Berlin Airlift and Division of Europe

Soviet Union entered into negotiations which culminated in an agreement, signed on 5 May 1949, that resulted in the lifting of the blockade.

Cold War Unit – Lesson 3

Teacher: Dr. Rosie Jayde Uyola 

Course: Grade 9 History of the Americas Unit: Cold War (1945–1990) 

Lesson Title: The Berlin Airlift and the Division of Europe 

Standard: 11.9a.3 

Duration: 40 minutes

Learning Objectives

• I can explain how the Berlin Airlift was an early example of containment

• I can analyze how the division of Germany reflected Cold War tension and competing ideologies

• I can assess whether the U.S. response in Berlin upheld democratic ideals or intensified the Cold War

Cognitive Rigor & Alignment

• C3 Framework: D2.His.4.9-12, D2.His.14.9-12

• DOK Target: Level 4

  • Analyze competing interests in Cold War Germany

  • Evaluate strategic success and civic consequences of the Berlin Airlift

  • Construct a supported judgment on democratic integrity of the policy

FFW (5 min, 10 sentences):  If a former ally cut off food and electricity to part of your country, how would you respond?

After WWII, Germany was divided into zones controlled by the U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. But in 1948, the Soviets tried to push the West out of Berlin by cutting off all access. The U.S. had to decide—do we retreat, fight, or find another way to protect West Berlin?

Vocabulary in Context

Term	Definition (Your Words)	Use the Word in a Sentence From Today’s Documents
Blockade
Airlift
Occupation Zones
Containment
Escalation

Primary Source Investigation

Students receive two sources with annotation prompts:

Document A: U.S. Air Force Memo (1948) – Operation Vittles

Source: National Museum of the USAF 

“In June 1948, the Soviet Union blocked all road, rail, and canal access to West Berlin. Their goal was to force the Allies to abandon the city. The United States responded with an around-the-clock airlift to bring food, fuel, and medicine to over 2 million people. In 11 months, the U.S. and its allies flew over 277,000 flights. Not a single shot was fired. Berlin was not surrendered.”

Document B: British Cartoon – “If We Let Berlin Fall…” (1949)

Source: British cartoonist Leslie Illingworth, published in Daily Mail Image

Document Annotation Tasks:

• What is happening? (paraphrase key idea)

• What is the U.S. trying to protect?

• Why did the Soviets use a blockade instead of war?

• What does the cartoon suggest will happen if the U.S. fails?

• What Cold War ideologies are visible here?

Partner Discussion + Judgment Task

FFW: Was the Berlin Airlift a successful act of democratic leadership or Cold War escalation?

Partner Chart:

Question	Your Response
What was the Soviet Union’s goal in 1948?
What action did the U.S. take in response?
Who was helped by this action?
What values did the U.S. promote?
What risks or consequences did this create?
Final Judgment: Ethical or Escalatory? Why?

Individual Writing – DOK 4 Argument

Writing Prompt: Write a short policy memo to President Truman in 1949.

Your Task: Explain whether you believe the Berlin Airlift was the best possible U.S. response to the blockade. Use one quote from Document A and one observation from Document B. Support your judgment with historical logic.

Checklist:

-  Clear argument 

-  1 quote from the memo 

-  1 visual detail from the cartoon 

-  Civic and ethical reasoning (Was this democratic?) 

-  Clear conclusion

Exit Ticket

1. What was the goal of the Berlin Blockade?

2. How did the U.S. respond without using military force?

3. What does the Berlin Airlift show about U.S. Cold War priorities?