The Berlin Airlift
The Berlin Airlift began in June 1948, after the Soviet Union tried to cut off the Western-occupied sector of Berlin. The city was divided into four sectors at the end of World War II and surrounded by land controlled by the Soviets. When the Soviets blocked roads, rivers and railway links into West Berlin the Allies responded by launching the airlift, a mammoth operation to ensure Berliners didn't starve or freeze to death.

The airlift finally ended in September 1949, four months after the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin stood down and lifted the blockade against West Berlin. In total, the US and Britain had flown in more than 2 million tons of coal, heating oil, medicines, food and supplies into Berlin in an endless stream of transport aircraft operating every two minutes day and night. This Picture Post photo shows British troops loading supplies on to aeroplanes at Wunstorf near Hanover in Germany.

For information about events planned to mark the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, go to this month's What's On.