The Berlin Airlift and the Making of the Cold War

The Berlin Airlift, a remarkable feat of peacetime military power projection, transported supplies to Berlin during the Soviet blockade in 1948-1949. It influenced the Cold War division of Europe and became a symbol of the conflict. The Berlin Airlift and the Making of the Cold War brings together historians and political scientists to explore the origins, course, and impacts of the Airlift, its logistics, great power competition, and its position in a divided and occupied Central Europe. It offers fresh insights into the legacies and lessons of the Airlift in theoretical and historical context.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

The Berlin Airlift, a remarkable feat of peacetime military power projection, took place over eleven months in 1948 and 1949, when cargo aircraft from the air forces of the Western Allies transported supplies to the city of Berlin, which was under Soviet blockade. Initially considered unlikely to succeed, the Berlin Airlift had a profound impact on the Cold War and the division of Europe into competing blocs. This improvised military action, which involved the delivery of food, fuel, and other essential supplies to Berlin, lasted for over a year and had a significant impact on the global political landscape. The Berlin Airlift was a critical moment in the history of Germany's recovery and rebuilding after World War II, and it had a lasting impact on the Cold War and the geopolitical landscape of Europe. The Berlin Airlift and the Making of the Cold War brings together historians and political scientists to explore the origins, course, and impacts of the Berlin Airlift after seventy years. Scholars and authorities on the Airlift, its logistics, the great power competition involved, and the position of Berlin within a divided and occupied Central Europe discuss not only the Airlift itself but also the critical role the operation played in shaping the physical and mental landscape of Cold War confrontation in Europe. The Berlin Airlift was just one of a series of decisions and events that shaped the Cold War across a global stage, and it was a pivotal moment in the story of how Germany and its people experienced recovery and rebuilding after 1945. This book offers fresh insights into the legacies and lessons of the Airlift in theoretical and historical context.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781648430602