On June 26, 1948, U.S. and British pilots began delivering food
and supplies by airplane to Berlin after the city is isolated by a
Soviet Union blockade.
When World War II ended in 1945, defeated Germany was divided
into Soviet, American, British and French zones of occupation.
The city of Berlin, located within the Soviet zone of occupation,
was also split into four sectors, with the Allies taking the western
part of the city and the Soviets the eastern.
In June 1948, Josef Stalin’s government attempted to consolidate
control of the city by cutting off all land and sea routes to West
Berlin in order to pressure the Allies to evacuate.
As a result, beginning on June 24 the western section of Berlin
and its 2 million people were deprived of food, heating fuel and
other crucial supplies.
Though some in U.S. President Harry S. Truman’s administration
called for a direct military response to this aggressive Soviet
move, Truman worried such a response would trigger another
world war.
Instead, he authorized a massive airlift under the control of
General Lucius D. Clay, the American-appointed military
governor of Germany.
The first planes took off from England and western Germany on
June 26, loaded with food, clothing, water, medicine and fuel.
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972)
