The Berlin Airlift: How Candy Bombers Saved a City

In the summer of 1948, Stalin blockaded West Berlin, cutting off 2.5 million people from food, coal, and medicine. The Western Allies responded with an unprecedented logistical feat: the Berlin Airlift. For nearly a year, American and British planes flew round the clock, delivering over 2.3 million tons of supplies — enough to sustain an entire city. This episode dives into the mechanics of the airlift, the political brinkmanship that triggered it, and the unexpected human touch of the 'Rosinenbomber' — pilots who dropped candy to children. You'll hear about the Tempelhof and Gatow airfields, the C-47 Skytrain and C-54 Skymaster, the role of General Lucius Clay and the Soviet blockade, and how a little gesture with handkerchief parachutes became a symbol of Western resolve. We also explore the division of Germany, the Marshall Plan connection, and the legacy of an operation that turned former enemies into allies. This is a story of ingenuity, courage, and the power of small kindnesses in the face of geopolitical crisis. #BerlinAirlift #ColdWar #StalinBlockade #Rosinenbomber #Tempelhof #Gatow #LuciusClay #OperationVittles #C47Skytrain #C54Skymaster #MarshallPlan #BerlinBlockade #History #FexingoHistory #Germany #ColdWarHistory #AlliedAirLift #1948 Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo