The Berlin Blockade, 1948
- Began with currency reforms in west Germany
- Russians block the transportation routes into Berlin
- Allies had to decide to give up Berlin or make other plans
- War was an option
The Berlin Airlift, 1948
- Instead the US decided to fly everything in and out
- Planes left every two minutes for 15 months
- Kept power on the whole time
"A move to test our ability and our will to resist."
- Truman
- Truman
Fun Fact
Nearly 700 aircraft were used during the Berlin Airlift, more than 100 of which belonged to civilian operators.
Subjunctive Question
If the US didn't decide to do the air lift would they have chosen war or given up Berlin?
Summary
The Berlin Blockade was the when the USSR blocked off access to the Allies. This gave the US an option to give up Berlin, or go to war. Instead, the flew in supplies with airlines.