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After WW2, the German population and the capital city were divided into two separate occupation zones. Each zone was controlled by a different Allied power. American, British, and French forces controlled West Germany, while the Soviets controlled East Germany. The Soviets established a communist system in their zone and created a border between their zones and those of their former allies, thus creating the "Iron Curtain" stretching from the Baltic to the Balkans. Soon after, as communist control solidified in East Berlin, a continuous flow of refugees moved from east to west.
On June 24, 1948, the Soviets closed all roads, canals, and railroads leading to West Berlin. Two million people were effectively isolated, facing hunger, freezing temperatures, and unemployment. Instead of withdrawing, the United States and its allies provided air support to other parts of the city. This effort, known as the "Berlin Airlift," lasted for over a year and supplied West Berlin with more than 2.3 million tons of food, fuel, and other necessities.