The Candy Bombers

by Andrei Cherny
Category: "World History - Military"
Pages:550
Year of Publication:2008
Date Added:12/23/2014
Date Read:04/25/2016
Notes:Subtitle: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour

In 1948, Russia, the U.S., Great Britain and France were attempting to jointly rule Germany. Russia, meanwhile, was taking over Eastern Europe and wanted the country, starting with Berlin. To force the other nations out, they blockaded the roads and railways and offered the Berliners all they needed from Russia. The U.S., under General Lucius Clay, refused to quit. They began sending in supplies, just a trickle at first, by plane. When General William Tunner, an expert on air supply, was sent over, things picked up and soon the crisis was over. The Russians did all they could, short of shooting the planes down, to intimidate the Americans. One U.S. pilot, Hal Halvorsen, began dropping candy to German children and soon became a hero. Others followed his lead. The West Berliners had the choice between Russian bullying and food or American freedom and rationing short supplies. Thanks, in part, to the kindness shown by Halvorsen, they chose freedom. By May, 1949, the Russians gave up and never gained another inch in Europe. While all this was going on Truman was campaigning for re-election against Dewey and Wallace.
My Rating: 8

Reviews for The Candy Bombers

Review - Candy Bombers, The

An interesting read, covering the situation in Berlin, the Airlift and the political campaign in the U.S. Claim could be made that this was the apex of American power. Shortly after the Airlift was stopped, the Russians got the bomb, China became Communist and the Korean War began.

Reviewed by Roger on 2016-04-25 16:49:59

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