This Day in Truman History
June 26, 1948
Truman orders airlift in response to Soviet blockade of Berlin

C-47 transport aircraft, containing 190 sacks of flour each, arrive at Tempelhof, 2 July 1948. Photo from Airbridge to Berlin, by D.M. Giangreco and Robert E. Griffin (used with permission)

There was also trouble within the Soviet Zone of occupied Germany. In an attempt to oust Western forces from Berlin, the Soviets moved to cut off rail and land access to the Western section of the city. On June 24, there was full-out Soviet blockade of the city.

The American commander in Germany, General Lucius Clay ordered an airlift of some essential supplies flown into the city on June 25th as a temporary solution. When Truman met with his advisors on June 26th, he affirmed the airlift plan so that the United States “..might feed Berlin" until a diplomatic resolution could be reached. Clearly Truman also viewed the airlift as a temporary measure. Neither man envisioned the airlift would last for over a year.

While the situation in Berlin remained precarious at best, supplies were consistently airlifted in. The Allied forces could deliver close to five thousand tons of food and coal in one day. In one 24-hour period, 12,941 tons of supplies were delivered to Berlin. According to reports on the ground, there was a plane landing every minute. Although the Soviets called off the blockade in May of 1949, the airlift continued until September 30 to build reserves of food and fuel. During the fifteen month airlift 277,804 flights had delivered 2,325,809 tons to Berliners. As Truman had hoped, Western Berlin stayed in the hands of the Allies.

Read more about the Berlin Airlift:

• Berlin Airlift online research file
• Lucius Clay oral history transcript

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