Berlin Airlift begins
June 24, 1948
Stalin cut off road and rail access to West Berlin, hoping to starve the Allies out. Truman and Clay responded with the largest airlift in history. For eleven months, American and British planes landed every ninety seconds, bringing food, coal, even children's chocolate. Stalin backed down. The Cold War's first direct confrontation ended in Western victory.
In context
Also in 1948 (6 other events on record)
- State of Israel declared · Middle East · Politics
- Gandhi assassinated · South Asia · Politics
- Marshall Plan signed · Europe · Politics
- Apartheid formalized in South Africa · Africa · Politics
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights · Europe · Politics
- Truman beats Dewey · North America · Politics
Before and after in Europe
Before and after in Politics
Era
Modern Era (1901–2000), one of 590 events from that era on Saeculum.