Women during the Berlin Airlift

The operation of the airlift is mainly associated with men such as pilots, loading/unloading workers, air traffic controllers, truck drivers, and others. The construction of Tegel Airport in the fall of 1948 already demonstrated the importance of women’s labour in this construction project. Here, women performed hard labour using picks and shovels. Apart from this well- known airport construction project, many other women in more traditional female roles also ensured the success of the airlift.

During the airlift, many women were employed in administration and offices. They were also commonly involved in service support and notably remembered for their “mobile snack van” on the airfields, where pilots could quickly have coffee and food after landing. Women are also visible in photos of the airlift, participating in unloading aircraft and inspecting cargo. These are tasks that are rarely in the spotlight but were nonetheless crucial for the success of the airlift.