Images Dated 23rd October 2004

Interior of a Transport Airplane filled with coal, 1948

Photograph showing the interior of a Dakota airplane loaded with kitbags full of coal, destined for Berlin during the airlift of 1948. This particular airplane carried 10 tons of coal in the bags, which was unloaded at Berlin within 15 minutes. Between April 1948 and May 1949 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 land blockade

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Exchanging Clothes at a Second-hand Depot, Berlin, 1948

Photograph showing several citizens of West Berlin bringing their old woollen garments to a second-hand clothing depot, Berlin, August 1948. The clothes were weighed then permits were issued for the purchase of new clothing to an equivalent weight. The Soviet blockade of West Berlin meant that shortages of all consumables were inevitable. 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

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans