The Berlin Airlift & Containment
After the Soviets cut off surface traffic to West Berlin on June 27th 1948, the United States believed they had a right to be in Berlin, including the right to access. The Soviets however did not agree. Shipments by rail and road came to a halt. A desperate Berlin, faced with starvation and in need of vital supplies, looked to the West for help. President Truman, wishing to avoid war or a humiliating retreat, supported an air campaign that sent over two million tons of supplies in approx. 270,000 flights to Berlin. At this time, a man by the name of Gail Halvorson, better known as “Uncle Wiggly Wings”, from Utah, dropped a bunch of candy to children of the blockaded city. This is a recipe of Cold War Containment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmanS-4nc4Y
The Berlin Airlift Student Activity
https://www.trumanlibrary.org/teacher/berlin.htm
KUED. (2013, 12 6). Inspiring Story of The Candy Bomber. Retrieved 05 27, 2019 from Google Sites: https://www.kued.org/pressroom/kued-tells-inspiring-story-the-candy-bomber
Map of Berlin and Allied Nations
Recipe of Containment- Operation Vittles (Food)
Materials/Supplies
- Communist- USSR (east Berlin)
- Capitalists- United States and Allies (West Berlin)
- Candy Bomber Pilot, Gail Halvorson (Uncle Wiggly Wings)
- Hungry Children in East Berlin
- Berlin Tempelhof Air Field
- Chocolate and Candy donations
- Media for publicity
- A Loaded plane
- A Dropzone
- A Map
Directions
- First you need a US President willing to help prevent the spread of communism in Europe and the word. In our case, it’s President Harry S. Truman
- Next you need to take action and help rebuild Europe. Send $13 billion of aid to communist USSR
- For a PR boost and to support the hungry children of East Berlin, find a pilot from Berlin Tempelholf Air Field
- Collect as many chocolates and candy that you possibly can to deliver to children of the blockade
- Load your plane with tons of food and supplies including the chocolate and candy
- Instruct Gail Halvorson, “Uncle Wiggly Wings” to drop the Candy in East Berlin near the blockade zone
- Contact media for some good ol’ media and public relations
- Locate the blockade dropzone on your map
- You will then experience Happy German children shouting for “bon bon”
- Wiggle Gail’s wings and release the candy to the children
- Continue from the top from 1948- 1949 to fulfill containment and lift the Soviet blockade