The Berlin Airlift: The Relief Operation that Defined the Cold War

If you read just one book about the Berlin Airlift I would urge you to make it this one. An eminently readable account of the period just before the fall of Berlin and ending with the erection of the Berlin Wall and JFK's famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech, the author takes us through the tortuous negotiations with the Russians that culminated in the airlift. The dreadful conditions in Berlin caused by the isolation in the west of the city and replicated in the east are brought into focus as are the hardships of both the air and ground crews, not to mention the people of Berlin, operating the aircraft keeping the west alive and out of the Soviet clutches. It is impossible to appreciate the story of the airlift without understanding the politics and the author gives a lucid account of a complex situation. Neatly brought up to date with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1991, this was a seminal moment in the history of modern Germany and the Western democracies. If the airlift had failed, which without the determination of all concerned it so easily could, history may have told a different story.

Bought for my 90 year old dad as one of his birthday gifts, he has thoroughly enjoyed reading a clear synopsis of what exactly he was involved in as a radio technician on board one of the Dakotas that repeatedly flew on the Berlin airlift during his period of National Service. As dad stated, although he was there at the time, this book succinctly brings to life the reasons behind the operation, the thoughts and actions of Joseph Stalin and other leaders and gives a good background of the history. Dad is widely read and compliments this book for its intelligent approach to the subject yet it's also very readable so he bowled through it quite easily learning much more about the whole event. Highly recommended as an invaluable asset to any library.

I bought this book because I was serving in the Army in Berlin during the airlift so it means more to me than to those who did not experience it. I saw the plane crews dropping sweets to the children. I was in the Military Police and one of our duties was keeping the Russians off the runway at Gatow, the British Airport, which was against the boundary of the British Sector in Berlin and the Russian Zone of Germany.The book has lots of facts and stories about what was a marvelous operation for those days.I have learned things from the book that I did not know back in the Forties/Fifties. My only disappointment is that there are not many pictures in the book to revive my memories more.

One of the best books on the BERLIN AIRLIFT ever written! I should be acquiring many more copies to give to friends who regard the airlift as one of the greatest humanitarian aid projects ever undertaken. Barry Turner is an exceptional writer of that there is no doubt .

full of history hard going overall

There are many generalist books on this subject. I found this to be one of the best.

IT was a gift for 90 year old