Berlin Blockade & Airlift

President Harry S. Truman United States of America

SOURCE DOCUMENTS May 1948- May 1949

Background Information #1: A Divided Germany 1945

TheYaltaandPotsdamconferenceswerecalledtohelptheAlliesdecidewhatwouldhappentoEurope,andinparticularGermany,attheendoftheSecondWorldWar.ThisRevisionBitewillhelpyouunderstandthedecisionsmadeatthesetwoimportantconferencesandthedifferencesthatemergedbetweenthealliedleaders.Yalta-February1945:Germanywasnotyetdefeated,so,althoughthereweretensionsaboutPoland,thebigthree-Stalin,RooseveltandChurchill-managedtoagreetosplitGermanyintofourzonesofoccupation,andtoallowfreeelectionsinEasternEuropeancountries.RussiawasinvitedtojointheUnitedNations,andRussiapromisedtojointhewaragainstJapanwhenGermanywasdefeated.Potsdam-July1945:Germanyhadbeendefeated,RoosevelthaddiedandChurchillhadlostthe1945election-sotherewereopendisagreements.TrumancameawayangryaboutthesizeofreparationsandthefactthatacommunistgovernmentwasbeingsetupinPoland.TrumandidnottellStalinthathehadtheatomicbomb.

ComparisonofYaltaandPotsdam

Yalta Potsdam

Churchill,RooseveltandStalin

Attlee,TrumanandStalin

Germanytobesplitintofourzones. Argumentsaboutthedetailsoftheboundariesbetweenthezones.

Germanywillpayreparations. DisagreementsabouttheamountofreparationsRussiawantedtotake.ItwasagreedthatRussiacouldtakewhateveritwantedfromtheSovietzone,and10percentoftheindustrialequipmentofthewesternzones,butBritainandtheUSthoughtthiswastoomuch.

Agovernmentof'nationalunity'tobesetupinPoland,comprisingbothcommunistsandnon-communists.

TrumanwasangrybecauseStalinhadarrestedthenon-communistleadersofPoland.

FreeelectionsinthecountriesofeasternEurope.ThispartoftheagreementwascalledtheDeclarationofLiberatedEurope.

AmericaandBritainwerealarmedbecausecommunistswerecomingtopowerinthecountriesofEasternEurope.

RussiawouldhelpagainstJapanwhenGermanywasdefeated.

TrumandroppedtheatomicbombsothatJapanwouldsurrenderbeforeRussiantroopscouldgointoJapan.AmericahadthebombinJuly1945,butTrumandidnottellStalinaboutit.Whenhesawhowhehadbeentricked,Stalinwasfurious.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zxgkg82/revision/2

Background Information #2: Unrest between the Allies and Soviets Report from the desk of the President’s Secretary's Files

TheBerlinSituationThediscussionsinMoscowhavereachedthecrucial[important]phase.Thefundamental[main]issuefromwhichallthedifficultiesstemfromistheSovietinsistencethatthefour-poweredcontroloverGermanyhaslapsed[happensatthesametime]andwithitallrightsoftheoccupyingpowersindiscussions,suchasthefour-poweradministrationovertheBerlincurrency[money],stemfromthisbasicissueconcerningtherightsoftheWesternPowersinBerlin.Thispointissofundamental[basic]thatitwouldprobablyrequireafurthervisittoStalinbeforediscussionsend. AmbassadorSmithandtheFrenchandBritishrepresentativesareprobablyseeingMolotovtodayandif,asweanticipate,MolotovrepeatstheSovietassertion[force]thatwenolongerhaveanyrightsinBerlintheywillrequestaninterviewwithStalin. Whilethediscussionshavenotyetbrokendown,iftheSovietsmaintaintheirpositionthatwehavenorightsinBerlinandaretheirpositionthatwehavenorightsinBerlinandarethereonlyonSovietsufferance[pity]andonthebasisofsuchfavorsastheSovietGovernmentmaychoosetoaccord[offer]us,therewillbeacompletedeadlock[noagreement]inthediscussion.

WefeeltheSovietpositionisunacceptable;(1) onthegroundsthatnoonenation,partytoamultilateral[manycountry]agreement,can

unilaterally[onlyonecountry]bymereassertionofallegedviolationsbytheotherpartiesdeclarenullandvoidsuchmultilateralagreement.

(2) topassoverinsilencethisissuewouldbeineffect,totradeourrightsinBerlinfortheliftingortheblockade,whichwouldrender[make]ourpositioninBerlinmuchmoredifficultinthefutureandwouldunquestionablybeexploited[used]allovertheworldbySovietpropagandaasagreatdiplomaticvictory(inthisconnection,youmightcaretomentionthatwehaveseveralreportsfromEuropethatRussiansareinformingtheirfollowersthatamajorSovietdiplomaticvictoryisinprospect.Thishascometous,amongothersources,fromthePrimeMinisterofItaly,himself.)

ItistheintentionofallthreeWesternGovernments[U.S.,British,andFrench],whoarecompletely

togetheronthis,tostandfirmindefenseoftheirrighttobeinBerlinandtoacceptnoagreementinMoscowwhichwouldimplyanyabandonmentofthoserights. WefeelthattherealSovietpurposeintheBerlinmatteristodisrupttherecoveryoftheWesternZoneinGermanyandtherebyEuropeanrecovery[afterWWII].

https://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/berlin_airlift/large/documents/index.php?documentid=3-3&pagenumber=2 Day 1: 6/15/1948 German routes closed indefinitely

TheRussians[Soviets]werealsoconcernedaboutaunifiedWestBerlin:acapitalistcitylocatedrightinthemiddleoftheiroccupationzonethatwouldlikelybepowerfullyandaggressivelyanti-Soviet.Theydecidedthatsomethingneededtobedonetostopthiscreepingunificationism[U.S.,BritishandFrenchallunitedtheirzonesintoone].They[Soviets]withdrewfromtheKommandaturaandbeganablockadeofWestBerlin,amaneuver[move]thattheyhopedwouldeffectivelystarvethewesternpowersoutofBerlin.IfWestGermanywastobecomeitsowncountry,theyargued,thenBerlin,locatedmorethan100milesfromitsborder,couldnolongerbeitscapital.

OnJune15,1948,theSovietauthoritiesannouncedthattheAutobahn,thehighwayconnectingwesternGermanytoBerlin,wouldbeclosedindefinitely“forrepairs.”Then,theyhaltedallroadtrafficfromwesttoeast,andbarredallbarge[bigflatandrailtrafficfromenteringWestBerlin.ThusbegantheblockadeofBerlin.

AsfarasthewesternAllieswereconcerned,withdrawal[leaving]fromthecitywasnotanoption.

“Ifwewithdraw,”saidtheAmericanmilitarycommander,“ourpositioninEuropeisthreatened,andCommunismwillrunrampant[everywhere].”PresidentHarryTrumanechoedthissentiment[feeling]:“Weshallstay,”hedeclared,“period.”UsingmilitaryforcetostrikebackagainsttheSovietblockadeseemedequallyunwise:TheriskofturningtheColdWarintoanactualwar—evenworse,anuclearwar—wasjusttoogreat.Findinganotherwaytore-provision[getsuppliesto]thecityseemedtotheAlliestobetheonlyreasonableresponse.

http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-airlift

Day 10: 6/25/ 1948 Telegram from Alfred M. Bingham to President Harry S. Truman NewYork,NY Jun251948ThePresidentTheWhiteHouseRussianeffortstodriveWesternpowersfromBerlinareacrucial[necessary]challengetoAmericanForeignPolicy.Surrender[givingup]woulddelivertoRussianvengeancetwomillionGermanswhohavedefied[avoided]communisttotalitarianism[government].TherearedisturbingrumorsofplanstoevacuateBerlinbecauseofRussianblockadeagainstGermanciviliansupplies,essential[important]suppliesfortheGermanpopulationcanbedeliveredbyairandifnecessarymustbeatwhatevercost.Weurgeyoutomakethiscountry’spositionunmistakablebydeclaringthatunderallcircumstancesshortofwarwewillremaininBerlinandmaintainsuppliesforthecivilianpopulationnothinglesscanadequatelyreassuredemocraticforcesinGermanyandelsewherethatthiscountrywillnotdesertthem.AlfredMBingham IstonOakAmericanAssociationforaDemocraticGermany ManagingEditor

MurrayBaron GeorgeNShusterNewYorkCountyChairmenLiberalParty PresidentofHunterCollege AugustClaessens MiltonStewartNationalSecretarySocialDemocraticFederation NewYorkExecutiveDirector AmericansforDemocraticActionLouisPGoldbergMember,NewYorkCityCouncilRespectfullyreferredtotheDepartmentofState.

WilliamD.Hassett,SecretarytothePresident

Day 13: 6/28/1948 Airlift Begins

TheUnitedStateslaunched“OperationVittles”onJune26,withtheUnitedKingdomfollowingsuittwodayslaterwith“OperationPlainfare.”Despitethedesireforapeacefulresolutiontothestandoff,theUnitedStatesalsosenttotheUnitedKingdomB-29bombers,whichwerecapableofcarryingnuclearweapons.ThebeginningoftheairliftproveddifficultandWesterndiplomats[representatives]askedtheSovietstoseekadiplomatic[peaceful]solutiontotheimpasse[blockade].TheSovietsofferedtodroptheblockadeiftheWesternAllieswithdrewtheDeutschmarkfromWestBerlin.

EventhoughtheAlliesrebuffed[didnotaccept]theSovietoffer,WestBerlin’spositionremainedprecarious[uneasy],andthestandoffhadpoliticalconsequencesontheground.InSeptember1948,theSocialistUnityPartyofGermany(SED),theGermanCommunistPartyoftheSovietzoneofoccupation,marchedontheBerlinCityCouncilandforcedittoadjourn[stopmeeting].FearingthattheWesternAlliesmighthalttheairliftandcede[giveup]WestBerlintotheSoviets,300,000WestBerlinersgatheredattheReichstag[governmentbuilding]toshowtheiroppositiontoSovietdomination.TheturnoutconvincedtheWesttokeeptheairliftandtheDeutschmark. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/berlin-airlift

Day 15: 6/30/1948 Letter from R.H. Hillenkoetter (Director of CIA) to President Truman

CENTRALINTELLIGENCEAGENCYWashington25,D.C.

MEMORANDUM[message]FORTHEPRESIDENT

InformationhasbeenreceivedthataconferencewasheldinKarlshorston28June1948betweenRussianofficials,headedbyMarshalSokolovsky,andGermanmembersoftheGermanindustrialcommittee.SokolovskyopenedtheconferencebyaskingtheGermanindustrialistswhatinfluenceontheEasternZoneofGermanywouldexistbecauseoftheblockadesfromtheWesternZone.

AGermanrepresentativestatedthatbeingcutofffromtheWestmeantacompletestoppageofproductioninsugarrefineries[factories]forlackof50,000metersofsteelpipingonorderintheWesternZone;italsomeantacompleteclosingdownofcanneriessincetheentirerawmaterialwasreceivedfromtheWest;andacertaindiscontinuance[stopping]oftheBalticfishingfleetwithinashorttimebecauseofthelackofmachineryparts.Sokolovskyevidencedagreatconsternation[surprise]atthisstatement,replyingtheRussianshadbeenledtobelievetheEastcouldbeindependentoftheWest.TheGermanmemberthenstatedthattheheavyindustries,particularlythesteelmillsinHennigsdorf,couldnotproducewithouttheWestandthatotherheavyindustriesintheEasternZonewouldbeequallyaffected.

TheRussiansappearedgreatlyshocked,andaRussianGeneral,inchargeoftradeandsupply,said,“Wehadnoideaofthissituation;RussiaissufferingfromheavydroughtsandiscountingonGermanfoodsuppliesthisyear.Foodsuppliesmustbemaintained,comewhatmay.Ifwehadknownthiswewouldnothavegonesofar.”

DuringthemeetingSokolovskystatedthatthreepossibilitieswereavailable:a. Startawar.b. LifttravelrestrictionsonBerlin.c. LeaveentireBerlintoWest,givingthemtherailline.

AftermeetingTulpanov,whowasalsopresent,saidthewarwasimpossibleduetobadharvestprospectsandthatliftingtravelwouldmaketheRussiansloseface.ThethirdpossibilitywasthattheWestwouldhavetofeedallofBerlinandwouldhavemoreontheirhandsthantheybargainedfor.Hestatedthat2,000tonsoffoodwouldbeneededdailytosustaintheGermansintheWesternsectors,buthethoughttheWesternPowerscouldfeedtheirzonesbyextensive[alotof]importofconcentratedfoods.(TheaboveinformationhasbeendisseminatedtoMr.MurphyandGeneralWalshinBerlinandtotheArmedServicesandStateDepartmentinWashington.Itsevaluationis:thesourceisveryreliableandthecontentispossiblytrue.)

R.H.HILLENKOETTERReadAdmiral,USNDirectorofCentralIntelligence

Day 138: 10/21/1948 Summary of Berlin Airlift developments

MEMORANDUMStatingMr.Ayersannouncedthefollowing:ThePresidenttodayauthorizedGeneralLuciusClaytodrawupto66additionalC-54typeaircraftforserviceinconnectionwiththeBerlinairlift. On12/17/48,StephenF.Leo,DepartmentoftheAirForcesentmemotoColonelLandryattachingarevisedmessageapprovedbytheWhiteHouseandissuggestedforascrolltobepreparedbytheAirForceforthePresident’ssignaturebyDec.20. Themessage,dated12/21/48signedbythePresident,totheMenandWomenoftheBerlinAirlift�statingthisvisittoGermanybyVicePresident-electBarkleygiveshimidealopportunitytoexpresstothemhisappreciationoftheiroutstandingservice.SaystheBerlinairlift,underthedirectionofourAirForceisanachievementofhistoricandfar-reachingsignificance,bythejointeffortsofourArmy,Navy,andAirForcetogetherwiththeforcesofGreatBritainandFrance.Itexpressestheunityofthewesternnationsinthecauseofpeace.SaysOPERATIONVITTLES[codenameoftheBerlinairlift]hasassuredtheworldofourfaithinouridealsandatthisChristmasSeasontheAmericanpeoplearethinkingofthemandtheirlovedonesandwishedforthemaveryMerryChristmas.

Day 223: 1/24/1949

One day’s work during the Berlin Airlift

Attheairlift’sbest,oneplanelandedevery45secondsatTempelhofAirport.Thisratherbattereddocumentisabillshowingtheamountof

materialandsuppliesairliftedtoWestBerlin.Thisbillshowsthatintotal34496tonsofgoodshadbeendroppedinBerlinwith396Dakotas(planes)inoneday.

aDakotaplane

TheBritishoperationwascalledOperationPlainfare.Withsomanyaircraftflyingsomanyflightsitwasacomplexanddangerousoperation.Therelentless[constant]flyingalsotookitstollonthepilots,theaircraftandeventherunways.OneUSairbaseactuallyhadtohave200engineersrunningconstantrepairs.

TheAmericansmovedthemostgoodsbecausetheyhadmoreplanesandbiggeraircraft.TheyalsoexpandedintooneoftheBritishairbasesnearMunich.

TheRAF[RoyalAirForce-British]tiedupmostitsfleetoftransportaircraftintheBerlinAirlift.Therewerealsoprivatecontractorshiredbythegovernmenttohelpwiththeoperation. Day 341: 5/12/1949

Byspring1949,itwasclearthattheSovietblockadeofWestBerlinhadfailed.IthadnotpersuadedWestBerlinerstorejecttheiralliesintheWest,norhaditprevented[stopped]thecreationofaunifiedWestGermanstate[U.S.,British,andFrenchzonesunitingtocreateWestGermany].(TheFederalRepublicofGermanywasestablishedinMay1949.)

OnMay12,1949,theSovietsliftedtheblockadeandreopenedtheroads,canalsandrailway

routesintothewesternhalfofthecity.TheAlliescontinuedtheairliftuntilSeptember,however,becausetheywantedtostockpilesuppliesinBerlinjustincasetheblockadewasreinstated[happenedagain].

Mosthistoriansagreethattheblockadewasafailureinotherways,too.ItampedupColdWartensionsandmadetheUSSRlooktotherestoftheworldlikeacruelandcapricious[badtempered]enemy.Ithastened[hurried]thecreationofWestGermany,and,bydemonstratingthattheU.S.andWesternEuropeannationshadcommoninterests(andacommonfoe[enemy]),itmotivatedthecreationoftheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO),analliancethatstillexiststoday.

http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-airlift

AnotefromtheArgentineMinisterofForeignAffairscongratulatingtheU.S.ontheirsuccessintheBerlinAirlift.