"Rosinenbomber" after World War II
After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones that were administrated by the victorious allies (the United States, United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union), with Berlin located deep in the Russian zone.
The capital itself was occupied by the Allied powers and subdivided into four sectors.
This is the scenario of the Iron Curtain, an imaginary line dividing Europe between the Soviet influence and the Western influence, that will last until the end of the Cold War in 1991.
The harsh relationship between the two powers had an escalation on June 24 1948, known as the Soviet Blockade, when the Soviets cut off Western access to West Berlin by closing railroads and water routes, leaving people without food and essentials.
And this is when the US army launched a daring humanitarian mission that saved around two million inhabitants of West Berlin from starving to death. How? With the so called "Rosinenbomber", aircraft used for the airlift that were nicknamed "raisin bombers" by the locals. These aircraft supplied the city of Berlin with more than 2 million tons of goods: food, such as packets of raisins (that gave the name to them), water and essential goods).
The noise of a plane was finally bringing hope instead of fear.
Another name is linked to this event: the Candy Bomber. The US army had a surprise for the little Germans as well: aircraft dropped candies, sweets and chocolates.
The immediate help of the United Kingdom and the US led to the end of the Blockade on May 12 1949. The airlift changed the relationship between winners and defeated and created a sense of freedom and friendship. The allies were now friends.
This June 2019 we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, a commitment that laid the foundation for decades of warm, mutual trans-Atlantic respect and an alliance that guaranteed the maintenance of peace.
The immediate help of the United Kingdom and the US led to the end of the Blockade on May 12 1949. The airlift changed the relationship between winners and defeated and created a sense of freedom and friendship. The allies were now friends.
This June 2019 we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, a commitment that laid the foundation for decades of warm, mutual trans-Atlantic respect and an alliance that guaranteed the maintenance of peace.