Berlin Blockade: The Airlift Saved 2.3 Million Tons!

Berlin Blockade: The Airlift Saved 2.3 Million Tons!

On June 23, 2025, we look back on a historical event that set the course for the Cold War: the Berlin Blockade. This began on June 24, 1948, when the Soviet Union closed all access routes to West Berlin in order to gain control over the entire city. The Western Allies responded with an airlift to supply the trapped population with food and essential goods. This initiative, which officially became known as the Berlin Airlift, ran until September 30, 1949. This laid the foundation for one of the most important political disputes of the post-war period. [SWR] reports that preparations to set up this airlift began on June 23, 1948.

What led to the blockage? A central factor was the currency reform that was carried out on June 20, 1948 in the western occupied zones of Germany. The Soviet Union, concerned about the impact of this reform, decided to block access to West Berlin. Over 250,000 flights were organized by the Western Allies to ensure supplies to the city. With a daily delivery target of 3,475 tonnes, which was often exceeded, fascinating operations such as “Operation Little Vittles” took place during the airlift, dropping sweets for children. [Wikipedia] adds that the blockade was not only a military strategy, but also served to expand the Soviet Union's influence in the region.

The effects of the Berlin blockade

The Berlin Blockade was the first climax in the Cold War and resulted in Berlin being effectively divided. The Western Allies wanted to prevent the Soviet Union from gaining control of West Berlin. Another goal was to ensure the establishment of a democratic state in the western zones. The Allies' response not only strengthened the supply situation for the residents, but also consolidated the division of Germany, which remained in place until reunification in 1990.

In total, the amount of supplies delivered during the airlift was an impressive 2,334,374 tons, of which more than 1.7 million tons were transported by the U.S. Air Force. The number of flights carried out exceeds 278,228 and, unfortunately, 101 people lost their lives - mainly not in direct air transport, but in accidents on the ground. [bpb] provides a detailed overview of the supply chain and the challenges that had to be overcome during this challenging period.

If we think back on these events today, we realize that the Berlin Blockade was not only a milestone in Berlin's history, but also crucial for the geopolitical landscape of the 20th century. It is a story of hardship, unity and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit to provide help in difficult times.