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Berlin Blockade/Airlift

Definition

The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949) was a Soviet attempt to starve out the allies in Berlin in order to gain supremacy. The blockade was a high point in the Cold War, and it led to the Berlin Airlift.

Analogy

Think of the Berlin Blockade as a game of chess where one player tries to corner their opponent's king (Berlin) by blocking all possible moves. In response, instead of giving up or breaking rules, the other player (the Allies) invents a new move - airlifting supplies directly into the threatened space.

Related terms

Cold War: A period of geopolitical tension between powers in the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its satellite states) and powers in the Western Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies and others).

Soviet Union: A federal socialist state in Northern Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991. It was a major player on one side of the Cold War.

Allies: During World War II, this term referred primarily to nations friendly towards US/UK/USSR who were fighting against Axis Powers. Post-war, it often refers more specifically to NATO countries.