Gatow and the End of the Blockade

With the official end of the Soviet Blockade of West Berlin, Gatow Airfield had fulfilled its potentially most important service to the population of Berlin. In contrast to Tempelhof and later, Tegel airport, Gatow had never been a relevant hub for civilian aviation but rather served military purposes. Here, pilots were trained for the German Air Force and drilled for the criminal war of aggression before and during World War II. However, after the defeat of the German Reich and the significant destruction of Berlin, this airfield was decisive for the supply of the Berlin population, as it handled about 40 % of all transported goods. Additionally, thousands of civilians of all ages were evacuated from the emergency situation in Berlin via Gatow and the neighbouring Havel River between 1948 and 1949. The German aid forces employed here had witnessed first-hand the daily commitment of the British military personnel and shared these experiences with the Berlin citizens. Occupants became friends, protectors, and comrades, and the very same British bomber pilots now helped to supply the citizens of Berlin. These experiences turned Berlin-Gatow Airfield into a unique and possibly the most important contribution to the Berlin Airlift.