The Berlin Airlift:

1
The Berlin Airlift Operation Vittles
2
Introduction

• On 22 Jun 1948, in an effort to force communism
  upon the Germans, the Soviet Union closed all
  travel routes, and cut off all water/sewage
  systems to Berlin, East Germany. This action
  earmarked the first US/Soviet Cold War
  Confrontation known as the Berlin Airlift,
  nicknamed Operation Vittles.

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Overview

• Berlin Airlift
• Video Clip
• - Beyond the Wild Blue Series
• Informal Lecture (Discussion Questions)
• - The Situation
• - Soviet Action
• - Allied Response
• - Air Force Success
• - The Cold War/Airpower

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Soviets/Allies Outlook

• Soviets intent on security of their borders
• Soviets suffered millions of casualties
• Allies werent seeking vengeance
• Allies wanted to revitalize and stabilize economy

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Zones of Occupation

• Soviets given East Germany to include Berlin
• United States given southwest Germany
• Britain given northwest Germany
• Berlin then divided and Allies to include France
  given a sector inside Berlin

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Blockade

• Soviets refused to supply food
• Soviets allowed three air corridors
• Soviets demanded their currency (money) be
  adopted
• Soviets blockaded road, rail, and waterways
• Soviets cut off all power

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Allied Response (United States)

• Airlift
• Backup of airlift through basing of strategic
  nuclear capability in England

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Airlift Begins

• 25 Jun 1948
• C-47 could fly 2 to 3 tons of cargo
• C-54 could fly 10 tons of cargo
• 2 million tons of cargo in almost 277,00 flights

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Results

• Diplomatic weapon
• Technological achievement
• Strength of airpower

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Informal Lecture

• 1. What was the basic situation leading up to
  the Soviet blockade of Berlin?

4 zones dividing Berlin basically into east and
west, Russians blockaded Berlin when their
currency was not accepted
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Informal Lecture

• 2. What actions did the Soviet Union take to
  blockade Berlin?

Soviets blockaded road, rail, and waterways and
cut off all power
12
Informal Lecture

• 3. How did the Western Allies respond to the
  Soviet blockade? How did the US add a level of
  lethality to their response?

Western Allies responded with an airlift B-29s
capable of carrying nuclear weapons were based in
England
13
Informal Lecture

• 4. What were the logistics involved in Operation
  Vittles? What were the outcomes of this event?

Aircraft would land every 3 minutes averaging
almost 6 tons per day delivered 2 million tons of
cargo in 277,000 flights
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Informal Lecture

• 5. After the Berlin Airlift, how was the nature
  of the Cold War altered? What did the Berlin
  Airlift say about airpower?

US and Soviets became adversaries Proved the
importance of airlift as an integral function of
the Air Force
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Summary

• The Situation
• Soviet Action
• Allied Response
• Air Force Success
• The Cold War/Airpower

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Closure

• Time though dearly bought, has been gained for
  peaceThe airlift has justified itself.
• -Winston Churchill