The Point of Starting the Berlin Blockade

Another one of the Cold War’s most significant events was the Berlin Blockade which took place from June 24, 1948 to May 12, 1949. After the end of World War II, the victorious powers of the war divided the German territory into four different occupation zones, namely the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.

However, the western districts of Berlin which lay well within the territories controlled by the Soviet Union were cut-off as Cold War erupted between the Soviet Union and the western Allies. By means of this blockade, the attempts to demonstrate Soviet control over the whole city was tried to be shown.

Berlin Aeroplane

Thus, the response by the Western Allies triggered one of the most extraordinary instances of humanitarian acts – the Berlin Airlift. From the air it was supplying food, gasoline and other necessities along with more than the basic needs for the people of West Berlin.

From June 26, 1948, United States, Great Britain and other countries began to supply West Berlin using transport aircrafts. Because the embargo produced the scarcity and a risk of the shortage of food to the extent that it posed the probability of famine, the airlift meant the residents of the city would live.

Final Length of the Berlin Blockade

Thus the effective period of the Berlin Blockade was 322 days from June 24, 1948, to May 12, 1949. In this time it was very difficult to divide East and West Berlin by mere roads, rail and water transport almost brought the whole world into isolation. The Soviets believed that with this move of cutting off all access to the Western parts of the city they may force the Western Allies to hand over authority.

Blockade Lift of the Blockade

It was the Berlin Blockade that would not work as was anticipated even if the Soviet Union persisted on it. The Western Allies had no intention of doing so, however, and therefore the embargo turned into an awesome spectacle of the global community’s cohesion and determination instead.

Knowing that its intended result did not materialize, the Soviet Union removed the embargo on May 12, 1949. All in all by means of the Berlin airlift, the Western Allies were in a position to kind of eliminate the blockade, a situation that proved the recuperative capacity as well as camaraderie of the respective nations.

Berlin Blockade: Importance

Apart from the Cold WWII, the Berlin Blockade of 1948 had an enormous impact on the geopolitics of Europe after the WWII. This highlighted Original Partition of Germany into East Germany and West Germany in year 1949 due to the increasing gulf created between Soviet Union and Western countries.

Furthermore

The bold reaction of the Western Allies to the embargo through the Berlin Airlift only strengthened their will over this issue and so effectively illustrated the capabilities and benefits of group action against Soviet aggression. It also stressed the fact that United States and her allies will defend the freedom and the liberty of West Berlin.

Walking through Berlin and talking to the German population shows that Berlin and the population suffered the consequences of the Berlin blockade for many years. Such unyielding spirit of the people is evident during the period of blockade which tests ones willingness to go through sickness.

Now though not physically constructed as a wall dividing the East from the West Berlin, there are still parts of the barrier that exist as a symbol of the troubled history that is present in the city today. Most of the following memorials and museums are used in commemorating the people who were involved and the sufferers during the event today Berlin Airlift has festered itself as an important element in the history of Berlin.

Basically,

That is, it is significantly important in the context of the history of the Cold War in some of the most literal ways for several very simple reasons. They took place from June, 24 1948 to May 12 1949 and they also showed the intention of the Western Allies to defend freedom in West Berlin and also the importance of cooperation.

Arguably, the final proof that the Soviet Union was trying to stranglehold the capital through an embargo was the Berlin Airlift. It was also an exercise in humanitarian assistance most of which was probably critical in saving lives. With such management, the process of post-war took a positive turn and paved the way to a later fate to get Germany united in 1990.