Berlin Airlift: The Cold War Begins - Extra History

📜 History of the Berlin Airlift and the Cold War
Tension between the Soviet Union and their former World War 2 Allies escalated into a hostile blockade of Berlin. All sides wanted to avoid another war, but the United States, Great Britain, and France refused to bend to Stalin's pressure. They came up with a daring plan to supply Berlin by air.

#ExtraHistory #BerlinAirlift #History

[extrahistory]

The Soviet Union has blockaded half of Berlin. The people will soon starve. Only the daring, impossible Berlin Airlift can save the city and prevent another World War.

[mattmckane]

Gail Halvorsen, the famed "Candy Bomber" has just died at age 101 at the time of writing this. Very sad to see this hero gone, but his legacy shall live on in the hearts of all those who have heard and seen his works.

[Drace]

"Blitz survivors in London sent care packages to Berlin."

Proof that humanity does have a heart.

[pieguy]

This gave me an idea for an alternative Chess gamemode.
I call it "The Cold War."
How it works:
The two opponents have to make moves each turn.
If a Chess piece is moved into a position where it can attack _any_ piece, it HAS to.
The goal is to get as close as possible to being able to attack, but not actually ever attacking, for as long as possible.

[TheCrackedFirebird]

"A chaotic, cowboy operation."

As an USMC Vet, I can confirm that this describes all our operations damn near.

[johnmatkinson]

Personally, I owe my existence to the Berlin Arlift. A US Air Force mechanic and sheet metal worker who spent WWII in New Guinea was sent to RAF Mildenhall to work on these planes. He met a young lady during his spare time, fell in love, and eventually married her. Their son was my father.

[chrisc]

The Berlin Airlift was also notable for being the first major operation by the USAF as an independent branch of the US Military. It was less than a year old at the start of the operation!

[colinp]

I served with NATO in West Germany in the 70s and met many US soldiers, some were Vietnam vets and one asked me if I knew what the patch US ARMY stands for. When I said US Army he said "No! Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet" because they were conscripted (drafted) into service at that time.

[harbl]

"We can feed an entire city for fifteen months to prove a point. Imagine what else we can do with that level of logistics..." -- Truman (with a little bit of planning help from the Brits)

[hmm]

Stalin: Hippity Hoppity Berlin is now my propperty
Pilots: *supplies berlin via air*
Stalin: Blyat

[phendan]

My grandfather was born a few years before the war ended and grew up as Germany was being rebuilt and restructured. He didn't live in Berlin, but times were still harsh. So much so that his grandfather had to go back to work just to stay afloat. He still remembers relatives from France and the US sending care packages once a month to help out. Judging by the look in his eyes whenever he tells that story, that support meant the world to him.

[m.bukhori]

Stalin: "hey, guess what? I'm blockading all of your supply routes to West Berlin, what are you gonna do about it?"
Truman: "I suppose we'll just fly the supplies in"
(Fly noise)
Stalin: "alright Truman, you win this round"

[NobelTheKnave]

“We stay in Berlin. *Period* “

One of the most epic presidential quotes in HISTORY

[TheNorthie]

My grandfather was one of the doormen in the airdrop. He said he thought he was going to die and the next WW would start.

After this he claimed this is the reason he never served in the Korean War. Idk why but he survived, and most of his friends who went to Korea didn’t.

[Rynewulf]

Truman: It's over Stalin, I have the highground!

[eltsoldier]

I really like how even the Luftwaffe came around and started helping out. You have to wonder how, after they'd suffered so many crippling defeats, the Allies still gave them a real chance to help out their country. That must have really helped their pride.

[WonderfulAkari]

The candy bomber is a huge symbol of how great cruelty can lead to great kindness.

[MeterLP]

In germany the airlift planes are colloquially called "Rosinenbomber" (Raisin bombers) because of the sweets they dropped

[rdJan]

God, as a young West-Berliner, I love this moment in history. This almost made me cry, god damnit. The planes are now known as "Rosinenbomber", which is German for "raisin bombers". I just can't imagine the kinds of effort it must've taken for everyone participating for keeping up this kind of insane supply of a whole city for over a year!

[anthonymort]

I dont think people realize how beautiful this is everyone came together to make sure the german people wouldnt die