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The End of the Blockade of Berlin by the Soviet Union – 12 May 1949

After over a year of blocking the roads and railway lines into Berlin, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade of the city on 12 May 1949.

To get food and supplies into the cut-off city, the Western Allies manned 200 flights a day in an effort to defeat the blockade.

The Russians had closed the roads and railways in protest at at the plans by the Western Allies to create the independent republic of West Germany.

Here is a newspaper report published on the day that the blockade of Berlin was lifted.

Hull Daily Mail – Thursday 12 May 1949

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.