Berlin, will airlift supplies into city 278K flights were made (June 26-May 11) 2.3 million tons of food and supplies were delivered Berlin Airlift

After Berlin Crisis each Superpower forms a “defensive” alliance US forms NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Soviets form Warsaw Pact

A miniature city is used instruct how the airlift will work and locations that will be used.

US Air traffic controllers directing the airlift

Fueled by doughnuts, hamburgers and coffee, these pilots at Rhein-Main flew four round trips per day.

The limited load capacity of the C-47 aircraft necessitated that the much larger C-54s be added to the airlift as quickly as possible. A single C-54 was capable of carrying as much cargo as four of its older cousins.

Fresh milk being loaded on a C-47. Shipments of whole milk soon were dropped in favor of more weight efficient condensed milk.

One of the first planes to bring in supplies. Food had to be rationed as well. Two-thirds of a pound per day for employed persons and one-half pound for the unemployed.

A C-54 flies over a graveyard and perilously close to some apartments buildings while making its landing approach.

Remains of a Navy C-54 after a crash landing on the night of November 15, 1948.

Miniature parachutes carrying treats for the kids can be seen dropping from a C-54 as it comes in for a landing.

German children playing out their own Berlin Airlift

Waiting for supplies. Notice the kids sitting on rubble from WWII