The Berlin Blockade
At the end of World War II, Germany was divided into four
zones, each occupied by the Allied nations of Britain, France, the Soviet
Union, and the United States. The German capital of Berlin, which lay one
hundred miles inside the Soviet zone, was also similarly divided.
The first confrontation of the Cold War began on June 19,
1948 when the Soviet Union attempted to force the other Allied nations out of
Berlin. Soviet guards halted all traffic on the autobahn, delayed freight
shipments, and passed strict requirements for water transport into Berlin.
On June 24, 1948, the Soviets initiated the Berlin Blockade
in an attempt gain control over the entire city. The blockade was designed to
force the Allies to allow the Soviet zone to supply food and fuel to the entire
city. Soviet guards halted the Allie’s land and sea access, stopped supplying
food to civilians, and cut off all electricity to the sectors of Berlin under
Allied control. Because the Soviet forces greatly outnumbered those of the Allies,
the choices appeared grim: abandon the city to the Soviets, allow the citizens
of Berlin to starve, or start World War III.
Operation Vittles
In response, the Allies ordered a massive airlift to carry
much needed supplies to the people in West Berlin, the area under Allied
control. On June 26, 1948, Operation Vittles, more commonly known as the Berlin
Airlift, had begun as planes from bases in Germany and England landed in West
Berlin. Although the task of providing food, water, clothing, medicine, and
other necessities for the enormous population of Berlin was daunting, by the
spring of 1949 the airlift was an obvious success. In that time, the United States Air Force and
the British Royal Air Force flew over 200,000 flights, providing nearly 4700
tons of necessities to the city each day. The blockade was lifted in May 1949
and the Berlin airlift became known as the most successful humanitarian action
of all time.
Operation Little Vittles
Gail Halvorsen, a U.S. Air Force pilot who flew supplies
into Berlin as a part of Operation Vittles, arrived at Tempelhof airport in the
American sector of Berlin on July 17, 1948. While filming with his hand-held
camera, he noticed a group of children watching through the barbed wire as the
airplanes landed. The children were polite and only asked that the Americans
not abandon the airlift when the weather worsened. Moved by the children’s
demeanor, Halvorsen handed them the two pieces of gum he had in his pocket and
promised to return the next day with more candy. When the children asked how
they would know it was him flying over, he replied that he would wiggle his
wings. Halvorsen improvised parachutes for candy bars using handkerchiefs and released
them as he flew into Tempelhof airport. The crowd of eager children grew as Halvorsen
made several more drops over the weeks and soon there was a stack of mail
addressed to “Uncle Wiggly Wings” and “The Chocolate Flier” back at base.
When his colonel became aware of the candy drops, which
violated Air Force regulation, Halvorsen was expecting to be reprimanded for
his behavior. But publicity surrounding these kind actions was growing as
Berlin newspapers had already picked up the story, and Airlift commander
General William Tunner approved the continuation of what was labeled “Operation
Little Vittles.” Soon twenty-five pilots in Halvorsen’s squadron alone were
participating, and when the news reached the U.S. children and manufacturers
joined in the cause. Public support through donations enabled Halvorsen and his
crew, known as “the Candy Bombers,” to drop over three tons of chocolate,
chewing gum, and other candies over Berlin. By January 1949, approximately
250,000 parachutes had been released.
By the spring of 1949 the Berlin
Airlift was succeeding and the Berlin Blockade was lifted in May. The Metal for
Humane Action was established on July 20, 1949, which was awarded to anyone who
served in or with the Armed Forces of the U.S. during the period of June 26,
1948 through September 30, 1949. The museum proudly displays the Metal for
Humane Action, which reads “For humane action to supply necessities of life to
the people of Berlin, Germany.”
