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Posted on 09/20/2004 8:10:50 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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DIVIDED GERMANY  Three and a half million Berliners live deep inside Soviet lines. The Nazis' once-proud capital, reduced to a pile of rubble by Allied anger, is down to its bare essentials. CURRENCY REFORM In June 1948, an announcement by the Western Allies brings a crisis to Berlin. They establish a currency reform meant to wipe out the German black market and further tie the vulnerable German economy to the West. The Soviets are not told and are infuriated by the action. Moscow says Berlin is located in the Soviet zone and therefore "economically forms part of it."  Sir Brian Robertson (Great Britian), Pierre Koenig (france), Lucius D. Clay (USA). Sir Brian Robertson, the British military governor in Berlin, along with his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Lucius Clay, respond by introducing a special version of a new German currency, the deutschmark, stamped with a "B" for Berlin. AIRLIFT On Thursday, June 24, 1948, West Berlin wakes to find itself under a Soviet blockade -- and in the midst of the first major confrontation of the Cold War. The Western Allies impose a counter-blockade on the Soviet zone. The Soviets hope to starve the West out of Berlin.  The West had been through a similar short-term Soviet blockade of Berlin two months earlier -- and had responded with an airlift using air corridors set up in a 1945 agreement with the Soviets. Now, new plans are drawn up -- for long-term replenishment of West Berlin from the air. NEW ALLIES The Berlin airlift brings a new mindset to the Western Allies, who start thinking of West Germany as an ally, rather than an occupied territory. In West Berlin, the airlift brings people sustenance and hope. In one memorable instance, the airlift -- in the form of American pilot Gail Halvorsen -- rains candy on West Berlin's desperate children.  In 1948, Halvorsen’s bunk was a factory for miniature parachutes weighted with chocolate bars. He became known as the 'Candy Bomber,' 'Uncle Wobbly-Wings' and 'Der Schokoladen Flieger' ('Chocolate Pilot'). (U.S. Air Force photo) As it becomes evident that the Soviets are not going to back down from their blockade, the Western Allies consider how to expand their airlift operations. Larger cargo planes are brought in, as well as bombers with cargo capacity. WEST-EAST  Berliners are still free to move around their city, despite the Soviet blockade. While West Berlin is suffering through shortages of electricity and other essentials, the eastern sector offers a relatively normal lifestyle. Politically, however, the city is on edge.  Soviet troops harass West Berliners who go to the eastern zone. And in September, a communist attempt to take over the city council sparks mass protests -- which end in violence. BLOCKADE ENDS The Soviet Union ends its blockade of Berlin on May 12, 1949. A month earlier, at the airlift's peak, Western cargo planes were landing at one of Berlin's three airports at a rate of one every 62 seconds. By the time the airlift ended, more than 275,000 flights had carried 2.3 million tons of supplies to Berlin -- an effort that went down in history as an aviation and logistical feat.  At least 79 people, including 31 Americans, 39 British and nine Germans, had lost their lives, mostly in plane crashes. But the confrontation proved to be only the opening act in the decades-long Cold War.
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Nippy Foxhole Hole Bump for Treadhead Tuesday withdrawl symptons.
Hiya bentfeather, from one of the guys on the Civil War pictures newsgroups...
"The purpose of life is not to go to the grave in a well preserved state, but to skid in sideways yelling what a ride"
Y'all have a fine day, ya hear now
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.
Hey Matt, looks like you have another fan here Stateside. :-)
Sure. In our copious free time. ;-)
What a tease!! ;-)
Not sure if this article came out before that revelation or not, seeing how the main source was CNN, it could have just been conveniently "overlooked".
Nippy Foxhole Hole Bump for Treadhead Tuesday withdrawl symptons
Here's a temporary patch to tide you over till next month.
Morning E.G.C.
Looks like it's gonna be another beautiful Virginia day
The weather here in Oklahoma is pretty nice too.We've been running in the 90's the last few days. We're looking at a cold front moving in tommorow with a slight chance of rain.
It's been in the 80's and I haven't noticed any of the humidity, I've heard so much about. Looks like we lucked out with that.
Read: Philippians 2:5-11
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. —1 Peter 5:6
Bible In One Year: Ecclesiastes 7-9; 2 Corinthians 13
A sportswriter described former major league baseball player and manager Don Baylor as a person who always remembered how it felt to be "sent down" to the minor leagues. When one of his players had to be demoted, he would always meet with him to explain the decision. A team owner said of Baylor, "He has been through a lot of life lessons he can share with the players." It makes a big difference when the manager knows how a player feels.
It's always humbling to be reduced in rank, privilege, or responsibility. But these things may come as part of God's training in our lives. The apostle Peter wrote, "'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6).
The apostle Paul described Jesus as our example of humble submission to God. He was sent down from heaven to become a man—a "bondservant" who was obedient to the point of dying on the cross for our sins (Philippians 2:6-8).
Humility and submission to God are not signs of weakness but evidence of Christlike power and character. We can receive courage and strength from Jesus Himself, who knows how it feels to be "sent down." —David McCasland
Would you be interested in some FR Treadhead stickers,eh?
Inquiring minds are curious, hehehe
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Good morning, I'm going to have to go and find some coffee graphics..when I find time.
Good morning, PE!
Love today's Flag-o-gram. Thank you.
LOL!!!
Good morning, Matthew! My brother is just learning to use the computer so I help him by finding things on the web I know will interest him.
He was a Sailor in the 50s on an aircraft carrier.
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on September 21:
1415 Frederick III Innsbruck Austria, German Emperor (1440-1493)
1452 Girolamo Savonarola Florentine monk/preacher/"reformer"
1756 John Loudon McAdam created macadam road surface (asphalt)
1788 Margaret Smith Taylor 1st lady
1817 Carter Littlepage Stevenson Major General (Confederate Army)
1824 Joseph Andrew Jackson Lightburn Brig General (Union volunteers)
1827 Michael Corcoran Brig General (Union volunteers), died in 1863
1866 H(erbert) G(eorge) Wells Bromley, England (War of the Worlds)
1886 Teiichi Igarashi Japan, climbed Mt Fuji at age 99
1902 Limari Salminen Finland, 10K run (Olympic-gold-1936)
1909 Kwame Nkrumah President of Ghana (1958-66)
1912 Chuck Jones animator (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck)
1918 Rand Brooks LA Calif, actor (Cpl Boone-Rin Tin Tin)
1931 Larry Hagman Fort Worth Tx, actor (I Dream of Jeannie, JR-Dallas)
1934 Leonard Cohen Montreal, singer/songwriter (Bird on a wire)
1935 Henry Gibson Germantown Pa, comedian (Nashville, Laugh-In's poet)
1940 Bill Kurtis Pensacola Fla, newscaster (The American Parade)
1944 Fannie Flagg Birmingham Ala, actress/comediene (Candid Camera)
1944 Hamilton Jordan political advisor (Crisis, Last Year of Carter Pres)
1947 Stephen King suspense writer (Shining, Kujo)
1948 Michael Finneran diver (1st perfect 10 on 10m platform)
1950 Bill Murray Evanston Ill, comedian (SNL, What About Bob, Stripes)
1955 Richard J Hieb Jamestown ND, astronaut (STS 39, Sk:STS 49)
1962 Grant Fuhr Edmonton Alberta, NHL goalie (Oilers)
1968 Ricki Lake actress(?) (Hairspray)
One of the sources of dispute during negotiations was when the travel restrictions began. At one point the Soviets suggested a start date of March 30, while the Americans held to an earlier date.
The first Soviet travel restrictions went into effect March 31 on rail travel, although some trains got through after that date. The road blockage came later. The road bridge was closed on June 16, although a small ferry on a secondary route was made available, and barge traffic restrictions later still. In any event, all traffic was halted on June 18, not the 24th. The confusion may have come because June 24 was when the airlift started.
The Soviet Union ends its blockade of Berlin on May 12, 1949.
They continued restrictions after that date. (Some of which were simply ignored by the west). Heavy restrictions on road travel only ended in mid - July after the Americans announced that they were planning to send through armed convoys once a week to supply the garrison.
The airlift itself continued through September, going on a 5 day week Aug 12, and finally ending Sept. 31.
Berliners are still free to move around their city,
Not entirely correct. On February 15 the Russians began to block streets between the two sectors (Illing one man who tried to get through) and by the end of April 53 (about half) of the streets crossing the zonal boundry had been blocked.) Passengers on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn were also subject to being stopped and searched and having parcels seized. Workers were allowed to travel to and from jobs, but goods shipments were blocked.
Fianlly, the role of the French must be noted. They favored an early surrender to the Russians in Berlin, but they did contribute by blowing up the Radio Berlin transmission towers.
Primary source: The Berlin Airlift
Ann & John Tusa, Atheneum, 1988.
I'm trying to avoid ranting, but what ***** excesses. They were guilty. They were punished pursuant to law, after trial and appeals.
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