Photograph showing Wunstorf Airfield, near Hanover, in the British controlled zone of Germany, with a large number of 'Dakota' and 'York' airplanes lined up for use during the 'Berlin Airlift', 1948. Between April 1948 and May 1949 Stalin, leader of the USSR, imposed a land blockade on supplies from Western Europe to West Berlin. In response the British and American governments organised an enormous airlift to supply food and other essentials to the 2.5 million inhabitants of West Berlin. After a year Stalin conceded defeat and lifted the land blockade.