The Berlin CrisisHow do the US & Soviet Union

“fight” their first Cold War Battle?

Trouble in Berlin• W. Europe getting millions from the Marshall Plan• Truman Doctrine will aid all those who resist communism• Truman tells West Germans not to pay WW II reparations to Soviet Union

President Truman

Joseph Stalin

•Will allow their three zones to combine & form country of West Germany, 3 zones in city of Berlin will also combine

•US/GB will supply the City of West Berlin (in Soviet Zone)

•US, Britain & France will withdraw most occupation troops from their German zones

•Installs a “puppet” communist govt. in Soviet zone creating the country of East Germany

•Gets no money from Marshall Plan

•Says not paying reparations is a violation of Potsdam

•Will seek revenge on US!

The Berlin Blockade

•Despite threatening military action, the Soviet Union ends the blockade on May 11, 1949

•Soviets claim US has broken the law by violating Potsdam•Soviets will block road access to West Berlin, which is inside the Soviet controlled East Germany•Soviets say no agreement was signed giving access to city •Soviets hope US will just give up West Berlin

•US & Britain claim they have a “legal right” to supply West Berlin •US will airlift in supplies since roads are blocked •US & British begin Operation Vittles •278K flights were made (June 26-May 11)•2.3 million tons of food and supplies were delivered

Berlin Airlift

What is the cartoonists opinion of the Berlin Blockade?

Since roads were blocked into Berlin, US & Britain had to airlift supplies to the city.

East and West Berlin and Berlin Airlift airports.

A miniature city is used instruct how the airlift will work and locations that will be used.

US Air traffic controllers directing the airlift

Fueled by doughnuts, hamburgers and coffee, these pilots at Rhein-Main flew four round trips per day.

The limited load capacity of the C-47 aircraft necessitated that the much larger C-54s be added to the airlift as quickly as possible. A single C-54 was capable of carrying as much cargo as four of its older cousins.

Jewish Passover food arriving in Berlin.

Fresh milk being loaded on a C-47. Shipments of whole milk soon were dropped in favor of more weight efficient condensed milk.

One of the first planes to bring in supplies. Food had to be rationed as well. Two-thirds of a pound per day for

employed persons and one-half pound for the unemployed.

A C-54 flies over a graveyard and perilously close to some apartments buildings while making its landing approach.

Remains of a Navy C-54 after a crash landing on the night of November 15, 1948.

Miniature parachutes carrying treats for the kids can be seen dropping from a C-54 as it comes in for a landing.

German children playing out their own Berlin Airlift

Waiting for supplies.Notice the kids sitting on rubble from WWII