Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949 - Essay Example

 The Berlin Airlift of 1948 to 1949 is deemed to be one of the major feats in navigation history. This paper provides an overview of the Berlin blockade by the Soviet Union which led to the launch of the historic airlift operation. Moreover, it discusses the political background of the major crisis during the Cold War which adversely affected the Soviet-Western Powers relation. Post-World War II Relations To reach a consensus with regard to the rebuilding of Europe at the end of World War II, the Allied Forces comprised of the Soviet Union, United States, Great Britain and France forged the Potsdam Agreement. The provisions of the said agreement stipulated the division of Germany into four zones, allotted for each country, in accordance with the principles agreed upon in the Yalta Conference in 1945. In the same way, this set the division of Berlin into four zones as well (“Wikipedia”). However, the agreement had not provided for arrangements with regard to access to Berlin given that the city is within the Soviet zone (“Reader’s Companion to American History”). With this, the divergence of views on the status of Berlin soon emerged. The Soviet Union considered the presence of the other three Western nations only as a temporary occupation. As Joseph Stalin claimed, in economic and administrative terms, the whole of Berlin belonged to the Soviet-occupied zone of Germany. On the other hand, the Western Powers asserted that the citizens of Berlin had the right to choose and determine the future. (Elkins) The rift was further aggravated given the difference in Soviet Union’s and Western nation’s viewpoints regarding the economic recovery plan for Germany. The former believed that Germany should be incapacitated to launch another war since Stalin assumed that Germany along with Japan could once again be perils to Soviet Union by 1960s. On the contrary, the Western Powers, particularly the US, stressed that the post war reconstruction of Europe primarily depends on the rebuilding of German economy and industry. (“Wikipedia”) In line with the Western recovery plan, the unification of the Western-occupied sectors in Germany, dubbed as the Marshall Plan, was announced on March 6, 1948. The three Western zones would be consolidated with an independent federal government (“Wikipedia”). In this regard, the Soviet Union withdrew from the Allied Control Council administering over Berlin due to the perceived violation of the Potsdam Agreement by the Western Powers (“Reader’s Companion to American History”). Apparently, the country was divided into East Germany under the Soviet Union and West Germany under Western Power control. As such, Berlin was similarly divided. As a pre-requisite for the establishment of independence, the Western Powers called for the revival of the economy. During those times, the only active economy in West Germany was the black market. To push through with the Marshall Plan, the underground economy would have to be destroyed. The Western Powers believed that currency reform was the answer. (Botting) Currency Reform As part of the proposed change in currency, a brand new currency, the Deutschemark, would replace the highly depreciated Reichsmark. The Deutschemark was set with a stable and universally accepted value. For the plan to succeed, the currency reform operation was carried out in utmost secrecy. They deemed it crucial that no leak was generated for this would result to adverse international consequence. (Botting) When the new currency was announced in June 23, 1948, substantial economic recovery commenced in West Germany. The confidence in money was revived and economy normalized as traders abandoned the barter system and sold goods in exchange for cash. The shops were also filled with various consumer goods which had not been sold legally for a long time. (Botting) Soviet Reaction The introduction of the new currency proved to be unacceptable for the Soviet Union. In a meeting between Stalin and three Western ambassadors in Moscow, the Soviet leader avowed that Germany had already been divided into two distinct states with separate capitals, which were Berlin and Frankfurt. In this regard, Berlin was no longer the sole capital of the entire Germany but only of East Germany. As such, the introduction of the West German currency in West Berlin was deplorable (Botting). However, Botting cited that the problem over Berlin was not about the change in currency but by the existence of the four-power government. Stalin simply wanted the Western Powers out of Berlin. Furthermore, the migration of East German workers to West Germany coupled by electoral setbacks for the Socialist Unity Party in 1946 contributed to the dual threat of Western economic absorption and state independence (Pennacchio). These conflicts signaled the imposition of a Soviet blockade on all land routes to Berlin (Elkin). Berlin Blockade On June 24, 1948, a day after the new currency was introduced, the Soviet Union stopped all surface travel between West Germany and Berlin (“Reader’s Companion to American History”). The communist bulwark cut off all rail and road routed passing through Berlin. With the souring Soviet-Allied relations, the Western Powers were not able to negotiate a treaty with the Soviet Union regarding the right of passage. (“Wikipedia”) Given its stance, the Soviet Union rejected arguments by Western Powers that occupation rights in Berlin and use of routes in the past three years has granted the West legal claim to unregulated use of roads and rail (“Wikipedia”). Meanwhile, in the US, there were some sentiments for accepting this reasoning. This is because many were disinclined to wage war all for maintaining relations with Berliners, who were once their opponent. (“The Reader’s Companion to American History”) On the day of the Berlin Blockade, Russian guards turned back on eastbound traffic at the Helmstedt checkpoint. Trains boarded by German passengers at the border station of Marienborn were also turned back. Russian patrols and East German frontier guards were substantially augmented at the Soviet border. The electricity was also cut. Trains carrying American military goods at Marienborn were stopped and rails were removed (Botting). The Soviet government asserted that the blockade would only be lifted in the event that the Western Powers accepted the East German currency as the sole legal tender in Berlin. This would translate to the Soviet control of the whole city, to which the Western Powers disagreed. As declared by US President Harry Truman, “We will stay, period.” (Botting) However, according to Huston, the insistence of the US and Great Britain (followed by France) to occupy their respective sectors of Berlin did not have a well articulated reason. He deemed such as a great mistake since their stance only “put on the hands of the adversary a hostage.” Berlin Airlift As mentioned, the US and UK governments were opposed to any drastic retaliatory action. This is contrary to the course of action proposed by Winston Churchill, i.e. the use of the atomic bomb by the US to force the Soviet Union out of Berlin and East Germany. Furthermore, President Truman deemed that such action would render the US unpopular. (“Wikipedia”) In addition, one of the most impelling reasons cited for not using force was the formidable presence of the Red Army divisions deployed in the Soviet sector. The US army in Germany, on the other hand, had been demobilized and redeployed since the end of the war. Moreover, the British and French forces were not in the position to wage another war after such a short interval. (Botting) The notion of launching a military challenge was rejected. However, the Truman administration held that the Western Powers could not risk losing Berlin because such would lead to losing the entire Germany. (“The Reader’s Companion to American History”) To address the situation, massive airlift to supply vital necessities to West Berlin (Tusa) spearheaded by the US was launched and followed by the Great Britain on June 28, 1948. This action was codenamed Operation Vittles and Plain Fare by the US and Great Britain, respectively (“Wikipedia”). The operation was supervised by General William Tunner, who was deemed as the most experience air-transport officer in both American and British air forces. To secure that the job is accomplished, Tunner primarily ensured that the Anglo-American airlift operation was under a single command. Second, he established a standard procedure for the conduct of the airlift. (Botting) Given the guiding principles, aircrafts would fly at three-minute intervals interminably. In the event that the plane was not able to land in Berlin in its initial attempt, it should fly straight back to the point of origin. They were instructed to take off immediately for the return leg upon unloading the cargo. (Botting) The Allied planes landed in major Berlin airfields in Tempelholf in the American sector, Gatow and Havel in the British sector and Tegel in the French sector. The aircraft were provided and operated by the US, Great Kingdom and France. However, crews from other countries like Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand also bestowed assistance. (“Wikipedia”) The operation was not free from technical problems. The crew contended with lack of repair facilities and other difficulties with navigation. For instance, should a four-engined plane experienced engine trouble with one engine, it has no choice but to take off and fly out for return leg with only three engines. (Botting) Despite the myriad challenges, the operation was accomplished. Hundreds of aircrafts, dubbed as Rosinenbomber (raisin bombers) by the people of Berlin, carried various cargo containing million tons of supplies of food stuff and coal for energy requirement. An estimated 2,250,000 tons of supplies were transported in the entire duration of the operation (“Wikipedia”). Coal accounted for two-thirds of the total delivery (Tusa). During this period, Berliners claimed, “The sound of engines is music to our ear,” (Botting). One of the most memorable instances occurred during Easter of 1949. The planes flew in over 300,000 tons of supplies which include dehydrated eggs and potato, boneless meat and saccharin along with 1,500,000 tons of coal. In addition, they brought in special cargo feeds for animals in Berlin Zoo, special diet packs for nursing mothers and elders, packs of chocolates for Christmas, newsprint for West Berlin’s free press, seedlings to replace cut-down trees and Volkswagen for Berlin police among others. Furthermore, about 175,000 people mainly composed of children and tuberculosis patients were airlifted out of Berlin. (Botting) As the humanitarian mission gained public sympathy and despite the perceived political interest of incumbent leaders, the relationship of Allied Forces and people of Berlin were seen in a different light. The former enemies eventually became comrades amidst the adversity. (Botting) Lifting of Berlin Blockade Shortly after the “Easter Parade,” the blockade was lifted and borders were reopened (Elkin) as the Soviet Union succumbed to moral defeat. The local population gathered in the streets to welcome the Allied Forces that arrived through land. They also placed garland of flowers on locomotives of the first train which rolled in. (Botting) Despite the lifting of the blockade, the Western Powers continued with the operations for another four months. This was carried out to ensure that enough supplies were stocked in case the Soviet Union reimposed the blockade. (Botting) The trade embargo between the Western and Eastern zones was said to have substantially hindered the development of the East Germen economy (Botting). Results of the Airlift The Berlin Airlift is deemed as one of the greatest feats in aviation history. This may be partially owed to the fact that no airlift plane was reported to be shot down by the Soviet Union despite the land and water blockade. According to studies, Stalin did not attempt to resort to such action given the atomic supremacy of the US (“The Berlin Airlift of 1948 to 1949”). However, while three bomb groups were strategically placed in Europe with specific Soviet targets, the Soviets harassed the Allied planes by jamming radio channels, directing search lights at aircrafts, “buzzing” cargo planes and allowing balloons to drift into air corridors. With this, more than 65 lives of British, German and American personnel were lost. As the Western powers remained in their respective sectors in Berlin, the issues on Berlin and Germany division were not completely resolved and escalated the tension of the prevailing Cold War. Feeling of resentment between the US and Soviet Union worsened. Although peace was restored, it was only temporary. The superpowers started to engage in an arms race shortly after the incident. Their brinkmanship lasted for decades. Personally, the reunification plan could have been addressed through diplomacy or multi-party negotiations. The parties involved could have exhausted diplomatic means to settle the dilemma. Nevertheless, the airlift launch was the next best method in resolving the issue at hand. Initially utilized for bomb dropping purposes, the Western Power opted for airlifting which is one of the many underutilized facets of air power (Werrell). Given their choice of method, they saved the city without necessitating the creation of another horrific and blood-filled war. The eleven-month British-American airlift forestalled a potential US-Soviet military showdown and spared Berlin from extensive starvation and spread diseases (Pennacchio). Reference Botting, D. From the Ruins of the Reich: Germany 1945-1949, New American Library, New York, 1985. Elkins, T.H. Collier’s Encyclopedia Macmillan Educational Company, 1988. Huston, J. “Fifteen Great Mistakes of the Cold War.” World Affairs 151(1), 1988. Pennacchio, C.F. “The East German Communists and the Origins of the Berlin Blockade Crisis.” East European Quarterly 29(3), 1995. “The Berlin Airlift of 1948 to 1949.” History Learning Site. 07 October 2005 The Reader’s Companion to American History, Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, ed. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991. Tusa, J. Berlin Airlift, 1988. Werrell, K. “The Dark Age of Strategic Airlift: the Propeller Era.” Air Power History 50(3), 2003. Wikipedia, 2005. 07 October 2005 Read More