Clash over a new currency The Americans and British went ahead with their plan to revive the German economy. They launched a new currency – the Deutschmark. The Soviet Union responded by cutting off road, rail and canal links to West Berlin on 24 June 1948. Power supplies that came from the Soviet zone were also cut off. The Berlin Blockade had begun.
A British cartoon showing the Western attitude to the Soviet blockade of Berlin. What images
are used in this cartoon? What is its message? Is it effective in getting across its message? (Note symbols, words and images.)
22
How would the Americans and British help 2.5 million West Berliners to survive?
The Berlin Airlift The Western countries decided to supply Berlin by using three 20-mile-wide air corridors that the Soviet Union had not cut off. In a huge operation – codenamed Operation Vittles – they flew large cargo planes into three airports in West Berlin. They flew in food, medical supplies, drums of petrol, even coal. In spite of bad weather and harassment by Soviet planes, the Western Allies continued to supply Berlin for the next 11 months.
THE BERLIN AIRLIFT, JUNE 1948 TO MAY 1949 USAF
RAF
Flights to Berlin and back Tons flown
131,918 1,101,405 49,733 255,526 CIVIL
13,897 79,470
TOTAL 195,548 1,436,401
US plane carrying supplies into West Berlin during the Berlin Blockade
