The story of the Berlin airlift 1948-49 relates how the blockade situation arose and why the allies struggled to keep alive those who had so recently been their enemies. This period is seen as a time when Berliners would either starve to death or have to surrender to Russian domination. when the allies set up an air bridge which carried food, coal, medicines and raw materials to the beleaguered city, they aimed to avert disaster and create security, bringing hope to Berlin, and to a changed and resurrected Europe.