Berlin Blockade and Airlift 1948 to 1949
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift of 1948–49 was the first major Cold War confrontation in Europe. These flashcards help AP World History and college history students master the causes, timeline, and consequences of the Soviet blockade and the Western Allied response that kept a city of two million supplied entirely by air for nearly a year.
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5 CardsWhen did the blockade end?
What did the Berlin Blockade lead to?
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How many flights were made during the Berlin Airlift?
Over 200,000 flights were made during the 11-month airlift, delivering roughly 2.3 million tons of supplies. At its peak, a cargo plane landed in West Berlin every 90 seconds.
Why did the Soviets not shoot down the airlift planes?
The Western Allies held legal air corridor rights into Berlin under 1945 post-war agreements. Shooting down the planes would have been an open act of war that Stalin was unwilling to risk starting.
What was the significance of the Berlin Blockade for the Cold War?
It showed the Western Allies would not abandon West Berlin, accelerated the formation of NATO in April 1949, and hardened the division of Germany and Europe into competing East–West blocs.