The Study of the Past - The Berlin Airlift's 75th Anniversary to commemorate its launch is also taking place in Hesse.
During the Cold War, a significant event unfolded that marked the beginning of the East-West confrontation. This was the time when the Allies had established an air bridge to West Berlin, which helped millions of people survive in the city. This was a remarkable moment of compassionate support from the Western occupiers after World War II.
The US Army commemorated this event with a recent public event, marking 75 years since the end of the air bridge. The celebrations took place in Wiesbaden, where the current location of the US Army Garrison was once an airfield of the US Air Force. Frankfurt am Main was also a crucial takeoff point for the aircraft at the time. Altogether, these airfields in the former Western occupation zones played a critical role in the aid operation, numbering as many as nine locations that were involved in this vital mission.
During its operation, the air bridge flew 277,000 flights to secure the supply of West Berlin, which was essentially an island surrounded by the Soviet zone. In response to the introduction of the Deutsche Mark in the West, the Soviets blocked the land and water routes and substantially reduced the electricity and gas supply. It was on May 12, 1949, that the Soviet Union called off its blockade. However, the air bridge continued to transport more than two million tons of essential items for a while longer. Regrettably, around 80 people lost their lives during these flights due to crashes and accidents.
