The Berlin CrisisThe Berlin CrisisHow do the US & Soviet Union

“fight” their first Cold War Battle?

Trouble in BerlinTrouble in Berlin• Germany must pay reparations to USSR

• Truman says no Marshall Plan $ to pay debt to Soviet Union

Harry Truman

Joseph Stalin

•Western sections of Berlin merge to form West Berlin

•US/GB must travel through East Germany to supply City of W. Berlin.

•US, Britain & France allow their zones to merge and form West Germany

•Installs a communist govt. in Soviet zone, which forms country of East Germany

•Says US is violating international law

•Soviet section of Berlin becomes E. Berlin

The Berlin BlockadeThe Berlin Blockade

•Soviet Union threatens military action but ends the blockade on May 11, 1949. Each nation forms military alliances NATO & Warsaw Pact

•Soviets & East Germans block roads leading to West Berlin

•No agreement was signed allowing west to use those roads •Soviets hope US will just give up West Berlin

•US & Britain will airlift supplies into the city, saying they have a legal right to do so (Operation Vittles)

•278K flights were made (June 26-May 11)

•2.3 million tons of food and supplies were delivered

Berlin AirliftBerlin Airlift

What is the cartoonists opinion of the Berlin Blockade?

Since roads were blocked into Berlin, US & Britain had to airlift supplies to the city.

East and West Berlin and Berlin Airlift airports.

A miniature city is used instruct how the airlift will work and locations that will be used.

US Air traffic controllers directing the airlift

Pilots at Rhein-Main flew four round trips per day.

The limited load capacity of the C-47 aircraft necessitated that the much larger C-54s be added to the airlift as quickly as possible. A single C-54 was capable of carrying as much cargo as four of its older cousins.

Jewish Passover food arriving in Berlin.

Fresh milk being loaded on a C-47. Shipments of whole milk soon were dropped in favor of more weight efficient condensed milk.

One of the first planes to bring in supplies. Food had to be rationed as well. Two-thirds of a pound per day for

employed persons and one-half pound for the unemployed.

A C-54 flies over a graveyard and perilously close to some apartments buildings while making its landing approach.

Remains of a Navy C-54 after a crash landing on the night of November 15, 1948.

Miniature parachutes carrying treats for the kids can be seen dropping from a C-54 as it comes in for a landing.

German children playing out their own Berlin Airlift

Waiting for supplies.Notice the kids sitting on rubble from WWII