What We Saw

The Thing Begins

Immediately following World War Two, Germany was divided into four parts: British, Russian, American and French. Berlin was divided the same way, however it was embedded in the Russian zone of occupation. And On June 29th, 1948 the Soviets blocked Allied passage to Berlin, starting the Cold War in the process and setting the stage for the next four decades to come. While the western allies were perplexed, even outraged, the Russians viewed the Berlin Blockade as a war it was already fighting— the war to end capitalism. But how willing was Joseph Stalin to start World War Three? He might have lowered the gate in the Berlin Blockade. But would he be willing to shoot down allied planes that flew over it?