Berlin Blockade

The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949) was a major crisis during the early Cold War. After World War II, Germany was divided into East and West, with Berlin split between the Soviet-controlled East and the Western Allies' West. In June 1948, the Soviet Union blocked all ground access to West Berlin, aiming to force the Allies out. In response, the U.S. and its allies organized the Berlin Airlift, flying in supplies to sustain West Berlin’s residents. The blockade lasted nearly a year and ended in May 1949, solidifying the division of East and West Berlin and heightening Cold War tensions.