The First Bus out of West Berlin after the Blockade, 1949

Photograph showing the first civilian bus to leave West Berlin after the end of the Soviet blockade, May 1949. The bus shown was heading for Hanover and proudly bore the banner Hurra, we still live on its front. 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

Airlift Blockade Conceded Enormous Essentials Governments Hanover Heading Imposed Inhabitants Lifted Organised Proudly Response

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