June 1948

The Soviet Union began the Berlin Blockade, cutting West Berlin off from the West. After the war, the Allies divided Germany into four zones, controlled by the United States, France, Britain, and the Soviet Union, respectively. They also partitioned Germany's capital, Berlin, even though it was located in the Soviet occupation zone. The United States, France, and Britain, convinced that cooperation with the Soviets was no longer possible, planned to set up an independent West Germany, made up of their zones. The Soviets, perhaps hoping to block this, cut off traffic to and from the U.S., French, and British zones of Berlin. The United States began a vast airlift to keep West Berlin supplied with food and fuel. The airlift continued until May 1949, when the Soviets lifted the blockade. By then, West Germany had already been established.