'The Candy Bomber' Honored in Germany 70 Years After Historic Berlin Airlift

In June 1948, Soviet troops closed all rail, road and river access to the city of Berlin in an effort to choke it off. The move prompted the United States and its allies to come up with a bold plan to supply more than 2 million tons of goods by air to the divided city. As VOA's Kane Farabaugh reports, 70 years after the historic Berlin Airlift ended, many Germans remain grateful to those who provided aid at a desperate time, in a mission that set a precedent for the Cold War and beyond.
Originally published at - morigin.voanews.eu/a/the-cand...

[@AviTheWolf]

The Berlin airlift by far was one of our greatest humanitarian moments in history

[@5Mariner]

I agree. Next to the Hungnam Evacuation, it really is one our country's best moments.

[@darnit1944]

Berlin airlift is mostly political. If Berlin is just a random German city, they would not hold to it very long. There's no point for the allies wasting tons of fuel, intense plane maintenance, and 2.3 million tons of necessities. But, i salute the effort.

[@ballsonyourmomschin1781]

@@darnit1944 it wasn’t about keeping control of the city it was about making sure the west berliners had food and water

[@samuela.botello2881]

@@ballsonyourmomschin1781 and to make sure the soviets didn't put their iron boot on the necks of berliners

[@ballsonyourmomschin1781]

@@samuela.botello2881 that too. It’s not fair for a dictatorship to starve innocent people out of spite

[@DragonSilverlight]

Fun fact: this man was scared that he would be court-martialed instead his commander loved the idea.

[@dennis12dec]

The red ribbon he's wearing is the Grand Cross of the Federal Order of Merit awarded to him in 1974 by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany 🇩🇪.

[@Spabsa]

@@dennis12dec nice to see the Germans looking out for him. He’s a good man who truly loved his fellow men. No matter their nationality.

[@StudioBeast7575]

RIP to my grandfather who was a pilot during the airlift. He said they would get 4 hours of sleep then be up and flying again. That's one of the ways that so much cargo was able to be moved and so many lives saved. Thank you to all veterans for your service and especially to my grandfather. I love and miss you.

[@Kroitk]

That's absolutely amazing, you are very fortunate. Incredible what we can achieve when the Western world (UK/Europe + USA) can accomplish in the face of doubt (Communism). You should be so incredibly honoured to have had such an amazing grandfather, who was part of the greatest and most heartwarming humanitarian operation in human history. Keep his memory going forward for generations! - from a Ukrainian

[@SgtAndrewM]

He passed away today, RIP

[@tulayamalavenapi4028]

😭

[@ilovenoodles7483]

For my Veteran Grandpa: Rest in peace Grandpa, you are my real GI Joe. He worked on these bombers. And my dear daddy fought in carried on the legacy and fought in Vietnam with the best Air Force wing and squadron. Helped a lot of people

[@MrWarthog]

F.

[@nadinebeck2069]

Due to that behaviour the U.S. also won our hearts ❤. Don't forget what you can win with love, education and patience with your 'so-called' enemies!

[@darnit1944]

Because of this, west Berliners are more than dedicated to oppose Soviet oppression

[@rippspeck]

He's an incredibly humble man. If you watch the video "Gail Halvorsen: Helden der Luftbrücke" on the zeitzeugen-portal channel, he makes it very clear that he was only a tiny cog in the machine that kept Berlin free and healthy. Vielen Dank für alles, Col. Halverson. Sie und ihre Zeitgenossen sind wahre Helden.

[@mad_max21]

Yeah, but the others don't drop candy, didn't they? Bunch of assholes.

[@stevelinbergbaby135]

It was the best bombing ever done 👍

[@nathangreer8219]

RIP Col. Halvorsen. Aged 101

[@vaultboye]

Rest in peace, Gail Halvorsen.

[@drcovell]

I like to think this shows the best that Americans can be. (He even dropped Candy in the Soviet sector until the Russians complained and he had to stop.) 🇺🇸🦅❤️

[@johnbrown5425]

Having patrolled the East German border from 1962-1964 with the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, I saw first hand what loss of freedom meant to the East Germans. I wish that every American would understand the significance of the Berlin Airlift and much later the fall of the Berlin Wall. Russia is not our friend! This was a very emotional video for me.

[@mashedtomato2079]

Thank you for your service, and yes, you only get to appreciate something once you've lost it!

[@PattysYourDaddy]

These words especially hold true today

[@aqualix4662]

you called it russia is not our friend!

[@Fred-mp1vf]

The Russians are mostly wonderful people. It's just the corrupt government leaders who are the enemies. I believe that they will one day have a free government.

[@byde6673]

Absolutely spot on! Russia was, is and always will the USA enemy! Unfortunately today some corrupt groups are trying to destroy the effort of our previous generations efforts to keep the world safe by promoting Russia!

[@ismailchoudhary7441]

This is my favorite historical event ever...

[@stephenrohaim382]

RIP Candy Bomber !

[@ReezeGoingSenseless]

Guy is awesome! Model for humanity.

[@demef758]

Imagine being Halvorsen's CO and hearing about what he has done. He had to say "why didn't WE think of that!" Col. Halvorsen was undoubtedly more popular in 1949 than Harry Truman himself!

[@5Mariner]

Halvorsen just turned 100 three days ago. He's really done well.

[@5Mariner]

Sweetest bombs that were ever dropped

[@idk-zi3gw]

Yum

[@knapples5526]

This is what the U.S.A and other world superpowers are supposed to be a symbol of hope and protection those who need it most yet corruption and money has ruined many great nations.

[@theo_D_E_N]

That was a strange way of thinking ....showing protection and giving hope to your enemies ? Why not giving hope to your allies that needed help ? There were children that died from starvation in allied countries, yet no compassion for those children , no hope, no food, no help. Yet, the Germans who caused two World Wars and caused millions of deaths, needed compassion and help after they showed none to anyone else, including children. Well done.

[@knapples5526]

@@theo_D_E_N the Germans supported Hitler out of fear for their families I'll rather take someone else's life than to have my son be executed. To the Nazis who supported Hitler so their children don't have to die they were heros to their children but villains to the rest of the world the whole of Germany suffered at the hands of a Austrian with a stupid mustache the same man who single-handedly kicked off WW2.

[@knapples5526]

@@theo_D_E_N but I do understand what your saying we should prioritize our friends, and country men and women first you don't go and give a poor man $5 when you only have $5 but that's where corruption comes to play the U.S only sent aid to Germany so they'll be our buds in the cold war my government didn't care about there lives only who they sided with that's what I mean superpower nations are meant to be a beacon of hope yet the people at the top only look to advance their own agenda.

[@theo_D_E_N]

@@knapples5526 I understand what you are saying about politics, I see your point, we see it every single day ... But coming from an ally European country that suffered like no other during WW2 , with people dying in the streets from starvation, (not soldiers), children not having bread to eat , eventually becoming bloated and collapsing in the middle of the street, well it is difficult to accept that an ally preferred to give candy to Germans , than bread to children of an ally nation ... I think it's understandable , isn't it ? An the fact that he was made into a hero , well, maybe he was for Germans, but it is kind of audacious to brag about it when people who fought by your side died without any help whatsoever. As for the German people back then, I didn't live in Germany, so I don't know what went on in their minds to support such a leader... I certainly know the way their soldiers treated women , children and old people... executions , starvation and no mercy. And I stress the fact that I am not talking about soldiers captured in the battle field, but about women and children . With all due respect, the soldiers that came to my country were not from the German families that opposed Hitler as the ones you are talking about.

[@dwagonswayer.4835]

The good days when all of humanity come together to relief one and another.

[@joplin8433]

"All of humanity" Not quite, the Soviets tried to stop it many times.

[@isaacgraff8288]

Mass respect to Gail and the pilots of the Berlin Airlift

[@amutah8063]

He looks very handsome for someone 98.

[@Jude74]

He was right to be worried. We as a country have failed him horribly.

[@gearrazkarraysgyfarnogod8554]

Must have been so nice for those kids to have something pleasant to look forward to, in an otherwise bleak existence.

[@subscribetoscp-173oritsnap5]

Not all heroes wear capes !

[@MdickieFilms]

Stolen

[@communistjesus]

It would be a great honor for me to meet this brave man....A free Democratic world guarded by NATO. Down with Putin and other dictators..Down with their stooges. #IMPEACHPROSECUTEANDPUNISHTHEENTIRETRUMPADMISTRATIONFORTREASON #IN2020TOTALANDCOMPLETESUPPORTFORTHEDEMOCRATICCANDIDATEFORPRESIDENT #2020STRONGUNITEDDEMOCRATICPARTY

[@theaviator0015]

Wired hashtags but definitely agree

[@rippspeck]

>communistjesus The dichotomy of man.

[@grassytramtracks]

​@@rippspeck if you read the bible, you'll see that Jesus had some pretty communist ideas

[@DJALo_music]

This is so sweet

[@robertodeleon-gonzalez9844]

Honor!

[@user-ex4si2md6r]

His legacy lives on....❤️

[@johannesstaudenrauss9904]

Thanks to UK and USA for organizing the Air Lift❤ Thanks to the pilots who risk their live for helping! Never forget the heros who died! RIP

[@charisma2082]

I'm here because of history book gr 12 south Africa

[@dougfurr5217]

The greatest generation for a reason. Unfort, European Nato members refused to spend on their military no matter how much we begged them. Seems thy rather let US go bankrupt THEN deal with it. 2 World Wars, all the lives, and treasure wasted, yet let America deal with it. Americans got fed up. Hope they figure it out for Ukraine sake. But seeing how many treat Israel for protecting itself, not very likely. Sad times.

[@user-tt1nq2kf3w]

my man looking like george washington

[@Fred-mp1vf]

It's amazing what the Lord will do with our lives when we put Him first!

[@tulayamalavenapi4028]

Sri Krishna Caitanya!

[@Newdivide]

The pilot has since died on February 2022, aged 101

[@rmdhn1]

unless you got that black liquid oil then it ain't gonna be candy being dropped

[@Trooper-tr6zi]

The USA is no liberator now

[@pennyxiao7431]

Trooper 1139 Yes because we have company that kisses Chinese communist money.

[@pennyxiao7431]

Trooper 1139 how do you know, it took a while to take down the Soviets. 70 years so it isn’t like the US can just liberate a country. The condition has to be right and liberations can be difficult.

[@nathanduckeorth806]

No? Anytime there is a natural disaster the US is the first ones there handing out food an medicine!

[@theo_D_E_N]

Why didn't he help the children of his allies? Children (and not only) were dying from starvation and he gave food and candies to his enemy? You help the ALLIES first ..... but I guess his name sounds north European so it is understandable that he wanted to help the Germans even though they wrecked havoc throughout Europe and started two World Wars.

[@mattmopar440]

are you kidding me he was being ordered to fly into berlin what did you want him to do ? children are the Enemy of no one

[@theo_D_E_N]

@@mattmopar440 If he got orders ,as you say, why did an article mention that he was afraid that they were going to court-martial him from dropping candy ,but his superior officer covered for him? What is the truth and what is the lie in this story ? I ,on the other hand asked a simple question... "Why didn't the allies help the starving children in my country during WW2 and instead helped the children of their enemies"? Did the children of my country deserved to die without help from the ally forces? Because they did and no one cared. So what's the point of having allies if you help them and they don't help you back. The betrayal is more hurtful when it comes from your friends , than from your enemies.

[@mattmopar440]

@@theo_D_E_N and what was your starving country that we didn't give you enough help where your blaming it on a 100-year-old man just trying to help out The starving children he saw every day

[@theo_D_E_N]

@@mattmopar440 Really? Because our children (women and old people) died bloated from starvation with no mercy showed whatsoever... So despite of what you are saying, our children were someone's enemies , or else they wouldn't have died from starvation or executions. You can't know the extent of the destruction if you don't live in a country that suffered deeply. Your children didn't die from starvation in any war so you don't know the pain.

[@mattmopar440]

@@theo_D_E_N I noticed you didn't respond to what country "your" people are from you probably don't no but I'm pretty good at spotting the troll account when I see one