The Berlin Airlift began on June 24, 1948, in response to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin. As the Cold War intensified, the Soviet Union sought to exert control over the entire city by cutting off all land and rail access to West Berlin. In response, the Western Allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom, launched a massive airlift operation to supply the city with food, fuel, and other essential goods. Over the course of nearly a year, thousands of flights delivered supplies to the beleaguered city, demonstrating the West’s commitment to resisting Soviet pressure and ultimately leading to the blockade's end in May 1949.