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THE COLD WAR: The Berlin Airlift The Allied planes roared over Berlin, flying low, searching for their destination. Standing among the war torn rubble of the city, German men, women, and children looked up expectantly. For most of them, the sight and sound of the planes brought back horrible memories. It had been Allied planes that had carried the bombs that had left their city in ruins. Today, however, they knew these planes had different cargo…lifesaving cargo. They cheered. The Cold War It was June 26, 1948, three years since the end of World War II. During those three years, a new war – a cold war – had emerged between the former Allies, and Berlin became a prime target as the political fighting ground. The Soviet Union was determined to expand its Communist doctrine throughout Europe. The United States was equally determined to stop them. through the Soviet zone, the people of West Berlin would freeze or starve to death. Supplies to Berlin Halted In late June, the Soviet Military Administration delivered a proclamation. As of 6:00am, June 24, 1948, all rail, road, and water traffic between Berlin and the West would be halted, and all food stocks in the Soviet sector would be reserved for it alone, including the milk for 6,000 babies that came from dairies in the Russian-occupied zone. Either the Western powers were to recognize Soviet authority over all Berlin, or the people of West Berlin were doomed. The more than two million people in the Western sectors had enough coal to last for 45 days, and food to last 36 days. Post War agreements had dealt with the Berlin issue. It had been agreed that Germany would be divided into four zones of occupation with the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States, and France each administering one zone. Control of Berlin, which was located deep in the Soviet zone of occupation, was also to be shared. By 1948, however, it became clear that joint government of the city was an impossible task. Great Britain, France, and the United States envisioned a new Germany, with a stable economy and a democratic government. The Russians had no interest in reunifying the government. They had already taken over five Eastern European nations. Now they wanted Germany – all of it, especially Berlin. Mounting Political Tensions As the political tensions mounted, the Russians first refused to allow food from agricultural regions under their control to go to the Western zones of Germany. In early 1948 they halted their delivery of coal to the Western occupied zones of Berlin. Although the post-war agreements had allowed for air access to Berlin from West Germany, there had been no written agreement allowing free access from the French, British, and American zones of Germany to Berlin by road or rail. The Western Allies were forced to go through Soviet occupied land to reach their zones in Berlin. All food, fuel, and other supplies, including six thousand tons of coal and hundreds of tons of food, were brought into West Berlin every day by rail and truck. The Western Allies realized that if the Russians were to forbid them access The next day, General Lucius D. Clay, commander of United States forces in Europe and military governor of the American zone in Germany, called a meeting of local leaders in Berlin. Clay offered to try to fly in supplies. He asked the Berliners if they were willing to endure the inevitable hardships – and the shortages that would certainly occur. The response was clear. “General, if you’re asking whether the people of Berlin would rather have hardship or Russians, the answer is hardship.” The Airlift On June 26, American C-47s, with 80 tons of food and medicines, landed in Berlin. It was agreed that the United States and Great Britain would supply the planes and the crews. The French would supply logistical support. “Operation Vittles” had begun. The task seemed impossible. A minimum of 4,500 tons of supplies each day would be needed. There were only 102 C-47s in all of Europe, and many of them were battered from use during the war. In addition, there were a few British planes available and two C-54s. The French had no planes. radar, and there were no second tries. A missed approach meant returning to base without landing. Mounting Pressure By the third week, 2,300 tons of supplies a day were flown into Berlin – a spectacular effort – but still not enough to meet the minimum 4,500 tons needed. After seven weeks, the Allies reached their target tonnage. The airlift was working. By September the planes were carrying 5,000 tons a day to the people of Berlin. Pressure mounted on President Harry Truman to withdraw from Berlin. Having just endured a long and costly war, the people wanted no trouble with the Russians. Truman responded quickly and decisively. “The United States will stay in Berlin,” he said. “Period.” The British agreed. Ironically, the two air forces that had reduced Berlin to rubble were now agreeing to work together again, this time to keep the city alive. The Russians offered to supply food to the people. Realizing the consequences of accepting Soviet aid, the Berliners refused. They waited and hoped. The Russians waited, too, not believing the airlift could possibly succeed. The opening days of the airlift brought hope to the people, but frustration to those who were trying valiantly to carry it out. There had been no time for planning, and the problems were mounting. General Curtis LeMay, commander of the United States Air Force in Europe, realized that it was impossible for the airlift to succeed unless it was more efficiently organized. He called in General William Tunner to run the operation. Tunner immedia tely ordered addition al runways and ordered planes to take off a closely times, three-minute intervals. Traffic moved in one direction up two outside corridors into Berlin and back through a middle corridor. Landing approaches were by The Russians, however, still refused to lift the blockade. Winter was approaching, and they were certain that the airlift could not make it through the harsh German winter. In November and December temperatures dropped drastically. Fog and snow severely reduced the pilots’ visibility and hindered operations on the ground. The aircraft were covered with ice. Crews perished when their planes went down. The Russians made it worse by harassing the crews in the air and on the ground. Tonnage delivered dropped by 25 percent. Furniture was burned to heat homes. Food was scarce, but the Berliners continued to refuse help from the Russians. The worst of the bad weather was soon over, however, and by mid-February, the airlift became routine. Failure of the Blockade On May 12, 1949, the Russians admitted defeat and called off the blockade. By the time the last plane had flown its mission, almost two and a half million tons of food, coal, and medicine were delivered by air into Berlin on 276,926 flights. The missions, however, were not without cost. The Allies had spent 200 million dollars on the effort; 35 United States aircraft were lost; and 75 men lost their lives. It was a humiliating defeat for the Russians. The Western Allies had stood their ground and refused to allow the Soviets to spread their Communist tentacles. Allied ingenuity and determination had won this battle of the Cold War.