When did the Berlin Airlift happen?

The Berlin Airlift was one of the first major crises of the Cold War. After the Second World War, Germany and its capital Berlin were divided among the Allied powers, but Berlin lay deep inside the Soviet-controlled zone. In June 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded all road, rail, and canal access to West Berlin, hoping to force the Western allies out. Rather than abandon the city or risk war, the United States, Britain, and others launched a massive airlift, flying food, coal, and other supplies into West Berlin around the clock. Over about 11 months, aircraft made more than 275,000 flights, at the peak landing a plane every few minutes. The Soviets lifted the blockade in May 1949, and the airlift became a powerful symbol of Western resolve.