Berlin airlift : The salvation came in packages

On the 14. August 1946, must have many of Berlin's families felt as though Christmas: On this day, the train station Steglitz, between Albrecht bridge and the fire Creek road, the first in 1480, Care packages came in on the goods, high welcome to the starving population. 150 packages were addressed to particular families directly and the rest were distributed in the municipal warehouse in the fields of light geranium road 2 – the first of a flood of Care programs, which helped, especially during the Blockade of West Berlin to Survive.

In the run-up to the celebrations for the 70. The anniversary of the Blockade on the 12. May addiction Care according to witnesses, at the time, get a package, or to encounters with Care during the air bridge. Contact Christina Ihle, accessible via E-mail (ihle@care.de), telephone (0228 97563 581) or by Post (Care Germany, Siemensstraße. 17, 53121 Bonn, Germany).

Care, that was the acronym for Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe – in November 1945, 22 of the welfare organizations in the U.S. founded umbrella organization called. He bought a surplus arms stocks, grabbed them packages that could be purchased for initially 15, later $ 10, and the auxiliary organizations to Europe sent. In February 1946, U.S. President Harry S. Truman had agreed to and equal to 100 packages purchased.

During the Blockade of West Berlin chartered Care even planes, which brought more than 200,000 packages of food in the city. 60 percent of the private aid to Berlin were provided by the organization. As the only private relief organization Care held during the Blockade of the supplies to fully maintain. On average, 1000 packages to West Berlin came so per day. At the beginning of 1949, the number of Care packages even reached a record altitude of 30 000 in the month.

the end of the air bridge 70 years ago, 50,000 guests on the Tempelhofer field, expected

Even after the lifting of the Blockade of the aid went on, there were still difficulties with the supply and inventories should be created for the case of a renewed Blockade. The air bridge was, therefore, still to 30. September 1949 to maintain. And Care also continued his aid to Germany and Berlin. Of nearly ten million packets arrived between 1946 and 1960, to Germany, received the Berlin three million.