The Berlin Blockade was a pivotal event in the emerging Cold War, initiated in June 1948 as a response to the Allies' introduction of a new currency in West Germany, which the Soviets viewed as a threat to their influence in the region. The blockade effectively cut off all ground access to West Berlin, leaving the inhabitants dependent on air supplies for food and essential goods. In reaction, the United States and its allies organized the Berlin Airlift, supplying the city with necessities from June 1948 until May 1949. Over the course of the airlift, which became a massive logistical operation, more than 200,000 flights delivered supplies to the beleaguered city, successfully demonstrating the resolve of the Western powers against Soviet pressure. The airlift not only provided immediate relief but also became a symbol of the divide between East and West during the Cold War.

The decision to lift the blockade in May 1949 marked a significant turning point. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin ordered the end of the blockade amid increasing pressure from his own officials and the realizing strains on the Soviet economy due to the blockade's stringent measures. The lifting of the blockade allowed West Berlin to breathe again, with supplies flowing back into the city and its citizens gradually returning to everyday life. In addition, it further solidified the division of Germany as West Germany became officially established shortly thereafter, cementing the geopolitical rift that would define Europe for decades to come.