The surrender of Germany marked the end of the Second World War and the beginning of a new period in Germany’s history.

The four main allied powers (the British, French, Soviets and Americans) were wary of a German resurgence and all agreed at the Yalta Conference in 1945 to temporarily divide Germany.

Berlin was situated in the heart of Germany and was also divided. In June 1948, the Russians made a move to control the whole city.

In this resource, meet some of the men and women who were there at the time.

With roads, rivers and railways all blockaded by the Russians, how would the allies sustain a city of 2.1 million people.

The challenge of supplying a city via three narrow air corridors, just 20 miles wide, had begun.

Within weeks of the airlift starting, Gatow airport was receiving a thousand tons of supplies per day.

Uniquely, Air Traffic Controllers were also in charge of the flight paths of the Sunderland flying boats onto the River Havel.

Meet the men and women who helped to keep supplies moving.

On the 12th of May 1949, the Soviets lifted the blockade without comment.

The Airlift had succeeded but at what cost? The Russians, former allies during the war, were now the enemy.

This was the start of the Cold War and the raising of the Iron Curtain.

The UK was itself in a post-war recession with food rations, a cruel winter and a poor harvest doing little to bolster morale or a feeling of sentiment towards the Germans.

On paper an airlift might be possible but at what cost? Were the Allies trying to save the city’s desperate citizens from starvation or was it a political tactic to stem Stalin’s advancing Soviet power?

You decide.

The Operational Log contains tasks which link to the individual resources listed above. Print it out and invite your students to add to it each session.