Hooray, We’re Still Alive

On 12 May 1949, the day the Berlin Blockade officially came to an end, both the Western powers and the citizens of Berlin were joyful. On 12 May, for the first time after 11 months, lorries are cheerfully welcomed in Berlin. Some lorries are even decorated with flowers.

In Berlin, a sign reading “Hooray, we’re still alive“ is spontaneously attached to the front of a lorry. This slogan would be associated with the end of the Berlin Blockade for many decades to come. On the one hand, it shows the joy over the end of the blockade and the flow of goods. On the other, this slogan is a slightly ironical and exaggerated expression of relief. Four years after the end of World War II, the blockade was no truly life-threatening situation just for the supply provided by the allied Airlift.