RAF Gatow and the Million

On February 18, 1949, a symbolic ceremony celebrated the delivery of the one-millionth ton of supply goods to Berlin-Gatow. This milestone, along with many others, formed the foundation for propaganda aimed at maintaining morale. Besides such figures, material and animal mascots, personal stories, or superstars like Bob Hope were used to demonstrate to British and American soldiers, as well as to the civilian population, that the airlift was a success and that their efforts and sacrifices were not in vain. These spectacles were also intended to influence Soviet decision-makers and the press by suggesting the apparent ease of supplying West Berlin. The Soviet side had limited options for responding to such images, leading to increasingly creative propaganda within the Soviet occupation zone.