Germany Post War

Germany Post War

Its 28 June 1948…Washington DC In early September 1947, the United States along with

Great Britain, and France combined their zones into one province called "Bizonia," hoping to encourage economic stability amidst a German recession by stabilizing a common currency.

The Soviet Union, opposing the creation of “Bizonia” and a common currency wanted to continue the German recession in hopes that civil unrest would move Germany towards the Communist camp

Next, the Soviets, trying to push the west out of Berlin , cut all surface traffic access to West Berlin on June 27, 1948. All shipments of food or supplies came to a halt.

A desperate Berlin, faced with starvation and in need of vital supplies, is looking to the West for help…

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OverviewUnderstand the political motivations behind the

Berlin Airlift as a case study of the Cold WarKnow the USAF role in the Berlin Airlift

Berlin Airlift (1948)Post war Germany was divided into three sections--the Allied part was

controlled by the United States, Great Britain and France and other part by the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin, although located in the eastern Soviet half, was also divided into four sectors

Global Capability – Airlift: Case Study

Global Capability – Airlift: Case StudyThe Soviets, trying to push the

west out of Berlin , cut all surface traffic access to West Berlin on June 27, 1948. All shipments of food or supplies came to a halt.

By the terms of the Yalta Agreement, the United States, Great Britain and France had over flight rights to West Berlin via 3 air corridors

• Daily requirements for Berlin: 2000 tons (Coal represented two -thirds of all tonnage)• Aircraft could carry approx 10 tons/flight• Flew in all weather (snow, fog, sleet – tough German winter)• 689 military and civil aircraft (441 US, 248 UK) airlifted 2.3 Million tons of foodstuffs,

coal and supplies• Total of 277,804 flights and 124,420,813 miles were flown during the airlift. • Each aircraft was unloaded by German crews in 20-30 minutes• The airlift cost the United States $350 million

Global Capability – Airlift: Case Study

Berlin Airlift: “A Pilot’s Story”

Lt Gail Halvorsen

Global Capability – Airlift: Case StudyOn May 12, 1949, seeing the effectiveness of the blockade and world public

opinion, the Soviets ended the blockade was over.  The Airlift officially ended on Sept. 30, 1949, A total of 101 fatalities were recorded as a result of the operation, including 31

Americans, mostly due to crashes. 

Douglas C-74 "Globe Master"    Boeing C-97 "Stratofreighter" Boeing C-82 “Packet"

Lessons Learned From the Berlin Airlift The Berlin airlift convinced American leaders of

the need to build a stronger more versatile Air Force

The cargo plane came into its own during the airlift Air Mobility Command was born

Cold War/Berlin Airlift BINGO ChallengeB I N G O

Marshall Plan Warsaw Pact Candy Bomber Nuclear Triad Brush Wars

Joseph Stalin Cold WarNational

Security Act of 1947

President TrumanTactical Air Command

Atomic Bomb General Carl SpaatzFREE

SPACEStrategic Air Command

Air Mobility Command

Air CorridorsNorth Atlantic

Treaty Organization

Bizonia TempelhofSubmarine Launched

Ballistic Missile

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

Department of Defense

Manned Bombers George MarshallAir Defense Command

OverviewUnderstand the political motivations behind the

Berlin Airlift as a case study of the Cold WarKnow the USAF role in the Berlin Airlift