The primary purpose of the Berlin Airlift, initiated in June 1948, was to supply West Berlin, which was blockaded by the Soviet Union. Following World War II, tensions between the Western Allies and the USSR escalated when the Soviets attempted to exert control over Berlin through a blockade, cutting off ground access to the city. In response, U.S. and British forces organized an extensive airlift operation to deliver food, fuel, and essential supplies to the isolated citizens of West Berlin. This operation successfully demonstrated the commitment of Western powers to resist Soviet expansion and marked a significant moment in the early Cold War, highlighting the ideological divide between East and West.