Sana Bhatia 11SG
History Homework – Exam Question
The Berlin Blockade and airlift were important for the development of the Cold war because it was one of the first crises which happened during the Cold War. The Berlin Blockade ruined many people lives in West Berlin as the Soviets had blocked food supplies, energy supplies and gas to West Berlin by closing routes, cancels and railways. This lead to the USA and Britain having to supply West Berlin by sending airplanes filled with supplies to West Berlin. In order for West Berlin to survive, they needed 4000 tonnes of food a day which meant that aeroplanes filled with supplies landed every few seconds. This was called the airlift. As a result of the airlift 79 American and British pilots lost their lives during the airlifts. In May 1949 Stalin called off the Berlin Blockade as the Soviets realised that the people of West Berlin were managing fine with the help of the USA and the UK. As the Berlin Blockade and airlift had the potential to start another war as Stalin could have bombed the planes, this tells me that the Berlin Blockade and Airlift was one of the reasons for the Cold War.
