USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The crisis started on June 24, 1948, when Soviet forces blockaded rail, road, and water access to Allied-controlled areas of Berlin. The United States and United Kingdom responded by airlifting food and fuel to Berlin from Allied airbases in western Germany.

Detailed explanation-2: -Joseph Stalin, the Soviet leader, imposed the Berlin Blockade from 24 June 1948 to 12 May 1949, cutting off all land and river transit between West Berlin and West Germany. The Western Allies responded with a massive airlift to come to West Berlin’s aid.

Detailed explanation-3: -On 26 June 1948, Western allies started a massive airlift to counter the Berlin blockade imposed by the Soviet regime. The film, “Background to Berlin”, produced in 1962, explains how this happened.

Detailed explanation-4: -The only way to get food into West Berlin was by air. As the population began to go hungry, the Western powers started flying supplies into the city around the clock. They even dropped chocolate over the city-in tiny individual parachutes.

Detailed explanation-5: -The United States and Great Britain responded by organizing an airlift, codenamed “Operation Vittles, ” that supplied the people of West Berlin from the air with food, fuel, and clothing on a ‘round-the-clock basis. It was one of the first battles of will between the Americans and Soviets at the dawn of the Cold War.