Unnatural Habitat

1949 British propaganda film about the Berlin Airlift

Tomorrow marks the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the Berlin Airlift. In June 1948 the Soviet regime blockaded the three western sectors of West Berlin, cutting off all food and logistical supplies. It was an overt effort to push the Allied powers out of Berlin, which lay in the heart of the DDR, communist East Germany.

On June 28, 1948, the British and the Americans began airlifting food and supplies to 2 million West Berliners. Originally decried as a “futile attempt to save face” by the Soviets, and a “lost cause” by the French, the airlift soon became a resounding success. Thousands of tons of supplies were flown in on planes which landed and took off every few minutes. After a year the Soviet regime backed down, and re-opened supply routes to West Berlin.