what was the berlin airlift and why was is significant?

Question

what exactly was the berlin airlift, what happened, and why is it significant to US history?

Answer 1

After World War 2, Berlin was split into two sides. The West Berlin was controlled by the Allies, meaning the United States, Britain, France, etc. East Berlin was controlled by the Soviet Union, which at the time was trying to spread communism through the region of Eastern Europe. However, the people that lived on the Eastern side were living in awful conditions, with lack of food and shelter. So many of them began moving to the western side of the city. The Soviet Union saw this and began guarding the border and construction of the Berlin Wall began. This made getting supplies to the Eastern side particularly difficult. The Berlin Airlift saved around 2 million people in East Berlin, through the distribution of supplies, food, water, and medicine. The United States would use tiny parachutes attached to cargo loads of supplies to float into the city, ultimately saving the lives of the poverty and grief stricken citizens.

Answer 2

the berlin airlift, also known as the berlin blockade took place between June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949. The Berlin Blockade was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. this was during the multinational ocupation of post-WWll germany, during which the soviet union (russia) put a blockade around the capitol city of Berlin. in responce, the US air dropped food and supplies in to the city. it is important , because The Berlin Airlift could be called the first battle of the Cold War.