American Experience

Berlin Airlift Map

Airlift Ends
On May 12, 1949 -- less than one month after William Tunner's "Easter Parade" -- the Soviets lifted the blockade of Berlin. Nine days later, The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was created from the non-Soviet sectors of Germany. The Soviets responded months later by declaring the eastern sector to be the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

The Allies continued airlifting supplies for Berliners to stockpile until September 30, 1949, at which point over 2.3 million tons of supplies had been delivered. On October 1, 1950 the new West Berlin constitution was enacted with the western sector of the city considered part of the FRG.