Historical Background to the Event The Berlin crisis and airlift of 1948 is the initial and most important event of the cold war. The episode which led to the fall of Berlin wall has assisted in formation of modern Germany. After World War II, Germany became a conquered nation and was dived into four zones which was controlled by its victorious allies including United Nations, France, Germany and Soviet Union. Berlin, capital of Germany, though positioned in the eastern soviet half, was also parted into four halves among them Western Berlin was taken by Western Allies and Eastern Berlin was taken by Russia. The episode started when Soviet Union in 1948, ceased all the traffic to West Berlin. To overcome the situation General Clay decided to carry cargos and daily food supplies to West Berlin through Air.
At the initial stage there were only two airfields in Berlin, Tempelhof and Gatow. Templehof with single runway was located in U.S sector and Gatow with single runway in Britain Sector. During the latter stage of World War II the Tempelhof runway was used for small aircrafts. Though the runway was beautifully built with hangars and huge terminal buildings it was encircled by very tall apartments which required 600 ft ceiling in heavy weather. Earlier to 1948, U.S army has built 12.5 ft thick steel base runway which was adequate for their operation. After the airlift operation due to heavy pounding of aircraft the steel mat started breaking. Later the runway was constantly repaired and in late 1948 construction began on third Tempelhof runway.
The Term Paper on Weimar Germany World War
In examining great social and cultural changes in the modern West, many specific events come to mind: the Renaissance and the Reformation, the "discovery" of the Americas, industrialization, and World War Two. One such event, often overlooked, is the "Great War", 1914-1918. Like every people affected by the expanse of this war, Germans were deeply affected and forever changed. As a social, ...
Daily through airlift minimum of 4,500 tons of food supply has been provided to Berlin in June 1948. Later this was increased to 5,620 tons as the operation began to run successfully. Berlin by January 1949 was able to stock food supply and was also in the position to increase 1,600 calories to 1,800 calories per individual. In April 1949, Operation Vittles created a history by carrying 13,000 tons of coal in 24 hrs without any accidents or injury. The process of airlifting cargos and food materials extended until September 1949, though Russia took back the air blockade in May 12, 1949. Thus the crisis in Berlin was put to an end by massive decision made by Truman and other western allies to engage air force to overcome the challenge placed by Soviet Union.
Western Powers and Soviet Union Outlook on Berlin Crisis 1948 The motivation behind the Berlin crisis differs among the allies. Soviet Unions was more concerned in expanding communism throughout Germany and hence involved in the process of occupying the entire Germany from Western Allies. For the same reason Soviet Union would have done anything to inhibit the establishment of united, independent and industrial Germany. However, parted Berlin became a huge hindrance in succeeding its goal. On the other hand, United States was more concerned in constructing Germany through financial assistance. United States was more attracted with the geographical location and huge population of Germany. Geologically, Germany is situated close to the center of Europe and has become world power twice during the first half of the 20th century. D.M. Giangreco and Robert .E.
Griffin state that, United States has considered Germany as an imperative factor which can be understood from the action of U.S. State Secretary Gorge. C. Marshal, who had associated the complete revitalization of the devastated Europe to the recovery of the German Economy. Russia has also accepted with this view point of U.S. Vyacheslav M Molotov, Russian Foreign Minister has stated that, What occurs to Berlin also happens to Germany and what occurs to Germany also happens to Europe.
The Essay on Berlin Blockade Western Portion
After World War II, when Germany was defeated, it was divided into four zones, one for each of the Allies. The eastern part went to the Russians. The other Allied Powers, France, Britain and the U. S. divided the Western portion of the city among themselves. This arrangement reflected the Allied solution for the whole of Germany. Berlin was an island with special status governed by four nations in ...
The western allies were more concerned in unifying Germany. For the same Diplomatic meetings were convened in December 1947. However, the four nations held up with failure as Russia was not supporting the idea. On the other hand, France, Britain and United States decided to ascertain West Germany as an independent nation with German currency. Russia considered the institution of German currency in West Berlin as an annoying factor and reacted immediately. By end of March 1948, Soviet started inspecting all the rails entering their sector and slowly stopped all the road, rail and water transport through eastern region.
France and Britain considered that, the main motive of the Soviet Union is to isolate Berlin from rest of the nation and make people starve by stopping all their business. Furthermore, Russia believed that by separating Berlin from other nation they can bring the state under their control. They also believed that by doing so the western allies will withdraw from Germany and the entire Germany would fall under their management. However, Soviet Union was not able to achieve its motive as General Clay of U.S and other western allies decided to airlift the basic necessities to Berlin and General LeMay, Air Force commander in Europe also decided to use other European bases with France and Belgium and successfully completed the operation. Major Events of Berlin Airlift 1948 Germany after World War II came to the hands of four major nations which later resulted in Berlin crisis which became a major event in the history. This part of the paper would discuss the important events occurred during this period.
Earlier in December 1947, Diplomatic meeting were held between the western allies and Soviet Union to discuss about the unification of Germany. By end of March 1948, Soviet started inspecting all the rails entering their sector and slowly stopped all the road, rail and water transport through eastern region. On 26th June, 1948, United States Air Force C-47 delivered the first 80 tons of food supplies into Berlin. And in the next 11 months western allies continued to transport basic amenities to 2.5 million population of Berlin. This operation was termed as Operation Vittles by U.S and Britain called it as Operation Plain fare. On 15th October, 1948 the Western Allies launched a combined Air Task Force which was headed by Major General William.
The Term Paper on The United States Air Force
The United States Air Force ABSTRACT One of the common sources of loss of conflicts in the workplace is the presence of difficult employees. Employees are usually very sensitive with poor performers that are not given attention or sanctioned in the workplace (Blades, 1967). The presence of poor performers and the presence of problem employees usually affect the working environment and thus bosses ...
H. Tunner of United States Air Force. On 20th June, 1948 the new West German currency was introduced in Berlin which served as a triggering factor in Berlin crisis. In April 1949, Operation Vittles created a history by carrying 13,000 tons of coal in 24 hrs without any accidents or injury. Russia took back the air blockade in May 12, 1949. At the midnight of May 12, 1949 Russia opened the land and water transport to Western Berlin. Bibliography Collier, Basil. Berlin Blockade and Airlift, 1948-1949.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978. 239 p. Giangreco, D.M. Airbridge to Berlin during Berlin Crisis of 1948. Novato, CA: Presidio, 1988. Harrington, Daniel F. Air Force can deliver anything: a history of the Berlin airlift. Ramstein, GE: USAFE Office of History, 1998. 126p. Castellon, David, Operation Vittles: the Berlin Airlift, 1948-1949.
Air Force Times. 57, no. 48. Milton, T. Ross. Inside the Berlin air lift: fifty years later, the Task Force Chief of Staff Reflects on Operation Vittles. Air Force magazine. October 1998.
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