Conflicts & Resolutions · Crisis

Berlin Airlift

1948–1949 · 20th century · Also known as Berlin Blockade

The Berlin Airlift was the supply of West Berlin by air in 1948–1949, after the Soviet Union blockaded road, rail and canal access to the city's western sectors in June 1948. American, British and other Western aircraft flew in food, coal and other goods, at the peak landing a plane every few minutes. The Soviets lifted the blockade in May 1949, and the crisis hastened the division of Germany into two states.

Berlin Airlift
Image: Henry Ries / USAF · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 state history

Allied-occupied Germany

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Berlin Airlift. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/berlin-airlift
MLA
“Berlin Airlift.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/berlin-airlift. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Berlin Airlift.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/berlin-airlift.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Berlin Airlift’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/berlin-airlift (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻