West Berlin Airlift 1948–1949: Logistical Triumph Over Political Blockade
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33423/dp1x7769Keywords:
management, airlift, history, humanitarian logistics, resilience, supply chains, wartime strategy, West BerlinAbstract
Recognized today as a defining moment in the emergence of the Cold War, the West Berlin airlift of 1948–1949, launched to counter the Soviet-imposed political blockade, exemplifies how logistics operated as a decisive strategic, social, and symbolic instrument. Confronted with the blockade, the precise orchestration of thousands of flights, the meticulous planning of routes, and the active engagement of West Berliners within a complex supply network demonstrate that control over vital flows extends well beyond operational efficiency. The analysis highlights how the airlift shaped modern military and humanitarian doctrines while simultaneously embodying diplomatic and symbolic authority inherent to logistical operations. Its originality lies in integrating technical, social, and communicative dimensions, transforming the airlift into a laboratory of resilience grounded in international cooperation. Insights drawn from this historical episode, which generated lasting momentum in logistics management, illuminate the design of critical supply chains and the strategic deployment of symbolic narratives in managing complex crises, emphasizing the bridge between rigorous historical research and contemporary management scholarship.
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