Berlin airlift

Cultural  

1. A military operation in the late 1940s that brought food and other needed goods into West Berlin by air after the government of East Germany, which at that time surrounded West Berlin (see Berlin wall) (see also Berlin wall), had cut off its supply routes. The United States joined with western European nations in flying the supplies in. The airlift was one of the early events of the cold war.

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Example Sentences

It is, in many ways, a more complex effort than the Berlin airlift three-quarters of a century ago.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2022

The Berlin airlift, one of the most massive humanitarian aid missions ever undertaken, circumvented the Soviet blockade by delivering goods to West Berlin by plane.

From Washington Post • Feb. 18, 2022

U.S. military pilot Gail S. Halvorsen — known as the “Candy Bomber” for his candy airdrops during the Berlin airlift after World War II ended — has died at 101.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2022

The Berlin airlift officially ended 72 years ago today.

From New York Times • Sep. 30, 2021

The request fell under the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, which was born in the wake of the Berlin airlift and can add to the military’s capabilities during crises.

From Washington Times • Aug. 23, 2021