GBH Openvault
American Experience; Berlin Airlift, The
01/02/2007
Packaged Home Video Master
License Clip
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- Series
- American Experience
- Program
- Berlin Airlift, The
- Program Number
1907
- Series Description
Premiered October 1988 As television's longest-running, most-watched history series, American Experience brings to life the incredible characters and epic stories that helped form this nation. Now in its eighteenth season, the series has produced over 180 programs and garnered every major broadcast award. Series release date: 10/1988
- Program Description
On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union blocked railroad and street access to West Berlin, starving the population and choking commerce. Allied forces refused to cede the city, and for nearly a year, succeeded in doing what even the best military minds considered impossible - supply two million civilians and 20,000 allied soldiers entirely from the air. Operating on a strict plan masterminded by U.S. General William Turner, allied forces landed planes every three minutes and delivered more than 4,500 tons of supplies each day. Former German soldiers built airfields and repaired engines for the enemies they had been shooting out of the sky just three years before. American and British pilots, so recently delivering death, were now angels of mercy, supplying coal, flour, coffee and chocolate to the beleaguered city. Through the personal stories of those who were there, this program provides a striking look at the first battle of the Cold War and the largest humanitarian campaign the world had ever seen.
- Duration
00:50:56
- Asset Type
Broadcast program
- Media Type
Video
- Genres
- Documentary
- Topics
- History
- Citation
- Chicago: “American Experience; Berlin Airlift, The,” 01/02/2007, GBH Archives, accessed October 11, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_ABD77180F3F74A4BB29AF967BA648CA7.
- MLA: “American Experience; Berlin Airlift, The.” 01/02/2007. GBH Archives. Web. October 11, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_ABD77180F3F74A4BB29AF967BA648CA7>.
- APA: American Experience; Berlin Airlift, The. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_ABD77180F3F74A4BB29AF967BA648CA7