Course

• 24 June 1948 - Stalin shut of land roots across Soviet controlled Germany into Berlin (2 agreed 'land routes' but not air routes - 'corridors')

  • wanted to show west that a divided Germany wouldn't work
• Truman needed to respond (containment policy)

  wanted Berlin to be seen as a symbol of freedom behind the iron curtain.

  His solution was to fly in supplies.

  The west section of Berlin only had enough foods supply for 36 days and so something needed to be done
• Began 26 June 1948 and lasted for 10 months.

  • British codename: 'operation plainforce' / American codename 'operation vittles'
  • Had to land at 90 second intervals at Berlin-Templeholf (built new runway) and new airport at Berlin-Tegel.
  • Planes had to avoid soviet planes

  Truman sent B-29 bombers (capable of carrying atomic bombs) to send warning to the Soviets
• In September 1948 - 4600 tons a day of food was being flown in but it was still not enough.

  • Soviet union tried to persuade people to move from West to East (only 3% took them up on the offer)
  • 16-17 April was the peak, with 1398 flights landing and 13000 tons of food in 24 hours.
• 275,000 flights over entire period of 10 months and 4,000 tons of supplies flown in each day on average.

  • cost USA $350 million and UK £17 million

  12 May 1949: Stalin called off blockade, realising his plan was failing to starve allies out of Berlin.