Berlin Blockade
June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949 · West Berlin
Soviet blockade of 24 June 1948 to 12 May 1949 of the Western Allies' railway, road and canal access to West Berlin, one of the first major crises of the Cold War. The Western Allies answered with the Berlin Airlift, landing more than 200,000 times to deliver over 2.3 million tons of food, fuel and supplies. The USSR lifted the blockade on 12 May 1949; the crisis deepened the East-West division and drew West Germany into NATO's orbit.
Key people
Joseph Stalin
head of state/government · Soviet Union
Harry S. Truman
President, Ordered the Berlin Airlift · United States and allies
Vasily Sokolovsky
belligerent leader · Soviet Union
Lucius D. Clay
belligerent leader · United States and allies
Brian Robertson, 1st Baron Robertson of Oakridge
belligerent leader · United States and allies
Participants
-
Soviet Union
-
United States
United States and allies
-
United Kingdom
United States and allies
-
France
United States and allies
-
Canada
United States and allies
-
Australia
United States and allies
-
New Zealand
United States and allies
-
Union of South Africa
United States and allies
Before and after
- Followed from
- Marshall Plan April 3, 1948 – December 31, 1951
- Led to
- Berlin Airlift June 24, 1948 – September 30, 1949
Related events
1948
1951
1954
1957
1960
1963
1966
1969
1972
1975
1978
1981
1984
1987
1990
Berlin Blockade