German Workers Re-erecting a Free Passage Sign, Berlin, 19

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German Workers Re-erecting a Free Passage Sign, Berlin, 19

Photograph showing German workers re-erecting a Russian and German sign declaring Free Passage on the border between West Berlin and the Soviet Sector at the end of the Berlin Blockade, May 1949. 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 4391975

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1948 1949 Air Lift Berlin Blockade Conceded Declaring Defeat Enormous Erecting Essentials Governments Imposed Inhabitants Josef Lifted Million Organised Response Sector Soviet Stalin Supplies Supply Uss R Year

EDITORS COMMENTS
This powerful photograph captures a pivotal moment in the history of the Berlin Blockade, which took place between April 1948 and May 1949. The image shows German workers diligently re-erecting a sign declaring "Free Passage" on the border between West Berlin and the Soviet sector. The sign, which had been removed during the blockade, symbolized the end of the Soviet Union's attempt to isolate West Berlin from the rest of the Western world. The blockade was a response to the Soviet Union's decision to cut off all land access to West Berlin, preventing the import of essential supplies such as food and fuel. The Western Allies, led by the United States and Great Britain, responded with an enormous airlift, delivering supplies to the 2.5 million inhabitants of West Berlin via airplanes. The workers in this photograph are seen carefully repositioning the sign, which bears the emblems of both the Russian and German flags, indicating the shared responsibility of both the Soviet Union and Germany in declaring the free passage. The image is a testament to the resilience and determination of the German people, as well as the commitment of the Western Allies to uphold their obligations to the people of West Berlin. After a year of intense diplomatic and logistical efforts, Stalin finally conceded defeat and lifted the blockade, marking a significant turning point in the Cold War. This photograph, taken on May 19, 1949, captures the sense of relief and hope that accompanied the end of the blockade and the restoration of free passage between East and West Berlin.

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