Operation Vittles
1948
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This clip from the film Operation Vittles shows coal, flour, medical supplies, and milk being flown into the city of Berlin during the Berlin Airlift.
At the end of World War II, Germany had been divided into zones of occupation controlled by the Allied Powers: the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin – nestled inside the Soviet zone of occupation – was divided into sectors, each controlled by a separate Allied Power. In 1946 the Berlin City Council election was held. It surprised the Soviets, who expected the people to vote Communist, when instead they voted for Social Democrats and other non-Communists. Following the election, tensions grew between the Allied Powers. Travel between each country’s sector remained open, but the boundaries became more defined.
Refugees flowed from the East to the West. In June 1948, the Soviet Union blocked all ground access to the sectors of Berlin under Western Control. With roadways, canals, and railways blocked, the Western Allies had to rely on airplanes to deliver supplies to people in West Berlin. For the entirety of the blockade, planes flew constantly to supply the city of Berlin in what is known as the Berlin Airlift or Operation Vittles.
At the end of World War II, Germany had been divided into zones of occupation controlled by the Allied Powers: the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin – nestled inside the Soviet zone of occupation – was divided into sectors, each controlled by a separate Allied Power. In 1946 the Berlin City Council election was held. It surprised the Soviets, who expected the people to vote Communist, when instead they voted for Social Democrats and other non-Communists. Following the election, tensions grew between the Allied Powers. Travel between each country’s sector remained open, but the boundaries became more defined.
Refugees flowed from the East to the West. In June 1948, the Soviet Union blocked all ground access to the sectors of Berlin under Western Control. With roadways, canals, and railways blocked, the Western Allies had to rely on airplanes to deliver supplies to people in West Berlin. For the entirety of the blockade, planes flew constantly to supply the city of Berlin in what is known as the Berlin Airlift or Operation Vittles.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer.
National Archives Identifier: 24076
Full Citation: Motion Picture 111-ADC-10314; Operation Vittles; 1948; Moving Images Relating to Military Activities, 1947 - 1964; Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Record Group 111; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/operation-vittles, April 25, 2024]Rights: Copyright Not Evaluated Learn more on our privacy and legal page.