Die Berliner Luftbrücke | Schlaglicht | SPIEGEL TV

Background: Postwar division and the currency dispute

After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones managed by the UK, France, the USA, and the Soviet Union. An Allied Control Council was intended to coordinate decisions, but cooperation steadily broke down as East–West differences grew.

By spring 1948, disputes over Germany’s economic future intensified. The Reichsmark circulated across all zones, while shortages and unusable surplus cash fueled a booming black market. In response, the Western powers introduced a new currency in their zones—the Deutsche Mark (announced to begin June 20, 1948).

Key effects of the currency reform included:

• Wages and rent converted 1:1
• Savings lost roughly 90% of their value
• The old Reichsmark was withdrawn and destroyed

Escalation in Berlin: The Soviet blockade

The currency reform escalated tensions in Berlin. Although the Soviets introduced a new currency in their sector as well, they objected to a competing currency existing in West Berlin.

On June 24, 1948, the Soviets blockaded West Berlin, stopping trains and road and water access—allegedly under technical pretexts. The described aim was to pressure the Western Allies to withdraw so that the entire city would come under Soviet influence.

The blockade quickly caused severe hardship in West Berlin:

• Restricted electricity supplies
• Major food shortages
• Impacting over two million residents

Response: The Berlin Airlift

In response, the Western Allies launched the Berlin Airlift. Aircraft operated through guaranteed air corridors, flying supplies around the clock via major airports, especially Tempelhof and Gatow.

Operational and political features included:

• British and American commanders coordinating loading operations
• Early flights proving insufficient, leading American officials to push for expansion
• A major scale-up over time, reaching about 4,000 tons per day by autumn 1948
• Use as a propaganda and morale effort, including dropping sweets and small gifts for children

While the Western narrative emphasized a “gift from the sky,” East German portrayals depicted the airlift as a “curse” and claimed Western exploitation of Berlin.

Cold War consequences and deepening division

The blockade and airlift became a central Cold War confrontation that accelerated Berlin’s division:

• City council elections occurred only in the western sectors
• Sector borders were increasingly fortified
• Western Allies expanded the airlift rather than backing down
  • This strengthened the USA’s image as a “superhero” in West Berlin
  • It also damaged the Soviet Union’s reputation

Meanwhile, East–West economic problems deepened further. Western efforts to halt certain goods (such as coal into the Soviet zone) contributed to later negotiations.

The overall characterization is that Stalin’s attempt to hold the entire city hostage failed, but Berlin remained divided long-term, leading to further Cold War crises.

Resolution: Lifting the blockade

By early 1949, East and West negotiated an end to the isolation. From mid-May 1949 onward, after roughly eleven months of air supply and more than 275,000 flights, the blockade was lifted.

• West Berlin announced the decision via RIAS loudspeaker trucks
• The city celebrated the restoration of normal conditions
• The airlift had delivered large quantities of essentials, including coal and food

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