Answer to Question #152250 in History for Andrea Rosales

Question

What solution did the Western powers pursue to undermine the Soviet blockade of West Berlin?

Answer 1

As a result of the blockade of Western German by the Soviet Union, there was massive airlift of supplies into West Berlin which was undertaken in what was to become one of the greatest logistical efforts in history. This was staged by the United States, Britain and Italy. For the Soviets, the escapade quickly became a diplomatic embarrassment. Russia looked like an international bully that was trying to starve men, women, and children into submission. And the successful American airlift merely served to accentuate the technological superiority of the United States over the Soviet Union. On May 12, 1949, the Soviets officially ended the blockade.