Causes Of The Berlin Airlift

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The Berlin Airlift originated after World War II, when the Allied Powers, composed of Great Britain, the United States, France, and the Soviet Union, discussed how to appropriately oversee a defeated Germany. The nations decided to divide Germany into four zones for the American, British, French, and Soviets at the Allied Control Council (ACC), a council formed in July 30, 1945 and made up of officials from all four zones. Berlin, although contained inside a Soviet zone, would also split into four zones as well. The Western allies, consisting of France, Britain, and the United States, believed that a dilapidated country governed democratically could recover more quickly and prevent any future threats of communism. The Soviet Union, …show more content…
In 1947 the Western powers responded to these actions by merging their zones together under the Supreme Economic Council. In March of 1948, the Western powers gathered at the London Conference where they agreed to enact a federal state in West Germany and begin a currency reform. Upon gaining knowledge of the conference, the Soviet Union withdrew its representatives from the ACC. The communist power branded the conference as a violation against the ACC Mandate, and on April 1, 1948 took drastic measures to block land transportation between West Germany and Berlin, starting the first critical conflict, dubbed the “baby blockade,” between the Western powers and the Soviet Union towards the separation of …show more content…
Large amounts of food, fuel, and luxury items were successfully transported to Berliners in need. The success of the airlift only served to worsen the expectations of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union, which desired the Western powers in Germany to leave, witnessed the bond between the powers and Berlin, and though the Soviets attempted to disrupt the British and American fliers through “air maneuvers”, the amount of deliveries only increased in number. By the end of September 1948, the Tempelhof Airport in West Berlin welcomed a new plane every three minutes, and by April 1949 the airport welcomed a new plane every minute. The blockade was finally called off by the Soviets on May 12, 1949. Throughout the duration of Operation Vittles, the Western powers used about 400/441 American planes and about 100/147 British planes that successfully flew a total of 124,420,813 miles and delivered approximately 2.3 million tons of resources were delivered to the Berliners in need. The operation also proved to be expensive, costing the United States approximately $500,000 per day and Britain between $50,000 and $100,000 per day. The Berlin airlift showcased the determination of the Western powers to help aid the Berliners, yet also helped the United States emerge as
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