Berlin Airlift

The Berlin Airlift (1948-1949) was an action during the Cold War taken by the United States and neighboring Western European nations to airlift food and other necessities into a Communist-surrounded west Berlin. The American action was given the name Operation Vittles, the British one was called Plain Fare.

It was launched on June 26, 1948 after the Soviet Union started a land blockade of West Berlin on April 1, 1948. The USSR lifted its blockade at midnight, on May 11, 1949.

See also History of Germany.