A BRIGHT SPOT IN AMERICAN HISTORY WAS 1948 WHEN RUSSIA CLOSED WEST BERLIN TO ALL RAIL AND HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE US AND GREAT BRITAIN OUT, NEGATING THE AGREEMENT OF A SHARED OCCUPATION FOR THE CITY.  

IN A FEW DAYS, THE US AND BRITAIN, ORGANIZED THE "BERLIN AIR LIFT" WHICH BEGAN JUNE 26, 1948 WITH A PLANELOAD OR ORANGES. BY SPRING OF 1949, BERLIN WAS RECEIVING 8000 TONS OF FOOD AND COAL DAILY.  RUSSIA DECIDED THE BLOCKADE WAS NOT WORKING AND GAVE UP THE IDEA AFTER THE AIR DELIVERY OF 2,326,406 TONS BY AMERICAN AND BRITISH PLANES FLYING IN LOADS EVERY THREE MINUTES 24/7.  THANKS TO AMERICAN AND BRITISH AIRMEN AND A DETERMINED PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN. WE PROVED WE COULD DO IT.