{"id":2631,"date":"2021-08-24T21:36:47","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T19:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stage.alm.smithberlin.com\/?post_type=topic&#038;p=2631"},"modified":"2024-10-07T12:15:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T10:15:47","slug":"the-berlin-airlift-1948-49","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/","title":{"rendered":"The Berlin Airlift 1948\/49"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Three years after Germany\u2019s unconditional surrender on May&nbsp;8, 1945 and the resulting occupation by the four victorious powers, Berlin experienced a crisis that from today\u2019s perspective appears as the first great conflict of the Cold War. The Soviet blockade of West Berlin confronted the Western powers with virtually insoluble problems. While the causes of the blockade were varied, the immediate occasion was currency reform.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignfull has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"h3 has-large-font-size\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">One city \u2013 two currencies<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">The victorious powers had been forced to tackle the currency situation in Germany since the end of the war in 1945. A drastic glut of money, a lack of acceptance for the currency, and a flourishing black market made reform a matter of urgency. The withdrawal of the Soviet representative from the Allied Control Council in March 1948, however, rendered a joint approach by the four victorious powers unthinkable.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"902\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt-1024x902.jpg\" alt=\"People wait in line at the zone border in Helmstedt. At right, a flagpole with the British flag and a soldier seen from behind.\" class=\"wp-image-1570 size-large\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt-1024x902.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt-300x264.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt-768x677.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt-1536x1353.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt-50x44.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Border between the Soviet and British Zones near Helmstedt a few days before the Berlin Blockade, June 21,1948 (AlliiertenMuseum\/US Army Photograph)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">The Western powers announced the currency reform on June 18 and it was implemented two days later. As an immediate response, the Soviet military administration interrupted passenger traffic to and from Berlin on June 19 in order to protect itself from the expected flood of now worthless reichsmarks. A currency reform for the Soviet occupation zone was decreed on June 23. In Berlin the Western powers refused to recognize this \u201cEast currency.\u201d Instead they adopted the currency reforms enacted in the Western zones, so that beginning on June 25 the German mark of the Bank of the German States (West DM) also became legal tender in West Berlin. Berlin was now divided not only into four occupation zones, but also into two currency zones.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignfull is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"627\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-02-berliner-luftbruecke-flughafen-tegel-c-54-1024x627.jpg\" alt=\"A line of US Air Force C-54 Airlift planes with their cargo being unloaded onto trucks.\" class=\"wp-image-1571 size-large\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-02-berliner-luftbruecke-flughafen-tegel-c-54-1024x627.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-02-berliner-luftbruecke-flughafen-tegel-c-54-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-02-berliner-luftbruecke-flughafen-tegel-c-54-768x470.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-02-berliner-luftbruecke-flughafen-tegel-c-54-1536x941.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-02-berliner-luftbruecke-flughafen-tegel-c-54-50x31.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-02-berliner-luftbruecke-flughafen-tegel-c-54.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>US Air Force C-54 Airlift planes are unloaded at Tegel Airport, 1949 (AlliiertenMuseum\/US Army\/Dahlberg)<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"h3 has-large-font-size\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Supplies from the skies<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Apart from the mentioned blockades of street traffic on June&nbsp;19, between June&nbsp;19 and 29, 1948 the Soviets also successively blocked all routes by land, rail, and water between West Berlin and the three Western zones. Only the air corridors on which the four victorious powers had agreed in the Air Agreement of 1945\/46 were unaffected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--unfold-->\n\n\n\n<p>For that reason the three Western powers began an Airlift to Berlin to supply the city and its approximately two million inhabitants with the necessities. It was an ambitious plan never before attempted on this scale and it was unclear whether it would work.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>On June&nbsp;28, 1948 the first American and British aircraft landed at Tempelhof and Gatow airfields with goods for the people of Berlin. Many other flights followed, but nobody could predict how long the blockade would last. For that reason, the Western powers initially planned to supply the city into the winter. The aim in the first weeks of the Airlift was to fly 4,500 tons of goods into the city every day. This was raised to 5,000 tons a day in the autumn of 1948. Coal to meet the city\u2019s energy needs made up a large proportion of this tonnage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In October U.S. General William H. Tunner was appointed to head the Combined Airlift Taskforce (CALTF), which had its headquarters in Wiesbaden. He perfected the Airlift. The American military governor of Germany, General Lucius D. Clay, ensured the necessary political support of U.S. President Harry S. Truman. Clay continually requested more and larger aircraft to use in the Airlift, and Truman approved them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--unfold-->\n\n\n\n<p>In the first months of the Airlift, the French occupying power participated with six airplanes. The urgently needed third airport in Tegel in the French sector was completed in November 1948. Some 19,000 workers built it in record time, taking just three months. The British mobilized their Royal Air Force and contracted with an additional 25 charter companies to fly mainly oil and gasoline into the city. Aside from their circa 23 percent share of the total Airlift tonnage for freight, the British were also responsible for the lion\u2019s share of passenger transport during the blockade. With their C-54-transport planes, the U.S. forces provided the largest air fleet for \u201cOperation Vittles,\u201d as the Americans called the mission. In spring 1949 the operation to supply Berlin was working so well that on some days more goods were flown into the city than had arrived before the blockade by road, water, and rail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Western powers used the media very effectively to publicize this outstanding efficiency. The continuing positive reporting on Allied tonnage and the growing reputation of the Western powers were certainly part of the reason for the lifting of the Soviet blockade on May&nbsp;12, 1949. Despite the end of the blockade, the Airlift continued for another four months into late summer 1949. The historical events known as the \u201cBerlin Blockade\u201d and the \u201cBerlin Airlift\u201d are thus chronologically not wholly identical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The lifting of the blockade and the end of the Airlift solved the first crisis of the Cold War by logistical means \u2013 without military force. This does not, however, mean that there were no casualties of the Airlift. At least 78 people died in airplane accidents. Their names are engraved on the base of the Airlift Memorial in the Berlin district of Tempelhof.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignfull has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"h3 has-large-font-size\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Occupiers become protectors<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">The Berlin Airlift palpably changed the relationship between the Western powers and West Berlin. Just a few years after World War II, the one-time enemies had mastered a severe political crisis by intensive cooperation. The population of Berlin now experienced the occupying powers as protecting powers.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-03-berlin-platz-luftbruecke-denkmal-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial photograph of a large crowd at the Airlift Memorial, which is just being unveiled.\" class=\"wp-image-1572 size-large\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-03-berlin-platz-luftbruecke-denkmal-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-03-berlin-platz-luftbruecke-denkmal-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-03-berlin-platz-luftbruecke-denkmal-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-03-berlin-platz-luftbruecke-denkmal-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-03-berlin-platz-luftbruecke-denkmal-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-03-berlin-platz-luftbruecke-denkmal.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Ceremonial unveiling of the Airlift Memorial in Berlin, July 1951 (AlliiertenMuseum\/US Army Photograph)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull\" id=\"Airlift-Statistics\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"h3 wp-block-heading\">Airlift statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tonnage in American short tons (1 ST = 907 kilograms)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:8.33%\">\n<p><strong>US<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GB<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:91.67%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns statistic has-d-90912-color has-text-color is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-heading\">Coal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>1,421,730&nbsp;ST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Luftbruecken_Statistik_Kohle.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2561\" width=\"80\" height=\"85\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>164,800&nbsp;ST<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>296,303&nbsp;ST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Luftbruecken_Statistik_Lebensmittel.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2562\" width=\"120\" height=\"100\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>241,713&nbsp;ST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Miscella&shy;neous<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>65,540&nbsp;ST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Luftbruecken_Statistik_Verschiedenes.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2564\" width=\"50\" height=\"100\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>135,723&nbsp;ST<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>24,216<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Luftbruecken_Statistik_Passagiere_nachB.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2565\" width=\"65\" height=\"125\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>34,815<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Passengers to Berlin<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Passengers from Berlin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>36,584<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Luftbruecken_Statistil_Passagiere_ausB.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2566\" width=\"65\" height=\"125\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>130,091<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>379,688<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Luftbruecken_Statistik_Fluege.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2567\" width=\"115\" height=\"60\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>175,682<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Incoming and outgoing flights<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-fact-box-block has-e-9-eef-9-background-color has-background\"><ul><li class=\"active\" data-data=\"June\u00a028, 1948\"><h3>First Airlift flights<\/h3><\/li><li class=\"\" data-data=\"September 30, 1949 (US)<br&gt;October 6, 1949 (GB)\"><h3>Last Airlift flights<\/h3><\/li><li class=\"\" data-data=\"12,940 ST\"><h3>Highest tonnage in 24 hours<\/h3><\/li><li class=\"\" data-data=\"1,398\"><h3>Greatest number of flights in 24 hours<\/h3><\/li><li class=\"\" data-data=\"39 (GB)<br&gt;31 (USA)<br&gt;At least 8 (DE)\"><h3>Fatalities during the Airlift<\/h3><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"fact-data-display\">June\u00a028, 1948<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull chronology\" id=\"Timeline\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"h3 wp-block-heading\">Timeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull chronology-slider\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">June&nbsp;19\u201329, 1948<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All land, rail, and water routes between the Western zones of occupation and Berlin are blocked.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">June&nbsp;28, 1948<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Americans and British fly in the first goods destined for the population of Berlin \u2013 a total of 268&nbsp;ST* on this day.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">August&nbsp;12<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On 707 flights, over 4,724&nbsp;ST of supplies are flown into Berlin. In so doing, the Anglo-American air fleet surpasses the 4,500-ton mark for the first time, representing the targeted minimum daily tonnage requirement for the city.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">October&nbsp;14<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Establishment of the Combined Airlift Task Force (CALTF) under American General William Tunner as Supreme Commander, and British Air-Commodore Merer as Deputy Commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/alm.test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-14-10-1948-william-tunner-usafe-807x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Der amerikanische General Tunner\" class=\"wp-image-1574\" width=\"230\" height=\"292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-14-10-1948-william-tunner-usafe-807x1024.jpg 807w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-14-10-1948-william-tunner-usafe-236x300.jpg 236w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-14-10-1948-william-tunner-usafe-768x975.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-14-10-1948-william-tunner-usafe-1210x1536.jpg 1210w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-14-10-1948-william-tunner-usafe-1614x2048.jpg 1614w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-14-10-1948-william-tunner-usafe-39x50.jpg 39w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-14-10-1948-william-tunner-usafe.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">November&nbsp;5<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first airplane lands at the new Tegel airport, constructed in just three months.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">February&nbsp;26, 1949<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On this day, more than 8,000&nbsp;ST are flown to Berlin on 902 flights.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">April&nbsp;16<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The absolute highpoint of the entire Airlift is achieved in the so-called Easter Parade. On 1,398 flights, more than 12,940&nbsp;ST are flown to Berlin within 24 hours, so that on average an airplane loaded with supplies landed every 62 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"690\" src=\"http:\/\/alm.test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-16-04-1949-hastings-gatow-royal-air-force-1024x690.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-16-04-1949-hastings-gatow-royal-air-force-1024x690.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-16-04-1949-hastings-gatow-royal-air-force-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-16-04-1949-hastings-gatow-royal-air-force-768x517.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-16-04-1949-hastings-gatow-royal-air-force-1536x1034.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-16-04-1949-hastings-gatow-royal-air-force-50x34.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-16-04-1949-hastings-gatow-royal-air-force.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">May&nbsp;12<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The blockade of Berlin is lifted. Automobiles and trains can again travel into the city. The Airlift to Berlin is nonetheless continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"541\" src=\"http:\/\/alm.test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-12-05-1949-berlin-blockade-care-1024x541.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-12-05-1949-berlin-blockade-care-1024x541.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-12-05-1949-berlin-blockade-care-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-12-05-1949-berlin-blockade-care-768x406.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-12-05-1949-berlin-blockade-care-1536x812.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-12-05-1949-berlin-blockade-care-50x26.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-12-05-1949-berlin-blockade-care.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">August&nbsp;1<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The official dismantling of the Airlift facilities begins.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">September&nbsp;30<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Last Airlift flight to Berlin by the U.S. Air Force.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlighted\">October&nbsp;6<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Last Airlift flight to Berlin by the British RAF.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Western powers responded to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin in 1948\/1949 by supplying the city from the air. Berlin became the scene of the first great crisis of the Cold War.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/?post_type=topic&p=186","_featured_caption":"","_featured_caption_checkbox":false,"_featured_alt":"","_pinkie_id":830,"_pinkie_caption":false,"_pinkie_alt":"Aerial view of airlift aircraft being unloaded at Tempelhof Airport.","footnotes":"","_post-color":[]},"class_list":["post-2631","topic","type-topic","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","en-US"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Berlin Airlift 1948\/49 - AlliiertenMuseum<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The AlliesMuseum provides an overview of the history, chronology, and statistics of the Berlin Airlift of 1948\/49.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Berlin Airlift 1948\/49 - AlliiertenMuseum\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The AlliesMuseum provides an overview of the history, chronology, and statistics of the Berlin Airlift of 1948\/49.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AlliiertenMuseum\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-07T10:15:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt-1024x902.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/\",\"name\":\"The Berlin Airlift 1948\/49 - AlliiertenMuseum\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt-1024x902.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-08-24T19:36:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-07T10:15:47+00:00\",\"description\":\"The AlliesMuseum provides an overview of the history, chronology, and statistics of the Berlin Airlift of 1948\/49.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/en\/thema\/the-berlin-airlift-1948-49\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.alliiertenmuseum.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/6.0-01-sowjetunion-berlin-blockade-helmstedt.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1762,\"caption\":\"Grenze zwischen der sowjetischen und britischen Zone bei Helmstedt wenige Tage vor der Berlin-Blockade, 21. 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