The AIRLIFT That Invented Modern Air Transportation

摘要

Berlin was a war-wounded and divided city in 1948, and people were hungry. Joseph Stalin controlled half of the city and wanted the Americans, British, and French forced out of the other half- and he knew that hunger was a good weapon to use. Berlin was surrounded by the Soviet-controlled part of Germany while the Allied-controlled western part of the country was more than 100 miles away. Stalin blockaded the roads, rails, and canals leading into Berlin and smugly thought it was only a matter of time before dwindling food supplies would force the Allies out of the city. The Americans and their Allies had 2.5 million mouths to feed, but there were also three air corridors set aside for the Allies to fly in and out of Berlin; and these would be more difficult for Stalin to shut down. The question on everyone's mind was whether Stalin wanted to start World War III. A lot of people, including American leaders, thought that shooting could start any time. However, caving in was not likely with two tough and self-assured American military leaders in Berlin, who were nose-to-nose with their Soviet counterparts as the drama unfolded. In the White House, President Harry Truman was not a quitter and said, "We stay in Berlin."