The Berlin Blockade and airlift were important for the development of the Cold war because it was one of the first crises which happened during the Cold War. The Berlin Blockade changed many people's lives in West Berlin as the Soviets had blocked food supplies, energy supplies and gas to West Berlin by closing all roads and railways. This lead to the USA and Britain having to supply West Berlin by sending airplanes filled with supplies to West Berlin. In order for West Berlin to survive, they needed 4000 tonnes of food a day which meant that aeroplanes filled with supplies landed every 30 seconds. This was called the Berlin airlift. As a result of this, 79 American and British pilots lost their lives. In May 1949 Stalin called off the Berlin Blockade as the Soviets realised that the people of West Berlin were managing fine with the help of the USA and the UK.
The Berlin Blockade was the Soviets' attempt to annex West Berlin. They closed all the roads and rail lines leading into West Berlin, then offered to sell West Berlin all the things they would need. The idea was, the West Berliners would see the US and Britain were doing nothing to help them in their plight and would happily become Communists. (Apparently, the West Berliners were supposed to forget the Communists caused the plight in the first place.)
The true significance of the blockade came in General Lucius Clay's response to it: he engineered Operation Vittles, which was the aerial resupply of West Berlin. (This is better known as the Berlin Airlift.) The Communists didn't think West Berlin could be resupplied by air; General Clay proved it could. The resupply mission broke the blockade and proved to the world America stands by its allies.
I must tell you about Operation Little Vittles. There was an American pilot named Gail Halvorsen. He loved children and started giving candy to the kids around Tempelhof Central Airport, where the US was flying missions into. Eventually he started dropping candy, tied to little parachutes, out of his plane. Other pilots found he was doing it and started doing the same thing. Then the general in charge of the main airlift found out about it, approved it, named it Operation Little Vittles and leaked it to the press. Next thing you know, American candy companies were donating candy, which they shipped to American grade schools so kids could tie the little parachutes on it before it was sent to England to be loaded onto airplanes.
The Berlin Airlift was in reaction to the Berlin Blockade. The United States and allies delivered supplies to West Berlin.
The population of West Berlin at the time of the blockade and airlift (1948-49) was about 2 million.
The two western powers flew supplies over the blockade into West Berlin. This act is commonly called the BERLIN AIRLIFT. The Soviet Union revered policy after a year when the Soviets ended the blockade and pemited land-transport of goods to West Berlin.
The Soviet blockade of West Berlin, known as the Berlin Blockade lasted from 24 June 1948 - 12 May 1949.
Stalin imposed a blockade on Berlin for 11 months in an attempt to drive the Western Powers control out of West Berlin. As Berlin was in the Soviet bloc of Germany, he closed off all access to West Berlin so no resources could get through. this included food, coal for electricity etc.. The West Powers did not allow this to stop them and used the three air corridors, which they were still able to use, to supply West Berlin will all it needed. It was a massive airlift with planes flying into West Berlin constantly. After 11 months, Stalin saw that the Western Powers were not budging and ended the blockade. hope that helps!
The Berlin Airlift was in reaction to the Berlin Blockade. The United States and allies delivered supplies to West Berlin.
To isolate East Berlin from West Berlin
The West responded to the blockade by transporting supplies including food to West Berlin.
To isolate East Berlin from West Berlin
The population of West Berlin at the time of the blockade and airlift (1948-49) was about 2 million.
The Berlin Blockade (defeated by air transport planes from West Germany) was in 1948. The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 and lasted until 1989. The Berlin Blockade was first, before the construction of the Berlin Wall.
The Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade
The two western powers flew supplies over the blockade into West Berlin. This act is commonly called the BERLIN AIRLIFT. The Soviet Union revered policy after a year when the Soviets ended the blockade and pemited land-transport of goods to West Berlin.
How the Soviet's react to the blockade
The Soviet blockade of West Berlin, known as the Berlin Blockade lasted from 24 June 1948 - 12 May 1949.