Berlin Airlift: The World's Largest Ever Air Supply Operation

During the Berlin Airlift, the Allies flew over the Soviet blockade to supply Berlin, delivering over 2,223,000 tons of food, fuel, and supplies. This prevented Stalin from seizing control of the German capital and brought the Soviet advance into Western Europe to a halt.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2019
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The fate of the free world hung in the balance as Stalin's Soviet Union relentlessly pursued its expansionist agenda, aiming to drive Western democracies from Germany and continue the spread of communism across Europe. The first step in Stalin's grand scheme was to seize control of Berlin, a city situated deep within the Soviet-occupied region of Germany. However, Berlin had been divided into two halves, with one half occupied by the Soviet Union and the other divided among Britain, France, and the United States. Recognizing the critical importance of Berlin, Stalin decided to make the Allied hold on the city untenable by shutting down all the overland routes used to supply it. The Allies faced a daunting choice: either allow Berlin to fall under Soviet control or risk war with the Soviets by breaking the Soviet stranglehold. In a remarkably visionary move, the Allies decided to supply Berlin by flying over the Soviet blockade, thus avoiding armed conflict with the USSR. On June 26, 1948, the Berlin Airlift commenced, marking the beginning of a thirteen-month operation that saw more than 266,600 flights undertaken by men and aircraft from the United States, France, Britain, and across the Commonwealth. These brave pilots and their aircraft delivered in excess of 2,223,000 tons of food, fuel, and supplies, making it the greatest airlift in history. The air-bridge established by the Allies became so effective that it delivered more supplies to Berlin than had previously been shipped overland. Stalin, realizing the futility of his attempt to seize control of the German capital, eventually lifted the Soviet blockade on May 12, 1949. This momentous event marked the end of the Soviet advance into Western Europe and brought a shuddering halt to Stalin's expansionist dreams. The Berlin Airlift not only saved the city but also showcased the resilience and unity of the Allied powers, demonstrating their determination to protect freedom and democracy across the globe.

Weight: 614g
Dimension: 193 x 246 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526758262