Historical1948
Berlin Airlift Begins
The United States and its allies began a massive airlift to supply West Berlin after the Soviet Union blocked all ground access to the city. Over the next 15 months, Allied planes delivered more than 2.3 million tons of supplies to the besieged city.
Why It Matters
The Berlin Airlift demonstrated America's commitment to defending freedom and democratic governance against authoritarian aggression without resorting to armed conflict, establishing a model for Cold War deterrence.