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German Boys on a disused Railway, Berlin, 1948
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German Boys on a disused Railway, Berlin, 1948
Photograph showing two German boys playing on a railway track leading into the American Sector of West Berlin, November 1948. This section of track had been cut out by the Soviet forces as part of the blockade of West Berlin. In the background a locomotive can be seen standing idle on a railway embankment. Between April 1948 and May 1949 Josef Stalin, leader of the USSR, imposed a land blockade on supplies from Western Europe to West Berlin. In response the British and American governments organised an enormous airlift to supply food and other essentials to the 2.5 million inhabitants of West Berlin. After a year Stalin conceded defeat and lifted the blockade
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Media ID 4391605
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10219897
1948 1949 Air Lift Back Ground Berlin Blockade Conceded Defeat Disused Embankment Enormous Essentials Forces Governments Idle Imposed Inhabitants Josef Leading Lifted Locomotive Million Organised Response Section Sector Soviet Stalin Supplies Supply Track Uss R Year
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph taken in November 1948, two German boys are seen playing on a disused railway track leading into the American Sector of West Berlin. The section of track, which had been cut out by the Soviet forces as part of the land blockade of West Berlin, now serves as a makeshift playground for the children. In the backdrop, a locomotive stands idle on a railway embankment, a stark reminder of the once active transportation network that had been disrupted by the political tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies. The historical context of this image dates back to April 1948 when, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, the USSR imposed a land blockade on the import of supplies to West Berlin. This drastic measure aimed to put pressure on the Western Allies to withdraw their support for the city, which was located deep inside Soviet-controlled East Germany. In response, the British and American governments organized an enormous airlift to supply food and other essentials to the 2.5 million inhabitants of West Berlin. The airlift, which lasted from April 1948 to May 1949, was a remarkable feat of logistics and diplomacy, with over 270,000 flights transporting more than 2.3 million tons of supplies to the city. After a year of intense negotiations and logistical challenges, Stalin conceded defeat and lifted the blockade in May 1949. This photograph, taken just a few months prior to the end of the blockade, captures a moment of resilience and innocence amidst the larger historical events that were shaping the post-World War II landscape of Europe. The image serves as a poignant reminder of the determination and resourcefulness of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
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