The Berlin Airlift (26 June 1948 to 30 September 1949) supplied West Berlin by air after the Soviet Union blockaded it on 24 June 1948. About 2.3 million tons…
The Allies split Germany and Berlin into zones, but the city lay deep inside the Soviet zone. The only written access deal, on 30 November 1945, covered three air corrid…
The West introduced the Deutsche Mark; the Soviets answered with their own Ostmark and began halting traffic into Berlin.
Rail, road, canal and electricity links to West Berlin were closed, leaving about 2.2 million people dependent on outside supplies.
Operation Vittles began on 26 June 1948 and Britain's Operation Plainfare followed two days later.
General William Tunner arrived on 28 July. Planes flew fixed routes and altitudes, three minutes apart, and after Black Friday there was no more stacking.
Between 300,000 and 500,000 Berliners rallied; Ernst Reuter said the city must not be abandoned.
Gail Halvorsen dropped sweets on handkerchief parachutes; over 23 tons followed in all.
Fog closed fields and on 30 November just ten US planes reached Berlin. Berlin still ended February with 21 days of stock.
A plane landed every 62 seconds and 1,398 flights delivered the coal.
About 322 days after it began. The airlift itself continued to 30 September 1949.
Berlin marks the date at the Airlift Monument; in June 2026 the US Air Force unveiled a Candy Bomber mural.
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